“To succeed in the design market, you need more than just talent. You need hustle. You need a niche market that you can work in.”
So we're in Vegas, networking our asses off and taking in all the dopeness we could soak up. On the last day we swoop by to grab some of the featured magazines and other Agenda goods and head home. Fast forward. I'm sitting on my couch and grab the Nylon mag to get some inspiration. To my surprise, this dope chick I stumbled upon weeks ago on Instagram has a full spread in this months issue. Illustrator, designer, and Hypebeast confidant, Sophia Chang is Killin it! Believe me when I say, Sophia is dope for more reasons than one in my book and every time her photo or work pops up on my feed I become more are more happy for her and her hustle. When I first took a look at her website months ago, I literally hated her. But not in the way you're thinking... It was more of a love hate relationship! If you go on her site the first thing you notice is her insane client list! This list is literally golden by any designer’s standards and she really inspired me to do more with my profession. I asked myself who she was? What was she doing that I wasn't? And was completely in awe of her swag... Because let's face it... Designers fit snugly into the nerd category and nerds are rarely on the flyer end of the spectrum. She is also one of the few in that society where they let you design your own signature shoes and clothing at Puma…and yes I am jealous.
After reading her feature in nylon I reached out to her via Instagram just to let her that I was a supporter of her hustle… and to no surprise at all she replied with a simple and humble acknowledgment. From that moment on, I've told myself to keep my head down, keep working, and to always...without a doubt… be myself and stick to my guns. The truth is, even though the Rita Ora graces the cover of this months issue, I suspect someone even doper in her own fabulous way is tucked away many pages from the top. Sophia's feature in Nylon is short and sweet, but truly interesting. She talks about exploring some of the same struggles that I have faced and I am sure you have too. She also has a certain rebelliousness against the system that only a few of us could understand let alone respect. Through her social media Sophia Chang has introduced me to some other females that are making major moves that I now follow for inspiration daily. Keep an eye on Sophia as she is currently gracing the go to sites like Hypebeast.com and industry leading fashion outlets. You shouldn't be surprised that my first muse has serious #bunvibes and is swimming in fresh and exclusive street wear. #byehaters!
