To hustle, in this generation is to work. Work hard for that money, and to work hard to where you want to go. It is mostly an 'Urban' mindset, seen a lot in rappers, producers coming from lack and working to be the best at their game. Working hard not just for general sustainability, but working hard to follow the dream. It is seen too in so many younger people now. Undoubtedly we are living in a time where the majority of people have a sense of obvious creativity about them, or a technological prowess about them. Turn to your left you will bump into an aspiring Graphic designer, swing to the left and you will step on the toes of a fashion student and take a deep breath and you will inhale the scent of a amateur photographer. What sets us apart for the generations before is that now, people so young are more like at 'having a go', 'taking a stab' at things and teach themselves to become the experts. Though I have nothing against formal training, and in some cases it is imperative to have it, but we are now not restricted in developing our 'hobbies' into something that may make some money. Of course we can not all leave our day jobs to become the paid creatives we crave to be, but the lines are now blurring and the professional creative sector is becoming more accessible. However, I do stress, this isn't a get rich, or get ahead quick scheme, the opposite in fact. You will need to work and sacrifice...even harder as we now do it on top of other responsibilities such as full time jobs and studying. Though Bamboo is my love and desire for my career life, I still currently work a 9-5.30pm and it is admittedly difficuly trying to find the time to design, sew, blog, style, photograph and edit....but when I pull off a late night or sacrifice a day of being sociable and produce something I am proud of, AND helps me in selling products then it pays off (in both sense of the term!) I read an article stating that there is an increase in middle-upper class, and University educated people doing a lot more freelance work, and multiple jobs in order to widen their scope and opportunities. It is true, I see it in a lot of my friends who freelance their design skills on top hours in the call center or stacking shelves or friends who fold clothes by day and produce beats in the evening!
I am inspired by so many young people doing their thing in the creative industry, Hustling. This phenomena is so culturally apparent that on the American channel HBO, there is a new show called: How to make it big in America, which totally depicts the same thing.
Check these kids out who are prime examples of what I am talking about:
Julian Gilbert-Art student and budding photographer..used to follow bands around, and now he is being commisioned for jobs for magazines like Nylon, ID and Seventeen. http://juliangilbert.blogspot.com/
KESH- London girl, in America. Artist, Fashion designer and DJ. therealkesh.blogspot.com
Philip Anannd- Student, Blog writer and Street wear entrepreneur. www.theawardtour.com
Levi Maestro- Has own web tvshow, Maestro knows. Documents the ins and outs of streetwear and music. Only 23 years old, being sought after for big jobs with big labels. http://maestroknows.com/
So this is it from me now. Writing this post on my lunch break. I'm expecting a bunch of fabric from China in the next week so will get down to some sewing and selling soon.
love you all,
Nat x