Happiness

I first encountered Amish-made clothing on a short trip to southern Pennsylvania, and was immediately struck by the warmth of the garments. "What could this be?" I wondered, as I felt the varying textures of patchwork fabric. Overcome with curiosity, I asked some nearby community members about the nature of these clothes, and was surprised to learn that the warmth I initially felt had come from the person who made the garment. It was born out of a deep caring for the person for whom it was made, most likely a family member or close friend.

The happiness and love of the creator was tangibly manifested in the end product. I realized that in order to create a product full of warmth, I myself had to be happy.

Much of the happiness that I experience is directly connected to freedom, particularly the freedom I feel from having no country. This sounds like a strange statement, but it's true. I have been living as sort of an urban nomad since the age of 22, and these days I don't spend more than half the year in any one country. Because of this, I am able to see the beauty in minor cultural differences that often divide us. These small differences can create separation, leading to a close-mindedness that to me is not free at all. Removing this separation by abandoning the concept of "country" is one way that I have found joy in freedom.

It is so important for me to be happy as a clothing creator, because my creations are a reflection of how I am inside. Like an Amish grandmother lovingly making a new coat for her grandchild, I want to channel this happiness to my customers through the products I make. I truly believe that clothing made this way will possess an emotional weight not found in pure commercial products.

We're trying to take a different approach. What we're trying to achieve with this brand is to make something that speaks to our customers' hearts, and the Spring/Summer 2014 collection is our first step towards that goal.

Dissertation on a happiness with no country

visvim Spring and Summer 2014