When I was younger, I often felt misunderstood. My parents worked hard to provide me with a privileged life they didn’t get to have growing up and yet here I was, spending hours on end Googling the history of raw denim. I remember my Mom shouting at me on the weekends, “Can’t you find something better to do than stare at jeans all day?”.
Not having the support from my parents was tough. Pursuing my dream to work in fashion was challenging because my network was nonexistent and most job opportunities were unpaid. There were (and still are) many moments where I wanted to give up, but something about the process of chasing my dream seemed worthwhile.
Over the years, I’ve chosen to double down on my goals in hopes that one day it’ll all work out. And because I never (and hopefully won’t ever) quit, I’m proud to say I’m living my dream and meeting milestones my younger self always talked about.
With A Beginner’s Mind is my medium to storytell life experiences through clothing. I hope that when you see my work and read my thoughts, you’re comforted to know that it’s ok to feel misunderstood. In a beginner’s mind, there is no right or wrong way to do something. Instead, with the right mindset, you find endless opportunities that lead you to your own way of doing things. In my experience, this is the precursor to developing a happy and fulfilling life.
This next season marks a new chapter for WABM. It’s taken nearly 12 months to release my next collection because I’ve had to learn a new process: designing in Los Angeles. Having said that, I’m proud to say I’m designing at the highest level I can with the resources available to me. You’ll start to see an elevated point of view with fabric, construction and tailoring, updated branding and trim, and even the rollout of a new website.
All things considered, I still have moments where I feel lost and misunderstood. However, if there’s any throughline between my past and where I’m at now, it’s that embodying a beginner’s mind continues to help me grow. Though it’s not always comfortable, I try to enjoy the process of being uncomfortable and failing upwards. I’ve come to realize a good life is not an easy life. And I want to live a good life.
As we get into the final stretch of 2022, I’ll be releasing two collections: Ethos and Season 4 “Count Me Out”. The Ethos Collection speaks directly on a beginner’s mind while the latter expands my curiosity to design beautiful garments. I’m excited to share my latest work because I gave it my everything and left it all out on the floor. I’m here today because of a beginner’s mind.
- Matt Pham