Bestselling author, political advisor and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and opens the way to end our enthrallment by outdated concepts and half-baked beliefs in what our human nature is supposed to be.
By Ezra Drissman
The new millennium marked significant changes and twists in people’s lifestyle and preference especially in fashion and trend. In this vital industry, one very relevant breakthrough is the incorporation of environmental awareness and protection in most clothing lines in the fashion business and it has definitely inspired innumerable designers and students of fashion schools to adapt the concept of fashion with a conscience in their masterpieces. Nowadays and in the coming years, career opportunities are opening its thresholds to green fashion designers to make a pivotal difference in the clothing realm as well as promoting eco-friendly merchandises.
The career outlook for a green fashion designer is good. They make on average $42-$87 thousand a year.
Many venues of fashion and clothing are having endless modeling shows and advertisements glorifying the ingenuity of the crafts of green fashion designers and their endeavors are definitely successful. What is a green fashion designer?
The name itself implies that incredible combination of the green ideals with the world of fashion resulting to a revolutionary career or professional perfectly known as green fashion designer. Young artists in this field are making use of natural resources such as bamboos, organic cottons or other similar fibers in their series of clothesline or collections. Most importantly, this is a trend that has not only started in small-scale businesses but has likewise invaded big and known enterprises in the milieu.
Green fashion design concept is actually not a new and fresh perspective since many fashion designers have already adapted this style or concept especially those in agricultural countries. However, the good thing that happened in this particular trend is that many fashion icons and big companies are collaborating together in order to promote and advocate clothes which are eco-friendly in style and content. How do you become a green fashion designer?
Another salient difference in the trend now is that most fashion schools that train and educate potential fashion designers are including the green concept into their very own curriculum. Thus, for those who aim to succeed and establish a promising career as a green fashion designer, an internship program is very necessary to jump start their pursuit. Most key figures in the fashion world would attest to the importance of getting into an internship first before finally plunging into the deep. This is likewise necessary for green fashion designers where they could add more knowledge and experience to their crafts especially in making use of natural resources for their clothes. Thus aside from the conventional degrees and courses you will gain from studying in accredited fashion schools, it is necessary to add more creativity and resourcefulness in finding the right material for your green collection.
People are not always indifferent in new changes and innovations especially if it benefits the world and the ailing nature. For people and aspiring candidates to become green fashion designers, the passion for their craft and awareness and love of nature are two salient components that would definitely lead them to their fulfillment in their crafts.
All businesses, great and small, start with an idea. From huge multinational conglomerates to your neighborhood pastry shop, somebody thought “Hey, This could actually work!”
Branding Impacts Your Success
Unfortunately, an idea is not enough to start a business. From investment to management know-how, there are thousands of ways a business can find success – or failure. One thing nearly all companies have in common is that they need to assert control about how the public perceives them.
This public perception can be swayed, directed, nourished, and influenced by your branding strategy. And your branding strategy can be used to help your business thrive by creating a professional image and growing with it.
Small Business, Big Image
It’s easy to think of branding as what large organizations need to actively develop. The truth is quite to the contrary – small businesses can make great use of branding. In fact, small businesses need to focus on creating and managing their image just as much as large corporations.
Creating a professional image doesn’t need to be complicated, it doesn’t need to cost a fortune, and you don’t need to own an about-to-go-public company. No matter what the size of your company, creating a professional image will instill customer confidence in your business.
Would you buy a service from a web site that didn’t appear to be professional? The answer is probably no. So, how can you create a professional image for your small company? How can you be pragmatic in your branding strategy, if, for example, you can’t afford to host focus groups, advertise in print publications or sponsor community events? You can be resourceful, both budget-wise and creatively.
Start off by developing a logo and slogan for your business that succinctly represents what you offer. Its main purpose is to show people what makes your business different from the competition.
1) The look and feel of your logo, your visual representation, should reflect the qualities you want the public to associate with your organization and how it is positioned uniquely from other companies. Does your company appeal to a young, party-going market segment? Choose bold, bright colors and funky message. Trying to attract established business? Stay with corporate colors and a benefit message.
2) Creating a big image isn’t just about the graphics you choose, a slogan or tag line can repeatably send your message. Think of tag lines that convey what you want people to associate with your firm: “The name you can trust,” or “Your #1 Source.” Use a descriptive or emotional phrase that may not use these specific words, but communicates a sense of expertise, loyalty, benefit or trust.
To make your business stand out from others, first brainstorm about what your company represents or what people will experience while using your products or services. Craft a slogan that uniquely differentiates what your business offers.
(Marketing Tip: Create a really compelling and useful combination by balancing the logo and tag line – make one emotionally appealing and the other more descriptive of your product or service.)
3) Maintain continuity as you carry your theme into your web site, collateral and signage as well as in the new media marketing tools like an internet video commercial or webinar slide presentation. Innovative and effective tools are a way growing your brand image that others will see as integral to your corporate image.
Act The Part
You have created your logo, defined your slogan – what is next? To develop a brand, you need to follow through with good practices so your customer’s experience is aligned with your brand. From ensuring that work is done to the customer’s expectations every time, to making sure your employees maintain your standards, you will brand the company from within and it will reflect outwards.
All companies start small. Creating a brand now allows your company to evolve with it as you grow. As your company changes, your brand will adapt, but today’s core elements, such as commitments to product quality or customer satisfaction, will likely remain the same.
Are you allowing yourself to express your creativity? When you were growing up, were your creative expressions discouraged? Would you like to express that part of you and experience more of the excitement of life?
As a Marriage, Family Therapist for many years, I was able to assist many men, women and children to awaken this dormant part of them. They often had negative beliefs based on negative experiences that caused them to shut down their wonderful creativity. The clients shared with me how they always felt something gnawing at them that needed to be expressed.
With the creative HART (Holistic and Rapid Transformation) process I developed, I was able to help them remove their blocks so that they could allow their creative juices to flow.
For example, Joyce, a fifty-five-year-old woman was retiring from her computer job at a college. She came to me because she did not know what to do with her life. I intuitively picked up that she was a singer. When I told her, “You are a singer,” she burst into tears and cried uncontrollably for about five minutes.
When Joyce was able to compose herself, she shared with me how much she loved to sing but stopped in her teen years. Her well meaning parents discouraged her from pursuing a singing career. They insisted that she go to college to learn skills and have a career in something that offered her security and a good living. In fact, her parents refused to attend her singing performances in the high school plays.
From that negative experience, Joyce felt hurt and rejected. She decided that when she sings she is not loved. To stop the pain that she felt from that negative thought, she gave up singing. The teen-ager buried a beautiful part of her along with her hurt feelings. However, they were still in her unconscious and still affecting her.
The impressionable daughter succumbed to her parents’ pressure and followed their dreams. “I always wondered why I always felt something missing in my life, Helene,” said Joyce. Her tears of sadness changed to tears of joy, as she smiled brightly with the thought of singing again and enjoying a part of her that she had buried a long time ago.
Are you ready to awaken or reawaken your unexpressed creativity? It may be in art, music, crafts, needlework, writing, inventions, cooking, speaking, etc. There is no limit to creativity. Our minds (logic) are in our left brain, and our creativity flows from our right brain which is also the feeling, intuitive, and spiritual part of us.
The following poem can support you to enjoy more of your creativity.
My Creativity
I am…
1) Expressing my creativity.
2) Allowing myself to be creative for the joy of it.
3) Realizing that my creativity comes from my spirit which is my unlimited, all knowing part.
4) Continuing to express my unique creativity no matter what anyone says or does.
5) Balancing my life so that I have time for my creativity.
6) Accepting that being creative for the fun of it is time well spent.
7) Enjoying the excitement of life.
You can and you deserve to feel the joy of expressing your unique creativity. Go for it!
Copyright 2007 by Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, speaker, and author. Her newest book is, “ALL YOU NEED IS HART!”. She offers phone sessions, teleclasses, books, e-books, MP3 audios, tapes, posters, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390.