Off Grid: Navigating Life Beyond (Just) Fashion

After dedicating nearly a decade and a half to the fashion industry, I was always known as the “working me.” My role as a designer seemed to shape my entire personal identity—which I can’t say was a bad thing, but reflecting on it now, it’s clear that my life was overwhelmingly about work. I spent nearly 80-90 hours a week in “work” mode, with my only respite being the rare luxury of doing absolutely nothing at home, because my job consumed all my energy.

Growing up in South Korea, competitiveness was ingrained in me from a young age— it was almost like an unspoken rule, a mindset that everyone naturally adopt in nearly every aspect of life. If you have a Korean friend or are from Korea, you know exactly what I mean.  And when I moved to New York, this drive only intensified. As a foreigner in the U.S., getting a work visa was just the start; to stay, I had to secure an employer who would sponsor my visa and, eventually, invest in the long, costly process of a green card application. This wasn’t just about being good at my job—I had to stand out. I needed to be indispensable, to show that I was worth that kind of commitment and financial investment from an employer. So I pushed myself relentlessly, always aiming to exceed expectations, always working harder to prove my value. The stakes were high, and failure wasn’t an option if I wanted to stay in New York.

The intense pace of the industry came with its upsides, though. I met some of the most talented, inspiring, and genuinely kind people along the way. These colleagues turned friends made even the most grueling days enjoyable, and I truly loved what I did. But eventually, it became too much. The fashion burnout was a real thing, and it hit me hard one day. The passion I once had couldn’t quite keep up with the relentless pace and pressure.

Then, everything shifted when I decided to leave my job. This decision led to a profound realization: I was at a loss when it came to defining myself without my career. Who am I, really? Just a fashion designer on a sabbatical? A former brand employee who may or may not return to the fashion world? As I pondered these questions, I felt somewhat absurd. What value do I have independent of my past roles? What new interests do I want to pursue? Who do I want to become now?

Embarking on this journey to discover new interests, I felt isolated—a feeling intensified by my introverted nature and the realization that in terms of personal growth, I was practically an infant. In the traditional job market, introducing yourself is straightforward: you present a resume and portfolio, maybe even a project tailored to a brand. But how do you introduce your true self outside this structured environment? How do you link your real interests with your future aspirations?

That’s where this newsletter comes in. It’s an experiment, really. A way to give form to all these scattered thoughts about who I am and who I could be. It’s a way to put myself out there—something that doesn’t come naturally to me. But more than that, it’s a space to explore ideas I’m passionate about, like fashion, sustainability, and AI’s impact and what life looks like when you strip away the titles we’ve clung to for so long.

Maybe you’re someone who's in a similar phase—reevaluating your career, questioning the identity you’ve built around it, and figuring out what comes next. Or maybe you’re just here for some raw thoughts on fashion and what’s happening behind the scenes. Either way, this is where I’ll be sharing it all. The unpolished thoughts, the curiosities, the small discoveries that make me feel just a little more "me" each day.

So, here’s to going off grid, to embracing the in-between chaos, and to letting life show me what’s next. :)