Forever a Chromat Babe

​My last day at Chromat was Thursday.

This was always the plan as my internship was 3 months plus a few weeks so I could see through a full design cycle and participate in fashion week. We all kind of lost track of time so it felt very abrupt; when we finally realized it was my last day, it was already half over so it was a bit difficult to process.

Myself and the amazing Becca McCharen-Tran during fashion week. She is the incredible founder and force behind Chromat.

In a perfect world, I would have been able stay at Chromat forever. However, a company breaking all the rules can't necessarily make expanding the team a priority.

I hope to be involved in the future in any way I can, but I have to remind myself that I am not yet done learning. But I will forever be a #Chromatbabe.

I can honestly say I learned as much about fashion in 3 months with Chromat as I did in a full semester at FIT. I now understand so much about the day-to-day business of a small label, as well as how you can produce both a product AND a message! Chromat's message is everything I stand for: Female empowerment. Diversity. Fashion for EVERYONE.

The Chromat top I constructed, worn by Jordyn Woods on the runway. Design by Chromat.

I was lucky enough to construct a few pieces for fashion week, which was such an amazing honor (even during those long nights where we all were ready to break). I had to step up my sewing game a lot and I am proud to say that my skills are twice what they were upon graduation from FIT. I started my journey towards perfection, and Chromat pushed me the way I needed to begin getting there.

I also got to utilize many of my skills from those graphic design roots I worked so hard to perfect in the last decade. It's nice to know that my Adobe skills are advantageous in the fashion world, not to mention that the projects are way more fun!

Leaving Chromat made me very sad. I felt such a connection to this company. I found myself pretty emotional on Thursday and Friday.

​I have given myself time to reflect and have been thinking about how much my life has changed. And only because I decided to change it. Change can be so hard, especially if we aren't expecting or ready for it.

But change has struck again and it is up to me and only me to decide the path I take next.

Friday morning in my sad state, I sent a single email to a contact about another opportunity I was pursuing before I walked into a Chromat sample sale in May with my portfolio and asked for an internship.

I patterned and sewed this denim bustier using upcycled denim. Design by Chromat.

The universe is again aligning, and I have a meeting set up with my contact tonight as soon as I fly home from North Carolina.

This possible opportunity, if it works out, will have been created just for me. Of course, nothing is set in stone yet, but it's the reminder I needed. The career I am creating isn't the career I left behind. Seeds that I have been sowing are still growing.

On top of that, I look forward to assisting and learning from my friend Leetal Platt as I help her with her amazing line and some of her commission work. Us Her Universe ladies have to stick together!

I have learned that you can sit and wait for things to happen for you, or you can go out and get them. I don't sit around anymore.

Thank you Chromat for the amazing 3.5 month gift! I hope I can share the things I learned from you everywhere I go, and slowly start changing the fashion industry to a more inclusive and diverse world.

Supermodel Emme sporting the Chromat cage I worked on. I built the bra and all the denim casing. Design by Chromat.