“Am I too late?” It’s a question that I often ask myself. I have a fear that opportunity, as a general thing, is limited; success has a by when date. But as I continue to learn about the fashion world, I learn stories that make me question that. My winding career path may not be a delay; it could be very well the path I need to find my way.
I write this knowing the story of Jerry Lorenzo. The fast-forwarded version is that he is the child of a former MLB player and coach and grew up in a family where money was tight. He got his career start working in sport and hoped to one day become a player agent. However, working with baseball player Matt Kemp, he discovered he couldn’t find clothing pieces that fit his client’s style. So, he designed them. Years, later his clothing line, Fear of God, is a staple part of every luxury streetwear aficionado’s wardrobe.
Lorenzo didn’t start designing as his first career. He had retail experience but not a traditional at or fashion degree. He just saw a gap and pounced. Lorenzo drew upon his personal taste and and the entirety of his life experience as he grew his business. His career up to that point provided him the knowledge of the market and the connections he needed to get things off the ground.
If you are questioning whether it is too late for you, if you are thinking you took the wrong career path and there is no way to change now. Your current position may provide exactly what you need to start anew.
Source consulted:
Sanchez, K. (March 17, 2017). God’s plan: How Jerry Lorenzo went from sports to nightlife to fashion’s cult favorite. Complex. https://www.complex.com/style/2017/03/how-jerry-lorenzo-of-fear-of-god-became-fashions-cult-favorite
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