A Liminal Space
Creating a cardigan for Taylor Swift, writing my dissertation and figuring out what's next
It’s been a few months since I last checked in - not for lack of interest, but because life has been pretty hectic lately. I usually carry a small notebook with me, where I’ll sketch garments for my brand or jot down topics for this newsletter. I’m excited to finally get back to writing here.
In short, life happened all at once. It’s amusing to me because, ever since I launched my business three years ago, summer has consistently been the most hectic time of the year. For those who may not know, I’m a knitwear designer.
If you had asked me back in February about my summer plans, I would have told you that my only focus would be writing my dissertation. I was in the middle of my master’s program, and our summer term was dedicated to working on that final project.
Focusing just on my dissertation didn’t exactly happen. Even though I decided to step back from my business this year to concentrate on my studies, things took an unexpected turn. In March, I was approached by Fáilte Ireland, the tourism board run in part by Ireland’s government, with an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up: they wanted me to create a cardigan for Taylor Swift. They were looking for an authentic Irish knitwear piece, inspired by her visits to Ireland and to mark her Eras Tour coming to Éire (ba dum tss).
If you’ve ever run a small business - or even if you haven’t - you can understand that I couldn’t pass this up. So, in between classes during my second semester, I found myself booking meeting rooms at college in between classes, to present decks and discuss the logistics of a potential collaboration. Not only could I not tell anyone, but I didn’t want to either. I’ve been lucky enough to have some amazing opportunities come my way, but there have also been ones that have fallen through. And with someone as massively famous as Taylor Swift, I didn’t want to believe it was real until everything was done and out of my hands.
I had been lucky enough to have my designs brush with celebrity before. Two years ago, one of my cardigans was featured in And Just Like That, and even being on the periphery of Sarah Jessica Parker’s wardrobe had an incredible impact on my business. As a result, I thought I knew what to expect in terms of press for this collaboration.
Needless to say, I was wrong. I was so amazed and grateful for the support by the Irish media that by far exceeded my expectations. I found myself on the opening page of The Independent, and the next day, I was featured in three different newspapers. Within the span of a week, I had appeared on several radio shows and even made it to national television. When I attended the concert, I was stopped by two groups of girls who recognised me (likely because I was wearing my own version of the cardigan that had been getting all the buzz).
While I’ve experienced this kind of attention before, it was much more spread out across various projects. This time, everything happened all at once. I’m incredibly thankful that my dissertation supervisor was understanding and allowed me to take a week off to promote the collaboration and my business.
“Bridgerton press ended last week, and yours began,” two of my friends joked.
For that week, it really did feel like I was swept up in the glitz and glam of traditional media. But everything comes to an end. And the following Monday morning I was back to writing my dissertation.
With only the better part of three weeks left to complete my dissertation, the hectic energy didn’t stop. My dissertation, titled Luxury Fashion and Value Alignment: Adapting to Evolving Consumer Values and Preferences, delved into the enduring significance of values in fashion. I began by exploring the historical importance of 'dress' and how the meanings attached to our clothing have always reflected cultural norms. Historically, garments often signified wealth and social status. From there, I examined current consumer desires in luxury fashion, focusing on three key values often discussed today: cultural sensitivity, transparency, and sustainability. My research highlighted how these values influence buying decisions, which values consumers prioritise when purchasing luxury goods, how industry creatives react, and concludes with insights for luxury brands navigating today’s market.
I really enjoyed researching and writing this dissertation, and wish I could keep on writing. One of my main challenges was condensing the word count and literature review.
But now, with everything I’ve been working on for the past few months - and even the past year is finally over, I’m left wondering: what now? After an especially hectic two months, it’s no surprise that I’m feeling burnt out. I caught an awful flu, and I’m still recovering from it - my muscles are still sore. And, like many graduates, I’m now facing the inevitable question from friends and family: “What’s next?”
And honestly, I don’t know. I love working for myself, but I’m also eager to expand my knowledge and experience in the luxury industry. At the same time, I’m feeling a bit stuck in my village. Living in Dublin would be amazing, but the rent is sky-high, and it’s hard to justify the cost, especially if I’m not working in the city. Plus, with no major high fashion houses in Ireland, continuing to work in this industry means going abroad.
Emigration isn’t unusual for the Irish, of course - I still remember in my first Photoshop class during my bachelor’s, the lecturer told us that if we wanted creative jobs, we’d all have to go abroad. And it’s true. While Irish designers are currently having their moment - names like Simone Rocha, Jonathan Anderson, and Sean McGirk at Alexander McQueen come to mind - it’s not lost on me that they had to leave this island to grow and achieve their success.
Friends and family have asked me if I really need to work in fashion and whether it’s worth leaving everyone behind. Right now, I’m in a liminal space, caught between my love for this industry and the uncertainty of what I might have to give up to pursue it.
‘Liminal’ derived from the Latin word ‘limen,’ means ‘threshold.’ Liminal spaces are those transitional places between where you were and where you’re going - whether emotionally or physically. Right now, I feel like I’m living on a staircase, or in an airport. I know I’m heading somewhere, but I’m not quite sure where.
I’m learning to live in this liminal space. I know it won’t last forever, and while not knowing what will happen next brings a creeping feeling of uncertainty, I’m making an effort to enjoy my time. Once traditional office hours have passed and I know my inbox will not have any new or pressing mail, it feels like - in a sense - my day has started. I’m finally getting around to reading books I postponed, catching up with friends, and savouring the late summer evenings walking my dog.
Am I going up or down the stairs? Where is the plane going to take me?
I’m not entirely sure yet, but I’m ready to move.