Connecting dots

Many have seen the famous Steve Jobs commencement address at Stanford. In it, he describes how independent events in life come together to help you make progress: “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Don’t worry, I am not about to launch a computer company, but recently I realized that small signs in my recent past were progressively leading me to one thing: Power of Leather.

A few weeks ago I met up with Misa, the owner of a beauty salon in Prague. We hadn’t seen each other in almost 2 years (I moved to Paris, after all) so we had a lot to catch up on. In telling her what has happened over the last 24 months, I realized how much my life has changed and how, by following small signs, I am about to launch my first (small but meaningful) leather collection.

Let’s start from the beginning...

When I moved to Paris 2 years ago, there was “la grève” - a public transportation strike that paralyzed the entire city for several months. Since public transportation didn’t work, I often walked for hours through the city, which helped me to discover it. It was also my first real experience with Parisians favorite pastime - striking :D

“Let’s move on,” I told myself in February. I was finishing my 2-month French course at the same time the strikers got back to work. “La Vie Parisienne” can now begin!

My “let’s move on” phase lasted approximately one week, during which I was on a business trip in Germany. Then it was rapidly stopped by Covid.

There’s no need to share details about how the story with Covid continues...we all know it more than well. I was locked down in Paris, probably the worst place to be, in a small apartment with a 1-hour allowance to go outside. That’s not exactly how I imagined my life in Paris to be.

I decided to take this weird period as an opportunity to start doing things I wouldn’t do otherwise. I rediscovered reading. It was so refreshing and exciting to read stories about powerful women whose bravery and determination helped others in their journeys, which in turn motivated me to find a way to give back too.

So I started writing. I started with my memories. For three days I sat and wrote. I laughed while writing about my childhood. I cried while writing about my grandma who died too early and who I loved enormously. I experienced all types of emotions - love, betrayal, happiness, and sadness. Most importantly, I felt empowered.

They say that writing is the best therapy and I can confirm that.

Writing was unexpectedly fun, so I created the blog you’re reading now. A few articles about myself, about fashion, and the importance of Leather for me, and how to take care of it.

And here I am with a blog and my Instagram followers, an audience of thousands of people that I respect deeply. I knew I wanted something to come of it all but didn’t know what exactly it should be.

At the beginning of summer, I received a logo design for my blog from one of my loyal followers. At first, I didn’t know what to do with it, but I saw immediately that it had potential. It planted the seed in my mind that this was some kind of brand that I was building up.

The final sign came at the end of July. While planning my wedding I knew I needed a leather dress since leather is part of my personality. Even though I also wanted a traditional dress, I knew that without leather my day wouldn’t be complete. My dear friend helped me to find a leather craftsman with whom we created my second wedding dress, from white leather.

Working with the craftsman was wonderful. I went every week to try on the dress and discuss the design. It was very exciting, and I was creating something special - something that had my signature.

It was the day we finished the dress that the idea came to me.

I was running. It was cloudy day. I took my usual road, without thinking where I was heading to. I stopped at the outside gym to stretch and then just like that all dots connected!

I could create the “Power of Leather” capsule collection.

Thinking about it in reverse, I can say that Covid gave me something I wouldn’t have focused on otherwise. It opened doors I wouldn’t even have looked at. It slowed me down, helped me reconnect with myself, think about what I wanted and, more importantly, allowed me to fulfill my potential which became one of my major aims in my life.

Writing can help you think. It can help you understand why things happen the way they do. It helps you to connect with your past, focus on the present and project for the future. It gives you ideas and opens your mind. Or you can create something special, something meaningful. It can give your ideas and values a shape that people can hold in their hands.

And that’s the way I want to go. That’s where my dots connect.

I want to give something which people can appreciate and love, which can stay with them forever and, if well stored, even their kids can wear. Something valuable, something powerful.

I want everyone to feel what I feel when wearing leather.

For some people, it will always remain just a piece of clothing. But for people who are open and curious, it can be much more.

I believe that life is about opportunities. And they come to everyone. It always comes, it is always there. Then it becomes about your hard work to make something out of it. I am taking this opportunity to have a small positive impact by sharing a passion through a sustainable fashion.

Stay tuned!