Steering by Starlight
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-Joseph Campbell
“Mama, I’ve quit my job.” These are not the words you usually want to hear from your child. But, from this child, I have been waiting to hear these words for a while. Steven Oo is not any ordinary child.
After coming to the US from Myanmar, and graduating from Berkeley with a degree in Political Economy and International Business, his interest in knitwear drove him to pursue a Master’s degree in Fashion Design. His collection was one of only 6 chosen to debut at NYC Fashion Week at Bryant Park, garnering accolades from the one Ms. Suzy Menkes and my sister/friend and Steven’s other surrogate mother, designer Pamela Tuohy-Novinsky.
Pamela sent me a link to see some of Steven’s work and as they say, “the rest is history.” Steven became my other child and a valued part of the Project Artisan family. It was love at first sight…with his work and with the delight that is Steven.
Because most designers start their careers working for other designers before launching their own labels, Steven took a lucrative job with the highest bidder for his very much in demand design skills and became a lead designer for mega brand Anthropologie. They got really lucky, their shoppers got some very fashionable knitwear and Steven got to learn the ropes and put in his time.
So a couple of months ago, I received the phone call I had been anticipating. Steven tells me he is going to design a collection for a VERY successful line that sounds like Pro-in-za School-er. This NYC duo came right out of Parsons Design with some major financial backing and they were hoping to add Steven to their team. It was time for a move to NYC and another step towards Steven’s dreams of designing under his own label.
So, you know how the universe laughs at you when you think you have everything figured out? The Universe was rolling, literally, and blowing and sending a message via a little storm called Sandy. Interviews were delayed and plans put on hold, just long enough for fate to take its course.
You see, the political climate has been volatile in Steven’s home country, Myanmar, and strict sanctions on trade have been in place for many years. Because positive changes have been recently made toward democracy, our dear President Obama lifted sanctions and will now allow products made in Myanmar to be exported. Just in time for Steven to go home to step into his destiny and change the lives of his people. He will open a factory and start an atelier and he will bring fair wages and a good living to the craftspeople of his country. We will soon see Steven’s designs hanging alongside Philip Lim and Alexander Wang and those other guys that I mentioned earlier, in the stores in the US and in the world. Steven will work for the only person he has ever been destined to work for, himself.
Today I am a very, very, proud mama, but I am missing this boy already. I see travel in my future and a bright and shining star to lead my way.
Shine, child.
-Robin
See more of Steven’s work in following post…Photography by Conan Thai
