1. Thanks for keeping in touch with us during lockdown. How are you feeling?
Frustrated, sad, and thankful at the same time. Mixed emotions every day. Frustrated because just as my business was picking up again after the first lockdown, here comes Delta. I had fashion week, consultations booked, orders on the go, new collection to be released - that all got halted. I'm also thankful because I'm okay, my husband is okay and my dog is okay. My husband and I got our first jab. We have food to eat, a nice home we can keep our bubble in and we have each other. I appreciate my husband and my dog more than ever.
On top of all these, there's a great sadness for the Earth and for humanity. A lot of sad events going on in the world which makes me question a lot. We are red code for global warming, there's the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, condolences to friends and family on my social media wall coming from the Philippines. What's next?!
2. What is lockdown like for your household?
As much as I don't want lockdowns to be the new normal, it's basically is. My husband and I have kind of formed a routine that naturally evolved from the first lockdown. I make the grocery list - I am the cook, my husband does the grocery shopping. He takes the dog for a walk in the forest to the river (just back of our house and exclusive). I make the bed and clean it before we go to our nooks and work. We are quite lucky that we live in a place where there's not a lot of people and there's space to walk and just relax. We make sure we play with our dog Baloo because he needs the exercise as well. Binge on series and movies. My husband loves to bake and make candles so he's got plenty of time to do so. I started planting my veggies for this spring.
3 - What have you been up to?
Working on my ready-to-wear SS21/22 collection. Pattern-making and preparing samples for production. Working on the made-to-measures I was able to book before lockdown. Catching up with friends on video chats. Making sure my friends and family in the Philippines are all okay. Lots of deep thinking, strategy discussions with my husband, future planning and chatting so we can somehow have a plan even in these circumstances. Cleaning my fitting room and workshop. I did a big clean up day one of the lockdown part two. I did lots of admins as well. Being a sole-trader or one-man show business owner is quite demanding so having the time to just sit down and reconcile paperwork is just a great achievement for me.
I also have been looking at opportunities on how I can continue to grow my business in other places. I've been having discussions with my husband and people in the business from other countries. There are opportunities being presented at the moment but no concrete plan yet because of Covid. It is basically future-proofing my brand.
4. Are you working from home? Why/ why not?
I have always been working from home. I got a really good space at home. Two of the bedrooms and lounge on the ground floor of my house were converted to my workshop, fitting room/showroom, office/reception. I am a homemaker and a home buddy. I love just being at home.
5 - What have you been doing for yourself during lockdown to relax and for self-care?
Thank you for asking this question because I feel that this is one question everybody should be asking themselves. I believe that everyone's mental health is being challenged every day one way or another.
I go for walks and I got back on the stationary bike recently to up my exercise. Do I like it? Maybe not but I have to. I also make sure that I pause. It can be quite mentally draining because I'm very cerebral. I can be lost in my thoughts whilst moving and working at the same time. If I don't pause and do something else to distract me then I will be too tired at the end of the day. It'll give me migraines and a creative block. I found that there's a natural response in me when lockdown announcements happen. It's like a fight or flight reaction. My natural instinct always switches to fight so I go double the effort, double the pressure. I am not sure why but it can be draining mentally and physically. Plenty of water and sleep is necessary. I play with Baloo whenever I get stressed, tensed or when I have a creative block. They say that giving your dog belly rubs relieves your stress big time. It does for me. He is my stress reliever. I cook or do gardening as well. I think it is very important to pause.
6 - Do you have anything you would like to achieve during lockdown?
Plenty. My capsule collection for SS21/22 definitely. I'm talking about finishing all patterns and some fabric cutting ready for sewing. I want to be able to put some plans in place for my husband and me to travel when we can. We have been given free plane tickets 2 years ago which we kept rescheduling due to Covid. I want my husband to see his parents in the UK because he hasn't seen them for quite some time now.
7 - Have you got any recommendations for reading/ watching / listening to?
The Chair - Sandrah Oh - Netflix
Money Heist - Netflix - I just finished half of part 5
Young Royals - Netflix
Sex Education - Netflix
Derry Girls - Netlfix
Ted Lasso - our favourite - Apple TV
Morning Show on Apple TV
CODA - free movie on Apple TV
Cruella - Disney
Ugly Betty - America Ferrera's series on Disney (Watched this too many times now and it is still one of my faves)
Genius - a biographical series on Disney. This is about the lives of famous geniuses of the world like Picasso, Einstein, Aretha and many more.I also love docus about pharaohs and rulers of Egypt. Plenty of this on Disney.
To listen: I'm very eclectic. At the moment, these are my go to's :
H.E.R's album is just amazing
Classics of Aaliyah, Anggun and Robyn
Broadway classics/hits on Spotify
Yentl Soundtrack - Barbara Streisand
To see more of Ruscoe's fabulous fashions, check out his website Ruscoe Artfashion
