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The way life crosses and weaves its webs
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September 15, 2005
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Sometimes, when you look back at the road you've walked, you really are puzzled by the way things have happened. You stop and think that if it hadn't been for that person you met or that decision you took you would have never arrived where you arrived. Momoko Hashigami has probably been thinking this frequently in the last weeks....
Selected as a finalist, Momo arrived in Trieste at ITS#FOUR after missing a plane (the fault was of the air company...) in Munich. Considering the trip, the premises for the contest were not so good. You now, you sort of feel a bit of bad luck hovering above your head.
She collected all of her bags, jumped on the ITS transport, and arrived in location, where she laid down her collection. In her mind she was probably thinking (this is just a guess): "this one is probably the last collection I'm making. I don't have enough money for my last year in Central St.Martins, and I won't be able to produce my final year collection...I guess I'll have to find me a job and abandon fashion design for a while...". So began her experience at ITS.
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Momo's collection was really beautiful, but also the other finalists had done an amazing job: the level of the collections seen at ITS#FOUR was really high, and the work for the fashion Jury was really tough in deciding who should win the prizes. Tiny Momo never lost her enthusiasm throughout all the four days of the event. Her smile was always on, a positive attitude to life that is probably part of her character.
When the fashion show was over and the prizes revealed, Momo probably thought in her mind (again, this is just a guess): "well, it's a pity I haven't won a prize, but I'm really happy about the experience, and my occasion will arrive, I just have to go on pursuing it.". Momo is strong, you can see it in her eyes. Her positive attitude is a clear hint of this. And by the way, things still hadn't even started for her...
Rewind. let's go back to the Friday morning of the event, July 15, and let's enter the room at the ground floor of the Hotel Duchi d'Aosta where the Fashion Jury is viewing the finalists' portfolios. Picture it as it were a movie where you can move as you please the camera, and zoom with your virtual camera on Antonio and Patrizia Marras. The portfolio of Momoko gets in their hands. They open it and start going through it....now, THAT was the moment when the life of Momoko changed. That was the moment when new doors in her future opened. In that moment, Momo new nothing of what was happening, but destiny was changing things...
Antonio and Patrizia Marras were really impressed by Momo's portfolio, and decided they had to meet her. And when Momo met them and heard Antonio telling her that she had to come to Alghero to be his guest, and that he wanted to showcase her collection in his shop, she really couldn't believe her ears.
Soon after ITS#FOUR, her clothes were already on the way to Sardinia. When she landed in Alghero, with no problems with the planes whatsoever (and this was a good premise!), she was welcomed in Antonio and Patrizia's house like a friend, and was introduced to all of the guests there, arrived for the annual exhibition that is held in Alghero and organised by Antonio Marras. The title for this year's exhibition was "Minyones" and it was dedicated to childhood, with works by several artists, including Marras, who interpreted this theme.
Momoko in her mind was probably still thinking about the uncertainty of her future. No money for the school, no final year at St. Martins...but she still hadn't been introduced to a guest who had become a fan of hers...
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Barbara, our red-headed chief (never call her like that though, she considers herself "just a little girl"...) was also there, together with Manuela (from our Press Office), and she was introduced to Mr. Kusnirovich and his wife Katerina, friends of Antonio who were very interested in Momo's work. And THAT was another turning point for Momo's destiny. She was maybe drinking something on the terrace of the house looking at the landscape while Barbara and Mr. Kusnirovich were talking, and again without knowing anything, destiny was working for her.
Now picture the conversation between Barbara and the Russian man. Again, as I asked you before, get your virtual camera and zoom close on this couple, and listen to their conversation, which more or less was the following (we'll just listen to the interesting part...):
Mr. Kusnirovich: "I really like Momoko's collection, I think she could do really great things in the future, I think she has to continue the road she's on"
Barbara: "I perfectly agree with you. Momo is so talented and strong. The problem is she hasn't got enough money to end her studies, therefore she will not be able to do her final year, and so she doesn't know if she will be able to continue as a fashion designer"
Mr. Kusnirovich: "Well, there is no problem at all. I can pay for her studies and for her expenses in London in order for her to do her final year. And I also want her to come to Russia to showcase her collection "
Barbara: -no words. Mouth open. Stupor, gratitude, and happiness for being in front of a true old style Patron, just like at the times of the Medicis-
When Barbara went to Momo to tell her the news...well, try and imagine: you're out of money, and just when you have already set your mind on the fact that you won't be able to go on doing what you like, and you feel like the last one in the restroom when the lights are already being shut down, something happens and hope suddenly comes back. Again (sorry for these continuous guesses) I'm just guessing, but if I had been Momo in that moment I think I would have cried. And she did cry. How could she had not?
End of August. Momo goes to Russia to see her collection in the windows of the shop of the russian man. In front of her now there's the future she wanted, there's a final year and a final collection waiting for her at Central St. Martins. There's again the hope of fulfilling her dream.
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Wow, all the work we EVErs do during the year is crazy!! Why on earth do we struggle so much to prepare an event that lasts 4 days, why do we sacrifice so much of our time and of our energies to organise an International competition? Whenever I think about it, I think about Momo's story...and I tell myself: "Now, that's it..."
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