I've been putting off doing this for almost a year now, but I feel the time has come! I truly enjoy reading other peoples stories, so I guess it's only fair that I tell you a bit of mine!
My name is Zoey, and I am a 25 year old English designer for Disco Pony (hmm, I'm not an English designer... I am English, and a designer!- How else can I word this?!). I started Make Shift Model last August as a fresh off the boat Goldsmiths graduate. I had recently moved to Spain from London, and was finding my life après intense Fine Art degree quite void of my usual outpouring of creativity. I learned a huge amount about fashion studying at Goldsmiths, more so than art in fact, and I was dying to put my own spin on it all!
I was born and grew up in a City just bordering North London, but have spent most of my adult life living in London and all around the world. My first solo adventure was to Spain when I was sixteen... I can't say it was a great experience, in fact it was truly awful, but it equipped me well for my lonely life of travelling in the years to come!
Asides from London, I have lived all over this mighty planet- trying my hand at a ludicrous array of careers. This "About Me" section would turn into an essay if I were to go through the list, but if I say I've tried everything, you must believe me! From Nursing to Finance, to Writing, Art, Business, Singing, Teaching, Acting, Modeling... from huge corporations like Christies and HSBC to tiny pubs and boutique hedge funds... I've tried it all!
One of my favorite places I found myself in the world was South Africa, where I spent some time teaching Ballet and English and living on strangers yachts! Australia is another magical place I really enjoyed existing in! My accent has changed many times from all the foreign lands... you can still hear a tint of Ozzy in there when I get really excited about something!
I was always strangely passionate about Spain throughout my childhood, and ironically ended up in Barcelona with my film maker fiancé and love of my life Albert, who is responsible for all the wonderful pictures on my blog!
I spent my first year out of university in Barcelona, and had my heart set on becoming an Opera singer... unfortunately times were and still are very tough in Spain economically, and our funds soon ran dry.
I began focusing on my drawings and ideas for a clothing line, whilst practicing my do re me's in my wardrobe so as not to annoy the neighbors!
Last Christmas we were given a gift of two flights to Hong Kong... Having been once, only briefly for a work commitment back in my finance years, my mind began wondering off thinking of all the potential fabrics and tailoring opportunities Hong Kong is so infamous for! I worked like crazy on some ideas and put them to work once I arrived!
The result was almost mind blowing, to see something you've sketched out on paper turn into a real thing... I was sold. Over the next few months, myself and Albert returned to Hong Kong, where he worked on some projects and I got to work on the full Disco Pony collection. I set up the entire company from a small, but much needed investment from my now official partner, and worked the hardest I have ever worked in my life!
We have just moved permanently to Hong Kong where I am now working on the Disco Pony business, the next collection, and on re-shooting the first Disco inspired sequins collection... It is important to me to keep the collection out on the streets, as this was my main inspiration. I love the idea of never saving your special things... Life is too short for this. I dont think special should be hidden away... It needs to live and get some holes in it! Like us!
My blog is turning into a very therapeutic place for me to showcase and vent the ups and downs of my new life as a designer on the other side of the world. I think it's really important to show it all, for me as much as you my beautiful readers. I feel a huge sense of relief when I am able to share my journey and adventure with you all, not just the lovely things... I think this connects us as humans in this mad world we are in, which we all know is not always sequins and summer time! The blogs that leave me feeling less are the ones who only showcase the ups... as stunning as they can be, it feels too impossible to achieve, and I disconnect. So here it is... my cards laid out. The in's the out's, the up's and the downs. You will find them all here!
I hope you enjoy it all, and come follow me on my adventure. I gain so much inspiration from my readers and all their incredible blogs, and I'm always on the look out for more!
So saddle up babies! My name is Zoey, and this is my Disco Pony Adventure! xx
Please feel free to ask me anything, or write to me @ zoeycrystyna@gmail.com
