How Steve Jobs Brought My Son to Vancouver Men’s Fashion Week
Last week, millions mourned the demise of Steve Jobs. They might have not known the man personally, but with the intimate relationship that this modern generation has with its gadgets, the death of one of the most successful innovators in the world struck too close to home. Facebook and twitter were flooded with statuses that read iCry, iMourn and iSad.
It is undeniable that we are becoming increasingly dependent on technology to live and make a living. But it is pioneers like Steve Jobs, who gave us beautifully designed tools for modern existence and successfully changed our lives with their vision. If you are glued to your iPhone, iPod, iPad and laptop, Steve Jobs indeed change your world. “I” ceased merely to be a letter symbolizing the egotistic side of human nature – it became instead a prefix for something excellently designed, innovative and desirable in a way that makes you say iWant and iNeed. And want and need the results of Steve Jobs’ imagination, we did.
While there are many of us who would like to leave the world with such an impact, few demonstrate actual temerity to see such noble intentions through. But making ripples in this world, no matter how minuscule in comparison to legendary behemoths such as Apple, still need to be celebrated. And it is in this light that I would like to share how Steve Jobs brought my son to Vancouver Fashion Week.
Steve Jobs said: “Do what you love to do. Find your true passion. Make a difference. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” My son heeded the siren call of fashion design while practicing his trade in the airline industry and a diplomatic mission. He recognized that skills and an education were critical prerequisites to succeeding in this highly competitive and creative field, so he worked hard to get the fundamentals down pat.
But therein lies a caveat – passion alone is not enough to get results. Many may profess to be passionate about something – say photography or the culinary arts – but only 20% or less would be willing to put in the constant, unwavering sacrifice of becoming simply competent.
Steve Jobs said: “Do your best at every job. Don’t sleep! Success generates more success so be hungry for it.” It is this hunger that will allow you to attend, participate and work hard in every single class you signed up for, despite long, daily commutes from Manila to Taguig to attend to your uncompromising and exacting full-time job.
“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works”, said Jobs. And so, upon finishing his design course, my son realized that creativity and excellence were two principles that needed to be practiced and obsessively ensured in every aspect of his professional life – and that they were not mutually exclusive. Creativity leads to innovation, while excellence ensures the delivery of products resulting from your innovation.
But there was something else that Steve Jobs said: “Be different, think different”, and so the fledgling designer decided to concentrate on menswear, not only to avoid jumping into the oversaturated pool of women’s clothes but because the former was his true passion. With his field defined, my son decided to hold on to another Jobs mantra: “People judge you by your performance, so focus on the outcome. Be a yardstick of quality.” And a stickler for quality, the designer became.
The proof is in the pudding, they say, and soon enough, Philippine Fashion opened its doors to the designer to showcase the results of his hard work on the runway, retail shops, intimate shows for fashion insiders and all forms of media – print, television and the web. The mileage was not a result of some weird popularity contest but from practicing another sage advice from the founder of Apple: “Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. Advertise. And deliver.”
Last October 1, Nico Agustin successfully presented his collection during the maiden Vancouver Men’s Fashion Week, being one of only two foreigners invited to show in the event. He got a standing ovation. And pieces were hailed by fashion media as part of the emerging menswear trends in North America.
The success of our fellowmen is a blessing to others with its capacity to inspire – and so I end this article with another insight to push you, dear reader, in the same direction as that nerd who changed the world: “Start small, think big. Don’t worry about too many things at once. Take a handful of simple things to begin with, and then progress to more complex ones. Think about not just tomorrow, but the future. Put a ding in the universe.”
You can. In the same way that my son has put a ding in mine.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com
