SheBreathes turned four right before New York Fashion Week and while I wasn't going to make a big deal about it, in hindsight this is an accomplishment. What this space started out as and what it is today are different, although the voice remains. I've always wanted this space to be about the designers I share, never about me. I wanted it to be a virtual vault of goodies, inspiration, and a hub for the independent, emerging, and established designers on a global level. I truly believe this has been accomplished in the last two years.
I remember starting out mixing my personal life with my professional. Then one day I saw a void in online fashion reporting, and created a niche within a niche. Since then the online fashion arena has exploded and I'm glad I was here from the "start". I'm glad to be a part of a movement that's exploring this medium and creating standards in the process.
I've seen some worthy fashion bloggers get the same if not similar respect as print fashion journalist. And while I don't hold a degree in journalism, I do in writing. I knew from the start that if I wanted to have a valid voice, I'd have to create standards that mirrored that of my peers in print. This is why I've never been paid to write anything positive, never been paid to attend an event or show, and I always remember ethics come before the swag. It is these small rules, that prompted me to reinvest every profit made on here back into the SheBreathes brand. As a writer and designer who blogs, having standards on a medium where it can be easily lost, has always been important to me.
It doesn't matter if SheBreathes is on the "best of" lists. It doesn't matter if we're ever validated outside of the small press we've gotten or the people who love this space. I'm proud of what I've accomplished here. It has truly been an amazing journey, filled with more ups than downs. The experience alone has opened me up to many opportunities. I'm glad I listened to my literary agent, Ira {who loves ya babe!} four years ago. So, even if I tweet rants about the state of it all publically or privately, I still find a reason to sign-on and share.
I've gone from Ms. Shoo {a special nom de plume, because of my background in shoe design and a magazine} to just DS — I prefer initials and Brasilians have long names. I've gone from loathing the labels "blogger" and "editor-in-chief" to embracing them. I've grown a lot as a person and a writer, just from this medium alone. And I've definitely learned to love adjectives and short form. But more importantly I've learned how to process collections by immersing myself in fashion history. I can now immediately identify progression, stagnation, rehashing, or copying. While, this was no easy feat, it's one I am proud of. And now when someone does the whole "fashion is frivolous" bit, I can intelligently debate the topic. And while I don't turn the critical dial all the way up, I do when I feel it's necessary.
In closing, I know SheBreathes would be nothing without the small group of individuals who work with me towards a collective idea. I also know it would be nothing without the people who write, comment, subscribe, and have followed from the beginning, or those who've just discovered us. I'm grateful for each and every one of you. So, thank you, obrigada, merci, and all that good stuff with cherries on top. Its truly been a beautiful ride and I hope we can continue this ride together. I hope we can continue to beat our own paths and not wait for something to be handed to us. I hope we can continue to have a dialogue about fashion beyond frivolity, and continue to explore the many mediums in which it can be shared.
Truly,
DS De Carvalho
