Tanya Alvarez

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

When I was an assistant designer, I received a phone call from an old friend from fashion school about a job opening as a full time desiger. I was very intimidated due to the status of the company. I was extremely nervous but I went ahead and created my portfolio focusing on the designs I would be responsible for at the company. I took a big risk and interviewed with the president of the company and showed him my first ever collection I had ever designed. He loved it and so did his very experienced design team. He hired me because he believed I could do the job. But he really hired me because I believed I could do the job. This job opened a lot of doors for me and gave me more confidence to take risks..

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

I am currently a girls wear designer for a large manufacturing company. I focus mostly on mass market retail. I design and work closely with product development retail accounts in designing and developing product for every season.. I create the designer digitally on Adobe illustrator, create technical packages that go to our factories, I interact with my sales and management teams on a regular basis. I travel and do presentations in front of our accounts of the designs we want to develop for the season. Constant sourcing and research of trends for upcoming season.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Focus more on building you career through work experience instead of schooling. You learn more on the job and school does not teach work experience.

How did you start building your network?

Every job you meet new people and you build work relationships. I tried to interact with as many level of the development process in fashion. I try to work with everyone from sales to production to learn what they do. I have also traveled to factories networked that way as well. They remember your work ethic and will refer you to new opportunities.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Some of my family members were very hesitant of my career goals. They felt they were very unrealistic. In my upbringing my family didn't believe "people like us" get careers. My mother on the other hand felt differently. I lost a lot of motivation last year of high school, because no one really told me what I needed to do next after graduation. I was pretty lost and all I knew was that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I had applied to fashion school and they called the house, my mom answered and she said "let's go!"

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

You don't say, "I want to be a fashion designer" . You say "I am a fashion designer." You start saying it now..

What is it like when your job gets tough?

Sometimes deadline feel impossible to accomplish and you have to put in a lot of hours of work.. Also, being a designer you work is constantly criticized and your work will be changed to something you might not be happy with. It's a very competitive business and you have to have thick skin.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I worked in retail and that helped me understand how people shopped. I loved all things fashion, so I would volunteer to work at fashion shows. I entered art contests to improve my drawing skills. I would go or sneak into fashion events to see the latest fashion launches. I loved going to art installation events. Great place for inspiration and see the latest trends.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was having imposter syndrome. I didn't believe I deserved or was capable of doing my job once I got to a very high position. I had to learn that I am a professional and perfectly capable of doing the job. During that time I had lost my job and was very disappointed but easily found a new job and have been there for over 10 years.