Part 2/2: Thurston's Action Plan

2016 has been a year of great internal change for me. I made progress with understanding how to better communicate with my colleagues at work; I began to take action to design a life worth living; and my "life-guru," Jorge Reyes Sam, helped me see opportunities, not risks, in quitting my job to pursue my dreams. 

As the Men's Fall/Winter 2017 collections are presented this January I'm going to focus on the opportunities, not the risks. I will immerse myself in every fashion week and trade show for menswear. I will take a chance on life. I will enjoy the present. As Pablo Picasso said, "Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success."

My goal of working in menswear to design clothes and build brands depends on me taking action. The first step was recognizing the desire. The second step was starting this blog. The third step is to complete my insane itinerary for January/February. Every day will be packed with networking, learning about the industry, scheduling interviews, and lots of walking.

Thurston's Action Plan
Starting January 6th, and going until February 23rd, I will be attending the Big 4 Fashion Weeks and have registered to attend ten trade shows. Below I've listed my itinerary with a brief description about each event.

• London Fashion Week | January 6-9 | One of the "Big 4" fashion capitals. London is the youngest of the Big 4, and is therefore a good platform for new brands. It is best known for a more artistic-focus of fashion with more edgy, street-style designs.
• Pitti Immagine Uomo | January 10-13 | Held in Florence, Italy, Pitti Uomo has grown from a trade fair to a fashion event. Incredible street style, emerging brands, and trend-spotting are in abundance here. 
• Milan Fashion Week | January 14-17 | One of the "Big 4" fashion capitals and along with Paris has been historically influential in setting trends. Milan is best known for strong styling, and great craftsmanship. 
• Paris Fashion Week | January 18-22 | One of the "Big 4" fashion capitals and along with Milan has been historically influential in setting trends. The oldest European Fashion Week, started in 1945, Paris attracts the most buyers and is the only presenter of haute couture. 
• Agenda | January 24-25 | Held at Pier 92 in New York City, this menswear show features a wide variety of lifestyle brands. 
• Capsule | January 24-26 | Held at Pier 92 in New York City, this menswear show features brands from around the world that are challenging themselves creatively. 
• Liberty | January 24-26 | Held at Pier 94 in New York City, this newer menswear show also features brands from around the world that are challenging themselves creatively. 
• MRKET | January 23-25 | Held in the Jacob Javits Center along with Project in New York City, this large menswear show features sportswear and accessories, and has separate areas devoted to products made in Italy or the UK. A fashion incubator for new brands, Vanguards Gallery, is also on site.
• Project | January 23-25 | Held in the Jacob Javits Center along with MRKET in New York City, this large menswear show features contemporary apparel, footwear, and accessories. 
• TexWorld | January 23-25 | Held in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, this show features an array of textile manufacturers.
• New York Fashion Week | January 30-31, February 1-2 | One of the "Big 4" fashion capitals. The oldest of the Fashion Weeks. Started in 1943, NYFW established American designers as independent from Parisian influence. New York is best known for being more commercial, attracting more journalists, and features a greater emphasis on sportswear and casual. 
• TMC-Men | February 6-17 | Held in Zurich, this show features nearly 200 European brands and is one of two German-speaking fairs I will attend.
• Supreme Women & Men | February 11-14 | Held in Munich, this show is in one of my favorite German cities and will be my first introduction to the German fashion market.
• Collection Première Moscow | February 20-23 | Held in Moscow, CPM features nearly 700 brands from around the world and is one of the leading buying venues for eastern Europe.

Recalling the quote from Pablo Picasso, I have a goal to work in fashion; my travel itinerary is the plan in which I "fervently believe;" and by buying plane tickets, making couchsurfing contacts, and registering for press accreditation I am taking vigorous action. If there is no other path to success, then this January/February will put me on that path. 

I am so excited to meet more fashion professionals, improve my knowledge of the industry, and share interviews here on Thurston Threads! Thank you for joining me on this adventure!

Read Part 1/2: Intrinsic Motivation, to read of the importance of identifying what you want to do in life and pursuing it without compromising your enjoyment of the present.