I loved fashion and design since I was in sixth grade. My mom would bring home W Magazine from one of her client’s home and I’d read it from cover to cover. It was the first time I saw fashion as art and it changed my view of creativity. I was a small town Midwesterner who viewed clothing as part of a daily function. Not a statement.

Fast forward and I went to college for fashion design in Chicago. I moved from a town of 2,500 to an apartment complex that held 2,500. I finally had freedom to wear and be whoever I wanted. I thought I wanted to be high fashion and edgy but I was still that Midwesterner who valued functionality. I graduated college and spent two years working retail and then got a “real job” that paid the bills. I decided to let go of the dream to be a fashion designer.

I didn’t even realize I was giving up because life happens so fast. I bounced from job to job sometimes quitting, sometimes getting fired. Eventually, I decided to pursue one of my dreams to travel. I got a Teaching English as a Second Language and then boarded a plane to Beijing. I know this doesn’t seem like it has anything to do with knit design but traveling was the first big dream I made come true for myself and when I began to believe that dreams are possible.

Adventuress Knits is a chance for me to accomplish another dream. The dream of being a fashion designer. The dream of creating pieces that are functional and bring joy to people.