The Creative Myth
The Creative Myth
Sera Choat - Designer, Sewer, Teacher
Today on The Creative Myth, Sirjana chats to Sera Choat, the incredible fashion designer/school teacher behind My Keeper, a handmade designer rental company based in New Zealand.
Sera has nurtured her creative business from the ground on up and has a ton of wisdom to share.
In today's episode, we discuss the power of following your heart, the origins of her creative drive, how defining success makes all the difference, living your gratitude, following your dreams, and did you know that maths is actually useful outside the classroom? Go figure.
Hello you beautiful people and welcome to the creative myth. The podcast that attempts to inspire the uninspired by unfolding breaking down and distilling that mythical force of nature and or nurture they call creativity. Our goal to bust the myth that creativity is only the birthright of the future. And each bi weekly episode we find a new and engaging self confessed creative and strike up a dialogue. Failing that Sergio and I will sit down and discuss a topic that has got something to do with creativity and how it relates to us as our role as artists, nomads and parents to find out just what creativity means, how it can be channeled into your passions and where exactly you might find it. But who is we? We is searching to sing and Benjamin lane wife and husband Indian and Kiwi adventure photographers, international travelers, and curious minds? You might know us as nomadic lovers of adventure tended photography, and if not, you can follow our adventures on Instagram at 10 photography, or on our website dental photography.com. Oh, and don't forget to check out our 10 photography YouTube channel. Today on the creative myth session, as sits down with Sarah, the incredible teacher slash fashion designer behind my keeper, a handmade designer rental company based right here in New Zealand. Sierra has nurtured her creative business from the ground up and has a ton of wisdom to share. In today's episode, we discussed the power of following your heart, the origins of her creative drive, living her gratitude and following your dreams. But we find out that maths is actually useful outside the classroom. Anyway, without further ado, let's get started.
Sirjana Singh:Okay, welcome to the creative mid Sara. Am I saying your name correctly? Yeah.
Unknown:Sa ra h like normal Sarah, but I changed it just since I've been a teacher. So it's harder to find online.
Sirjana Singh:Nice. It's so lovely to have you with us. You're the queen of patterns, and the lover of colors. And I love seeing your creations pop up in on our Insta feed? No. But for the uninitiated, you know, people who haven't had the joy of seeing your work yet? Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Okay, so
Unknown:I teach full time I teach a sevens at renewer intermediate. I've been teaching for seven years. Initially, I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was in school when I was sort of year 1213 deciding what I wanted to do. But then I also wanted to be a teacher. So I did think the teaching was a safer route. So I went with the teaching. And yeah, I've done my keeper on the side. But now my teaching is my side hustle. And my keepers, my main hustle makes for hectic life. And I'm 28 Wow, wow, doing
Sirjana Singh:all of that. I totally understand having a full time job and running a business because we did that for five years. Before we went full time with tinted. And my gosh, we look back at that time. And we always think like how, how is that humanly possible? Yes, sometimes
Unknown:in the holidays, or the holidays have just been and I was working almost full time on my keeper. And I was thinking to myself, wait, I'm working full time on my keeper right now. How on earth do I manage this fall? I'm teaching full time as well. Sometimes I don't even know. Yep. Yeah, you can rely? Yeah, totally can relate.
Sirjana Singh:How did you come up with the name my keeper.
Unknown:So the majority of the dresses, one of the clients. So when I first started, they were all completely one of a kind. So what I would do is I would make sort of 10 to 20 dresses, or completely one offs. And I came up with the idea of my keeper because I figured if you buy one, it's a keeper. Because if you sell it, you'll never come across it again. Do you know what I mean? That's Yeah.
Sirjana Singh:That's such a nice. Oh, totally makes sense. Now because I was thinking about so many other things. That could mean this could mean that but yeah, totally makes sense. Yeah.
Unknown:I mean, when I initially came up with the idea, it was purely just a hobby. Really, I didn't think I'd come as far as I have. So whether I'd still call up my keeper, I don't know. But it's still quite a nice sort of. I don't know idea behind the name is nice. So
Sirjana Singh:yeah, yeah. So is it the designing or the sewing like which one is more fun for you?
Unknown:Oh my gosh, definitely the designing. Yeah. Yeah. So since I've hired people to I have for seamstresses that helped me to make my custom orders. Now, I still make all of the rentals, which I absolutely love. But since I've had people helping me with my custom orders, it's been so good because I've just got the creative, like I've got the time to be creative and stuff and I can send them my ideas and they can create the samples and it's just so fun to see my ideas coming to life but may not have to do the hard work behind it.
Sirjana Singh:I mean, designing is no mean task. I mean yeah, doing such Great job every time you put up something on your post or a reel, which you're Wow, you're efficient aficionados is the efficient arrow. It's so good. I've saved all your reels. I don't know what I'm going to do with them. But every time you put one I like and then I save my gosh, this is so embarrassing. No know you do
Unknown:video sharing thing now. So I guess I'm gonna do it that way.
Sirjana Singh:And you have adapted really well. Thank you. So I want to know about the time when you failed sewing in school?
Unknown:Yes, sir. Yeah, because this is really interesting. Now you have this business. And that's the backstory, I would love to connect the dots. Sure. So when I was in school, around year nine, I think year nine or 10, our sewing teacher got made redundant because people weren't choosing it as a subject. So there just wasn't a need for it. Because of that, I decided I still really loved it. Because like I said, I wanted to be a fashion designer. So I took it for correspondence and stayed that when I was in school, the internet, YouTube, I mean, I'm not old, old, but like, I think like Wi Fi wasn't a thing, then you had to go to like to the library to look at the Internet and stuff. And YouTube wasn't really like big then. So I would sit in the sewing room all by myself for a couple of periods a week trying to teach myself how to sew using these commercial patterns that are just so jargony it was unreal, it was no one to teach me and yeah, I ended up failing. So I've got a real of one of the Gammons that I failed because of where the steps just quite bad, like the facing doesn't sit properly. Yeah, it's terrible. But yeah, so I fail, but I kept going. And I mean, I've yet I've got here now. So it's worth persevering. I always bring one of my first dresses that I ever made. And a dress that I make these days into my classroom to show the kids because at the start of the year, we do lots of things around like growth mindset, and that mistakes are learning opportunities. And like perseverance is so important. So I bring those in and show them and I just say to them, like, you know, imagine if I gave up then you know, I'd never get to where I am.
Sirjana Singh:Yeah, wow, what a cool story for your kids to learn from because failure is really hard to overcome. Have you always been positive around how you deal with failure? Or was it hard? Was it a learning curve? Yeah,
Unknown:I would say that's been a journey for me. So I've always found sort of constructive criticism, anything like that failing differently, quite difficult. But probably over the last five years or so I've just sort of become there. And the more on more like, the better I get at sewing, the more I realized that the perseverance pays off. And my teaching, I actually follow a lady called Joe bowler, who is all about sort of growth mindset and talking about mistakes or learning opportunities in terms of like maths. Yeah. So lots of that kind of stuff that I've been learning through all of the maths and things that I've been teaching at school that sort of applies to my sewing journey in a weird way as well. So I think, yeah, I've learned to be that way. I think for me it is I learned and then unlearn it, and then learn it. And it's such a it's it's a continuous journey for me. Oh,
Sirjana Singh:there have been times in my life chapters in my life where failure was easier to deal with. And then there are times when it haunted me for four months. Yeah, years that end. Yeah, I'm used to it and understand it. So this is fascinating. I love talking to creatives about, yeah, their journey with failure. Talking about creatives, do you recognize yourself as a creative?
Unknown:I would say? Yeah, yeah, I would. Now I think if you asked me a couple of years ago, probably not my confidence in myself, was probably not quite what it is now. So yeah, I would say yes.
Sirjana Singh:How did you come to the realization that fashion designing was something that you want to do? You can remember? Oh,
Unknown:yeah. I don't know. Honestly, I just when I was a kid, I think I still remember one dream when I was like, year five or something like this when I dreamed of these amazing pants that I was going to make, which I had no hope in hell at the age of making them but they were these gorgeous brown pants and on the inside, they were lined with this floral. And I think it was that dream. Honestly, I know that sounds crazy. But I will never forget that dream. And that was honestly where I started having passion for creating and things like that. I mean, I would have not a chance of creating anything like that when I was a year five, but that's when I started thinking about just creating things from scratch.
Sirjana Singh:Wow. Okay, I have to confess all through my life. My mother has made all my dresses. Oh, and I would draw them I would watercolor them and be like, make this and then she would make it. And I just always thought like, of course, I'm going to be a fashion designer when I grow up like that. I have to think about other things. And then I saw, I would sit with my mum and summer holidays and look at how she would make a dress come alive. And it felt like Archer, not only tedious work, but also something that takes I don't know, like it always felt like maths to me. Like, this is something that it's so calculated. And it just didn't. Yeah, it just didn't vibe with my my style of creativity. So
Unknown:I actually use pie the other day. That's what I was telling the kids at the other day in maths, we were doing the circumference of a circle. And I said to them, I'm not even joking, guys. I used pie the other day and you know, it applies to her life. So I can totally understand the mathematical side that you're talking about.
Sirjana Singh:No matter how much I have wanted to debunk this and think of it as a myth that Matt is, you know, useful in every part of our life. I haven't been able to it really is useful. Yeah. Like all spheres of life. So did the love for patterns start from that dreamer? Were you always interested in bold patterns and bright colors?
Unknown:I've Well, I wouldn't say I've always been when I was younger. Probably before that dream. I used to wear rugby socks up to my knees. odd ones like an odd pair yard. We're I don't know if you know what DC shoes are. They're like, skater homes. I will Yeah, they moved them and board shorts. And people copy me. I don't even know like what they were thinking but I was a trendsetter from way back. Yeah. I'd say probably from about year eight onwards, I started getting into really unique sort of bright, bold patterns. I like to dressing differently to other people I like to stand out. So I'd say from that age onwards, I definitely sort of picked things are a bit out there in terms of clothing.
Sirjana Singh:Yeah, I can. I mean, I want to tell you all about my foray with fashion designing but I think we'll sit down and chat about that sometime. I would love to later because I would love to hear how is our there any similarities because just talking to you is making me think about my old bygone dreams of becoming a fashion designer. My goal is to do something else to do something like that. Every time I tell that to my mom, she's like, it's easy. You can be that I can teach you how to sew and then she sat with her for 15 minutes. No man hats off to you. It's amazing what you do. Thanks. So do you dream in colors? Or do you dream in pattern? Like what comes to you first as you seek inspiration?
Unknown:Yeah, I would say probably colors. Yeah. colors. And then. Yeah, colors first. And then the patterns. I just see. I'll see a color combination out and about. I'll even see just like random girls at the mall. And I think, Oh my gosh, I love that color. Okay, this sounds creepy. But every now and then I took a quick photo of them. So I can document the color combo.
Sirjana Singh:I mean, I won't tell it to anyone else. But maybe the couple who are listening to the podcast, just a couple. No, I don't know about. I don't know if you know about this app called procreate? Yeah. So I do my art there. And so I do also take creepy sneaky photos of people of color. I'm like, Oh, yay, that one? Oh,
Unknown:yeah. Yeah, I use procreate I, at the moment in my teaching. We ran a thing called two E's at school. And on Friday afternoons, each teacher can teach pretty much whatever they want. So they can follow their passion. They can do things like crafts, sports, you name it. So I run one called so much fun. In last term, we use procreate, and I taught the kids how to design their own fabrics. And I've got them printed over the holidays. And this term, we are sewing dresses in them. So yeah. How
Sirjana Singh:cool. Are you? Like, this is amazing. I want to go back to school. Can you be my teacher? And then we could do this? And then I would no more. Yeah, I'm definitely a weird teacher, I think in the scheme of things, but who will teach? Cool teacher please. So what do you This is the podcast that we just did Ben and I and it was about schedules and creativity. And so I'd love to know from you. Do you have a scheduler system or a routine that you follow? that fuels your creativity? No,
Unknown:I am so spontaneous. It's not even funny. There is no planning behind anything that I do. Right? Just most of my ideas come to me in my sleep. So I've got a little diary beside my bed. And I wake up in the middle of night and I'll just jot those ideas down while I've got them and then I will usually execute them the next day. Awesome.
Sirjana Singh:So there's your ritual, you know, idea comes you have a book of ideas and inspiration sitting next You, I guess
Unknown:to a certain extent, yeah, but it's not so planned. It's quite sort of, well,
Sirjana Singh:there's an idea where I go, Uh huh. Awesome. And so um, do you sit down to work? And then the inspiration knocks the door? Or do you wait for inspiration and then set to work?
Unknown:Usually I wait for the inspiration. But I will go out of my way to sort of scroll through Pinterest and do things that will prompt the inspiration to happen, if that makes sense. So yeah, I want to sit back completely and just wait for it to have an hour sort of do things that will prompt me to think of new ideas.
Sirjana Singh:What advice would you give to people who are going through a dry spell when it comes to inspiration?
Unknown:Probably just come to take a complete step back, I reckon for a little bit, you know, people on Instagram call it So Joe, sometimes you lose your soul, Joe. And I think the best thing for that is to just step back and take a break from it for a couple of days. And then the ideas will flow. That's what I do anyway.
Sirjana Singh:So Has that ever happened when you're working on a very challenging project that you have promised with a deadline? Has that ever happened to you then?
Unknown:Yeah, yeah, that's definitely happened in the past, when I've had Yeah, orders to get down and things like that. Yeah, for sure it's happened. And I've have just stepped back. And I feel like taking a taking a breath, relaxing, counting down all of that kind of stuff that helps otherwise, mistakes happen.
Sirjana Singh:What's the most challenging project that you've worked on?
Unknown:I would say, and this one was actually a bit of a failure and a learning curve for me as well, that I went to school with asked me to make some bridesmaids dresses for her. And like, you know, I failed sewing when I was in school. So I'm not 100% confident in every single style of sewing and all of that. But she asked me to make the certain style of dress, which is called bias cat, it's like catch on a 45 degree angle, which means that the fabric kind of has a bit more stretch to it, and it kind of drapes down your body. And I've done a few in the past, but wasn't super confident. But I took the project on and I really probably shouldn't have at that stage in my sewing journey, because it was the most challenging thing I've ever done. And I failed a couple of times and had to remake them and so on. So I'd say yeah, those bridesmaids dresses were hectic. I feel stuck thinking about it. But
Sirjana Singh:now you are launching rental for bridal bridesmaid dresses. I am so excited for that. So excited. We have to chat later. And I want to add that to our PDF that we send to our brides. Oh,
Unknown:it's so cool. Yes, it's actually an idea I came up with a few years ago, I had one set of bridesmaids rentals. But then I didn't know I just the idea just sort of left me and I sort of started on other projects. And then I made the dresses. I'm not sure if you've seen on my Instagram lately, the sort of greens set that are at an actual wedding, and even recently for a girl and then when the photos came in, it sort of triggered me again. I was like, I should do that. I should do those dresses again. So
Sirjana Singh:yeah, divine. Those are divine. By the way,
Unknown:I'm Sophie I have two of them the car accident, they're not cars I would ever have chosen myself, even when I bought them as like an interesting choice. But honestly that incredible. And I think sometimes some of my most favorite color combinations are ones that are quite unpredictable. So yeah, I'm really excited about the bridesmaids are into us,
Sirjana Singh:especially with your you know your style and style of pattern and colors. It's going to be unlike anything New Zealand wedding industry has seen. So I'm really excited to see what you're going to bring to those do on your website. When did you figure out your style? Was it? Did you had to work to find your style? Or did it just happen for you?
Unknown:No, I'd say it just sort of happened. For me. I've always been, I always say to my boyfriend Darren that I'm sure that as if reincarnation exists. I'm sure I'm reincarnated from like the 60s or 70s. Because I've always just sort of been drawn to those kinds of patterns, those colors, those styles. So yeah, it's something that I've been into for a while, I'd say I'm drawn to things that are a little bit different. Just, yeah, not you mainstream.
Sirjana Singh:There's so much happiness in your cuts, and then the color choices like every time I see a dress that you've made, it just embodies happiness. So I really wanted to know, how did you come to that style? Like did it emanate from you? Or is that something that you had to work on and do iterations of and then you found your style? I wish you had said the letter because then I would have some answers for myself but
Unknown:Alright, hold on recap on that question one more time was it
Sirjana Singh:so the style that you have currently You always had that style. Is that something that you came up with by, you know, trial and error? You know, it's
Unknown:sad. I had that kind of stuff for quite some time, or at least, probably since my first year of university. Yeah, I sort of developed it from there. I've been very floral, loud, floaty, big slaves. I've always been into big slaves, whether they're in fashion or not. Yeah, but yeah, so probably from the first year of university, I'd say, that's kind of where it started for me. So.
Sirjana Singh:Yeah. Nice. So so your personality definitely informs your art, then? Yeah,
Unknown:I would say 100%. Yes. I'm a very bubbly, energetic sort of person.
Sirjana Singh:Does your mood inform your art as well? Are there days when you are not feeling that happy and bubbly? And it shows in your designs,
Unknown:I would say probably not, I would say nine times out of 10 I am I really happy, outgoing kind of person. I've been through a pretty rough time this year, my partner has suffered with some pretty bad mental health and kind of, because it went for quite a long period of time, it did actually affect me for the first time in my life, I wasn't that really happy, vibrant, kind of energetic person, I, I honestly had never seen that side to me before. So I designed that jumper, I'm not sure if you saw it, the no rain, no flowers when the embroidered flowers. So that was just to sort of represent that time. So I'd say that it informed that design, but not in a way where it was reflected in sort of darker colors or anything like that it was more sort of that informed kind of at the hope and that kind of thing. So I'm making a new jumper at the moment that says grow through what you go through. And that's also sort of influenced by Yeah, that time, but in general, I'd say, nine times out of 10 I'm like tea and attitude and bubbly.
Sirjana Singh:Man, oh my gosh, it's really cool. It's so the first jumper is it's nice one, yes, he
Unknown:has no rain, no flowers, which kind of means like, you know, a smooth see doesn't make, you know, skillful sailor kind of thing. And that, you know, everything that happens to you in life is sort of an opportunity to grow and learn. And in the second one, it's grow through what you go through which that once again, is sort of just kind of, you know, whatever happens in your life, just use it as a learning experience and grow from it.
Sirjana Singh:Yeah. And that you have to you cannot always have the sea of happiness around you and, and to go through things is how you sometimes reach the pinnacle of where you have to be yet this is amazing. This is the ace, I cannot wait for it to come and order one. What makes renting dresses the best choice when it comes to wardrobe? Oh, that's a good one. I've completely taken a completely taken a U turn. I was like this question before I forget, I haven't made it head, I have to ask this. And then we come back,
Unknown:I'd say one advantage would be that you can kind of extend your wardrobe. So you know, I've got 300 dresses that you can rent out. So technically, those are 300 dresses, that can be part of your wardrobe as well. So I think that's one advantage. The second advantage is I guess that you know, lots of girls, they buy dresses, and then don't wear them again, especially for formal events. So I think that's an advantage as well as that, you know, at least that one item is getting worn over and over and over and over. So for the environment, I guess it's a little bit better as well then people's items ending up in the landfill or you know, all of that kind of thing. So I think those are an advantage. The disadvantage, I would say is that recently, I sort of thought about the amount of like courier drivers having to drive the garments back and forth all of that stuff in terms of the environment. And even though I use recyclable and compostable bags, do people actually recycle them or compost them? I'm not sure. So I recently made some reusable bags that have zip so people can zip open the bag or pull out their rental and then it goes back in the same bag and it's fabric so it can just be used over and over and you have creatively found a solution for that. And those bags are really fun by the way again,
Sirjana Singh:a great pattern.
Unknown:Thank you. Yeah, I wanted to make them like brighten sort of represent my brand. I did contemplate think about the fact that maybe that might appeal to people wanting to steal them like whether they'd see the sprite bag and then want to take it. I'm not sure so far so good. But yeah, I contemplated doing just plain black ones. But then I was like, Oh, that's not very me.
Sirjana Singh:You mentioned brand. Is that something that you had to think about after you started my keeper? Or is that always something that you knew that whatever you Were you always mindful of creating a brand is what I want to know.
Unknown:It's weird because when I first started the journey, I don't even really know. I didn't really think long term. I wasn't really sure what my purpose was. I just wanted to create and share what I was creating. So yeah, my first lot of items that I made years ago was I just made tea. In one of a kind pieces, and I sold them on designer wardrobe, the Facebook page, and they sold in like, a minute, like all of them. And then I was, I was taken back by that. And then I just sort of continued, but I definitely didn't have the plan. Like when I first launched, like for example, if I started a business now I would sort of have a plan for it, I would know where I was wanting to go. It wasn't like it by any means. It was very spontaneous. And I just wanted to share what I was doing with the world. And yeah, yeah, right here I am now.
Sirjana Singh:So what would you say to those who are aspiring to follow in your footsteps, like and follow their own passion? And also, any pragmatic advice on the business side?
Unknown:I would say one, get a good accountant. I made a mistake. I made that mistake right at first. Yeah, bad mistake. And I think honestly, just jump in. I would say just jump in, just do it. I think if you following your heart and you're doing what you love, it's gonna end up being successful. quite seriously. I honestly do. I think, like I said, I couldn't even saw I failed sewing and I have been able to do it. So I think there's hope for everyone as long as they follow their heart and they're passionate about it. So I would say jump in.
Sirjana Singh:And also success comes in different shades, right that apparently for us with tinted the first five years were monetarily not successful. But what they made us what it did to our relationship for Ben and I and how we grew as people, how we grew as people who understood success and failure, before figuring out you know, our financial side, like so much. We learned so much. We had success in so many other places before the monetary success, monetary, monetary, monetary success. I am having such a more moment right now I'm constantly thinking in Punjabi and talking in English. And so excuse me if I'm just going to butcher words, language, but But yeah, success is it comes in so many different shades. And also, by just beginning, you will be putting in the hard work. And then hard work never goes to waste. Because that, again, is a learning curve in its own.
Unknown:Yeah, I totally agree. And I think the thing that you said about success in different forms is exactly right. Success doesn't exactly need to be money that can come, you know, yeah, I felt so successful. Just having people like, like the post on that Facebook page, you know, they felt great. So little things like that, I think are a great stat, I would say for me, and maybe people would be to differ on this one. I'm not sure. But I think having a solid income from another job as important depending on how much planning and stuff you have. I think for me, having the stability of my teaching has been really good for my business. And I don't know if I would have made it as far without it, because it did give me that sort of financial grounding. And yeah, just that extra money to invest that came from my teaching rather than the business. So yeah, I don't know, some people might say, dive in and just, you know, go for it. But I think you need to build it up to an extent where you're comfortable to take that leap.
Sirjana Singh:We welcome all different opinions on the creative myth. But I am totally with you. Like for the first five years, we were doing our day jobs, as well as running tinted. And it gave us while one more understanding what the financial side of things and how to manage our finances, because slowly and slowly, we knew we were leaning towards going full time, and we could plan for it. But also to take big leaps like, oh, we're going to buy this very expensive camera, or you know, we're going to go travel to the certain place and then do some shoots to promote our own brand. So no, that was really helpful having that financial backing of a permanent job, not a permanent job, like permanent income coming through every week. So you're not going crazy. And I feel like it really affects my art, if I have to worry about where the next check is coming from. So you know, you start leaning into trends, then because you think they would work for us is what people want these days, rather than actually creating what your heart desires, which takes a lot of that ridge.
Unknown:Yeah, it totally does. It totally does. I completely agree.
Sirjana Singh:So do you think if those first few dresses that you made one sold that quickly, you would still be chasing in some way or form the stream of becoming a fashion designer?
Unknown:Yeah, honestly, I do think that I would be I think it would have probably knocked me a little bit because I had put so much time into it. But yeah, I would say I would still have followed the dream because like I said, I've been thinking about it since those since that dream of those pants, you know, so whether it would have continued on into sort of a sales point of view or whether I would have just sort of started a handmade wardrobe and sort of fueled it for my own wardrobe. Yeah, I'm not sure. But I think I would have followed it either way. Yeah.
Sirjana Singh:Are there times in your week or month or year, where you just sit down and take it all in? And, you know, I filled with gratitude of what you've achieved is that I cry.
Unknown:I cry happy tears. Sometimes I Yeah, sometimes I look back at where I've come from, and I actually can't, I'm even starting to tear up thinking about it now. I just honestly can't believe that I Oh, my gosh, I'm so sensitive. I'm such a sensitive Sally. But no, yeah, I do. I I can't believe that, um, no gratitude. You
Sirjana Singh:know, gratitude is such an essential skill to have, and that it comes so naturally to us. Amazing. So is that a ritual that you have that you definitely take time to recognize where you've come from? Or does that come so easily to you, like, you enter your work room, and you're like, Oh, my God,
Unknown:this is amazing. I would say I'm quite naturally grateful for lots of things. But I do practice at school. Once again, lots of things that I do at school influence, the way I live my life, but I teach my kids a lot about resilience and how to bounce back and we look look at gratitude and things. So most days, we do gratitude after lunch. And so I always take the time then to talk about it. And I like talking about my life with the kids and reflecting on things I'm grateful for in my life and things like that. So I do at the end, but I also sometimes my life is so hectic. It's like go go go that sometimes when I stopped to relax, that's when it hits me. And I sort of think, yeah, oh my gosh, I've actually done this. Like it's Yeah. So yeah, I don't take time specifically to do it in my personal life. But at school, I stop and think about it every now and then. But I try not to cry at school.
Sirjana Singh:Every now and then that's fine. Man, you're very cool teacher. And tears are a good thing. Because you know that they just just really refresh your soul. But Ben and I had this ritual that we were not had, we still have that ritual, that every time an inquiry comes into our inbox, we will always cheers with something like even if it's water, is that all we can get at that time? If we can make a cocktail, then great. But we'll always first take that time to do cheers and be like, Oh my gosh, shouldn't quiet because it's still find it so incredible that people would seek us and then send us an inquiry. And once we do book that inquiry, yeah, we have a silly dance that we always do. Always. And that's a gratitude moment.
Unknown:And when I first opened my Shopify website, and the first sales were coming into my Shopify was doing the life changing. I did a little dance to those two things. Yeah.
Sirjana Singh:Man is amazing. And again, as I'm talking to, I'm imagining all these, you know, designs and dresses that you've created, they keep popping in my head. And yeah, it's making me smile. So your work is really full of happiness. And I'm sure people who wear them must feel that, you know, I do feel happy today. I don't know why I'm wearing this dress could be why.
Unknown:So that's so nice of you to say, honestly, that makes me feel happy that you feel that for my brand.
Sirjana Singh:Thank you. Absolutely do. It's It's so blatant, so blatantly happy and promoting happiness that we need that we absolutely need that. Is there any myths surrounding creativity that you would like to bust today? Oh, that you've heard of, from your kids or in school? Or you're like, No, I don't think like that, man.
Unknown:I guess maybe just their whole I can't do this. It's too hard. You know? It's, yeah, that's what I want to do. Bank. People can do it. Once again, I'll come back to me failing in school. Yeah, yeah, I think you've just got to follow your dreams and persevere. So I want to do bank that people were saying that they can't do something or it's too hard. Or also one thing that I don't like is when people say that they're, they're not a creative person, or they're not a maths person, or all of that stuff. Like anyone can do anything. It just takes a bit of times, obviously, it comes naturally to some people, and it might be hard for somebody else. But that doesn't mean that they can't make it happen. So
Sirjana Singh:yeah, yes. Oh my gosh, it's absolutely true. And recently, somebody did this equation in front of me when they were teaching their kid and it's looked so easy to me. And that's not how my teacher taught me and I was like, wow, why did they teach us like this in the school? And it made me think just maybe if I had somebody in school who was you know, not black and white about how maths can be done, I probably would have a different bent of mind when it comes to math. still won't come naturally to me, but I do wouldn't be that scared of it like I am right now, honestly,
Unknown:I couldn't agree more of what you've said, I, I actually teach my maths at school in quite an unusual way I take videos of myself doing real life things. And the kids have to come up with wonderings and noticings about what the problem might be. And then they work in multi level groups to solve the problem. So I actually quite often do sewing one. So I'll do things like, I want to remake the stress. This is how much it costs in the shop, but I want to remake it. How much will it cost me to remake it? How long will it take? What's the labor? All of that stuff? So I'm a bit of a weird math teacher as well.
Sirjana Singh:Dude, you're such a rad teacher. Would you stop saying you're weird? And also promised me Don't leave teaching. I know my keepers doing really, really well. But please hire more seamstresses so that you can still keep being a teacher because you're like, Oh, it's the admin that's getting me down. Okay, for is unreal. But we'll have to find you an admin person as well. But like, Oh my gosh, you cannot stop teaching. Kids need you. This is amazing. Thank you. Wow, that's so cool. Okay, so we've come to the part of the podcast where I ask you some rapid fire questions. But before I do that, is there anything that I haven't asked you? And I should have asked her a message that you would like to send to the wider audience about creativity, art or my keeper?
Unknown:Oh, and I would say about my Kieffer. There's lots of rental companies out there lots of designer rental companies. But the one thing that people will get from my keeper is that they won't be caught wearing the same thing at an event ever if they rent from Mikey fair, because they're all one of the glass.
Sirjana Singh:Yes, that is awesome. And yeah, very true. Also, you wouldn't have anyone wearing that not because it's from a rental company because you have such a unique take when it comes to colors and how to cut them into some amazing dresses. So there's that as well. Thank you. So keep doing what you're doing, Sarah it's, it's really beautiful. Okay, so rapid fire then. Ready? What are your three favorite colors? I know it because I saw your stories today. But I would say yeah, peach pale yellow and teal. Probably nice
Unknown:to turquoise, sorry, probably more turquoise than to sort of that bright punchy turquoise.
Sirjana Singh:So you've already answered but I have a question right here. Which era vintage Do you find most inspiring? The 60s and 70s? Uh, sure. Right. And why?
Unknown:I just love the floral prints. And the styles are just very me high waisted all of that kind of thing. Yeah. I'm happy at hat.
Sirjana Singh:Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Unknown:Morning person? I wake up at five o'clock in the morning and get it at 45.
Sirjana Singh:Well, okay. Okay, friendship over. But alright. Continue the podcast. What talents Do you wish you had? Oh,
Unknown:honestly, I wish I was a little a little better at reading aloud. I was never a reader growing up, sadly. And now when I go to read kids, read stories to my kids. I'm just not that good at it. But I do it anyway. So I'm getting better and better. But I wish that I had that. Looking back, I should have read more when I was younger.
Sirjana Singh:Nice and good job and resilience and keeping here. What are you going to do right after this interview,
Unknown:so I'm going to get out to dinner with my friends. And also these fabrics that I designed arrived in the mail this afternoon. So I really want to cut some out so that they reach so tomorrow morning when I wake up nice and early. So yeah, that's what I'm gonna do.
Sirjana Singh:Okay, if there are some really gorgeous flowers on that fabric and just like looking at them has made me smile. So those are gorgeous. Go to my keeper's Instagram, and I'm sure you're going to be putting up stories about them. And you'll see what we mean. Yes. Okay. And so finally, the three qualities that got you where you are today.
Unknown:Oh, okay. I would say perseverance, happiness and creativity. Just strike creativity.
Sirjana Singh:Shout out to creativity on the creative meant. Thank you so much, Sarah, for joining us with us today. I know you have such a busy schedule and you took out this time to sit with me. I really, really appreciate that
Unknown:or your your fashion is honestly Thank you. I appreciate your time. And honestly, this has been such a nice little chat. I feel like I've been great. So there you have it, peeps. Thanks so much for tuning in. We hope you learn heaps of new junk and stuff today. Like how to really embrace your failures, how you need to nurture that in a while of happiness, and that resilience and perseverance are two qualities all creatives should Foster. If you enjoyed today's episode, or indeed any other episode of the creative myth, please rate this podcast and leave a review You on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, you would absolutely make our day. If you know someone who you would love to hear interviewed about the creative process, send us a DM on our Turner photography Instagram page, and we'll reach out to them for you. Speaking of Instagram pages, we now have a dedicated one just for the creative myth. So go check that out. And hopefully that'll keep you tied over till next time, but till then you know the drill. Stay read. Stay tuned and be creative.