From Home Office to Fashion Platform
Making My Own Rules
Today I'm pulling back the curtain on a story I've kept behind the scenes. While this isn't The Fashion Standup's origin story, it does reveal how my path intertwined with it.
I didn't realize my journey to Substack and the newsletters' sphere was quite unique until just a few days ago. While researching for the essay I planned for this week, I had an epiphany about my unconventional path.
It was listening to "The Pre-Loved" podcast featuring Viv Chen that triggered this realization. Hearing The Molehill's founder share her journey made me see my own path in a new light.
The Perfect Storm of Influences
My decision to make self-employment my first career move wasn't random. It stemmed from a blend of influences: my initial career aspirations, background, family examples, friendships, my relationship with fashion itself, and adapting to life with a disability.
Initially, I thought I would be an independent fashion designer with my own studio and brand. This felt natural for a student in the Portuguese fashion cluster. One thing was absolutely certain: as much as I loved London during my summer short courses, I wasn't planning to go abroad. Deep down, I knew that, and I always loved connecting with everyone everywhere through digital platforms.
When I mention "my background," I'm not particularly talking about my BA and MA in fashion design; I'm referring to my complementary business-related education. A short course at Central Saint Martins called "How to start your own fashion business," and primarily Business Class by Sophia Amoruso, had a major impact by giving me the tools to create my own venture. Being part of Sophia's community helped me shape my vision.
Family Entrepreneurship in My DNA
As I was saying, I have always pictured myself as my own boss, although sometimes I believe I am the worst boss I could have. Nevertheless, I've watched my dad work in large companies (not in fashion), and it felt boring and unfulfilling to me. It simply wasn't the path I wanted.
During my MA studies, I saw my parents take another huge leap into entrepreneurship; it wasn't their first attempt, and they were in their mid-50s—and that's inspiring! At their conceptual fish and seafood bistro, I worked as a waiter and cashier during summers. Being somewhat my own boss there allowed me to manage my tiredness and physical pain on my own terms, which was invaluable.
Of course, I recognize that managing your own business isn't easy; I've learned this through my education and I see it daily with my parents' venture. They supported me in starting my project, as did my grandmother. I know she did it partly because I would be working from home, just a staircase away from her all day long.
I'm not being entirely fair here, as entrepreneurship runs in my veins also because of my grandmother, my mom's mother. She founded her construction and real estate business with her children (my mom and uncle), and ran it through the late '80s and the '90s. Before that, she had worked for a large corporation.
It would be foolish not to learn from my family's story—we were made to create our very own projects.
The Power of Friendship
Would I be smart if, having the best friends a person could wish for, I learned nothing from their experiences? If you don't know yet, I am the strongest advocate for intergenerational friendships you'll ever meet.
The fact that some of my closest friends are decades older than me means I'm surrounded by accomplished women who believe in their own value and ideas as much as mine. I follow their example, particularly my beloved mentor. She simply answered, "and you can!" when I told her a professor had suggested I could be a fashion researcher. Her consistent encouragement of my posts and articles has been incredibly motivating.
Preserving My Love for Fashion
My relationship with fashion itself is special—I've loved and cared deeply for fashion my entire life and didn't want that passion to become toxic or lead to burnout for the sake of a "stable job." That said, if presented with a truly meaningful project collaborating with people I admire, I would absolutely take that leap.
Creating My Own Inclusive Environment
My physical disability resulting from cerebral palsy is not who I am—it's part of who I am. I wouldn't fully embrace my adulthood if I pretended it had no impact on my daily life. Working from home and on my own terms creates a perfect inclusive environment for me. This arrangement also makes it possible to stay connected with many creative minds.
As someone who has done many medical exams, physical therapy sessions, and whatnot, I gave myself permission to skip the traditional experience ladder to deep dive into developing TFS. Due to governmental disability support measures, my monthly income isn't zero. Although if I were living independently, it would be too small. For me, it's enough to bootstrap my initial creative outlets.
Turning Passion into Service
This passion for studying fashion—the reading, the talks, the shows, the theoretical connections—isn't just personal indulgence. Platforms like Substack, Ghost, and LinkedIn newsletters now allow me to transform my fashion expertise into valuable content for others who share this passion.
The Reality Check
If any of this resembles a modern-day fairytale, let me clarify a few things.
Sometimes living with your parents and grandmother, by choice, can really feel like you live in a madhouse. As dear as my friends are to me (and I'm aware of my flaws), they can take several days to text back or read messages without responding… And my imposter syndrome can skyrocket, making me question whether what I'm creating provides enough value to attract premium subscribers someday, or whether it will make any impact on the fashion industry.
With that said, I love my family, my friends, and my project. I will not move, I will keep sending my friends texts, and I will continue to invest my time and work in The Fashion Standup.
My not-that-healthy attachment style to my people sometimes messes with my mind. When my imposter syndrome makes me second-guess myself, I try to change my thoughts by appreciating small victories—like how perfect the blue velvet mirror I bought for my home office is.
What's your story? Have you also taken an unconventional path to your current work? I'd love to hear your experiences.
See you soon!
With love,
Vera
Thank you so much for sharing your origin story. I love your work and am glad you get to make it. I'm also grateful to you for speaking about doing work you love with a disability. My daughters are both artists and both disabled. It's helpful and heartening to hear how others balance creative work with needs for rest and a high level of self care. ❤️
#turningpassionintoservice.💯