Dream catcher

Local designer shares how to pursue a career without a degree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Stephanie Trembath, Fashion Editor

ttending university is pricey
and time consuming; the
average student spends a

minimum of $3,000 a semester, and
to receive good grades teachers claim
that one must spend roughly two to
three hours a night studying course
material. While school may provide
the knowledge and skills necessary to
fulfill job requirements, school is not
always the best way to pursue your
dream job if you’re dedicated and
know what you want.

Megan Wray, a Vancouver
designer and owner of Gingerly
Designs, faced the same problem at
22. Instead of spending her money
on a communications degree at SFU,
Megan decided to sink her saved
money into pursuing her dream and
starting her own business. After
spending an afternoon with Megan,

I gained insight as to how designers
manage themselves in the fashion
scene and advice many are reluctant
to give in pursuing a career without
the safety net of a degree.

The Other Press: So, Megan, did
you go to school for fashion and
design?

Megan Wray: I actually didn’t go

to school for design, I went to school
for community work to work with
little kids. I took time off and worked
in a jewellery store, and it was then
that I decided I could totally do this.
I was the assistant manager, and
found I didn’t really like working for
anyone else. I had saved up money
to go back to school for a degree in
communications, but instead decided
to sink the money into starting my
own business. It’s really easy once
you put your mind to it. The Internet
is such a great resource. I mean,
when you’re living at home and you
don’t have to worry about supporting
yourself it’s easier to take risks.

OP: Do you think you had an
advantage starting so young while in
your twenties? At that age you still
have a fairly idealistic attitude...
MW: Absolutely. Because I didn’t
have any experience in the fashion
world I didn’t care what anyone else
thought because I didn’t know any
better.

OP: Did you have any previous
experience making jewellery or did
you just dive in to see what would
happen?

MW: Well I had always been
interested in making jewellery ever
since I was young. I used to go door-
to-door selling earrings I had made

so it was something I had always
enjoyed doing.

OP: What are some fashion icons
or trends that hold your interest or
inspire you through your work? Is
there a particular person, culture,

or theme that you tend to gravitate
toward?

MW: Kate Spade will doa

piece every once in a while that

I really like, but it’s more like a
person’s overall aesthetic that I
admire. I hate overcomplicated or
pretentious things. I sometimes

find myself loathing the fashion
scene just because it becomes so
about appearances. Not so much in
Vancouver, but in a broader scale.
One of the things that I learnt very
quickly was that to survive in the
fashion world you really have to quit
caring what others think of you and
just do your own thing.

OP: Do you find yourself following
current trends?

MW: No, I try not to look too much
at trends, because I find it shapes
the way I design my pieces. I want
to make something because I like it,
because that what it’s about at the
end of the day that’s what people are
buying; they’re buying your aesthetic,
your look.

OP: How would you describe your

Megan Wray

 

style, and what your designs stand
for?

MW: Bold is always something I use,
I’ve always done bigger earrings and
necklaces. Simple is another word

I use, just because I find that with
beaded jewellery people always over-
do it and it is just really ugly. I also
really like color; I have always really
loved the spring because there is so
much color, and I find myself floating
towards blues and greens and peach.
Peach is good because it seems to
come back every couple of years. A
vintage feel also describes my work;
a lot of people tell me that my stuff
reminds them of Palm Springs.

OP: Do you feel that Vancouver

has affected you in your style or
expression?

MW: I find that a lot of local
designers adopt the laid-back attitude
of Vancouver; they’re not catty

or possessive. Everyone is really
cool about sharing their ideas and
experiences about things.

Megan Wray’s designs can be
found in numerous stores located
in the heart of Vancouver, at her

shop in Maple Ridge, or online at
www.gingerlydesigns.com.

 

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