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| Maritza Reyes Interview |
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| Interview By: Ali Willard Interview on: Maritza Reyes www.maritzareyes.com |
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| Ali: What's your full name? Maritza: Nidya Maritza Reyes A: Where were you born? M: Bogota, Columbia May 9, 1976 A: How did you become interested in fashion design? M: Since I was a little girl I always saw my mother sawing and become very interested in designing women's apparel, and my sister was also a great influence. A: Have you always wanted to be a fashion designer? What made you realize this was the career for you? M: Yes. I realized that I wanted to be a fashion designer at about the age of ten. I used to go to the store and argue with my mother about what I should wear, I always liked to make little drawings of what I wanted to buy at the mall. A: What type of schooling did you go through? What school did you attend, what did you major in and what classes did you take, how long did you attend, and did you earn any type of degree? M: I attended the IDEC/Istitute of Investigation of the Columbian Expression and recieved an AS in Fashion Designwith a major in Computerized Fashion Design. There we learned everything from designs to manufacturing. A: Where do you live now? Does your location benefit your career? M: Now I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I think it benefits my career in a way but also is very hard to get out in the Fashion Market. A: What is your job exactly? Explain your duties. M: I am the President and Designer of my company Maritza Reyes Collection Inc. I design and supervised QC of all apparel made by the company. A: What is a typical day on the job like for you? M: The typical day at work I arrived at the office and begin by having a morning coffee with my team then we proceed to about new orders, marketing campaigns, etc. Then I begin to check the samples that have arrived. When all that is done I call the factory for any adjustments that need to be made or to give them the OK to manufacture, answer a couple of phone calls and emails. Then the rest of the day is exclusively dedicated to design in my office. A: What is your favorite thing about your job? M: My favorite thing is designing. I get inspired by daily life. A: What is your least favorite thing about your job? M: When I design something that the customers don't like. A: What are working conditions like? Are there any hazards or physical demands? M: There are always hazards in any worklpace. One needs to be safe all the time. The maximum lifted weight here is no more than 30lbs, but everybody wears weight belts and we have never had an accident. A: What mental characteristics are needed for your job? M: Just the ability to have fun, and be creative, because I listen to suggestions from my team on what to design or look for in a design. A: What part time jobs/classes are there that can help gain experience in this field? M: Working in a fashion store, or going to Fashion Design Program. A: How many hours do you work a week? M: I usually work 50 to 60 hours per week. A: What is your salary? M: The company made about $160,000 last year. A: Do you have any past jobs in this field? If so, what? M: I worked with a company in Columbia after I graduated designing children's clothing. A: If you could go back, would you choose this as a career again? M: Yes definitely, it is my life. A: And finally, do you have any advice for me on becoming a fashion designer? M: Never give up, its hard but you will not regret it. It is very satisfying to walk in a mall and see your designs. |