Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Shin.
Joseph, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always loved art, and I was a fine arts major in college. By chance, I was invited to a fashion show that inspired me enough to change the entire direction of my life. After that show, I immediately changed my major to fashion, and that’s how the story begins.
So far in my career, several defining moments come to mind. I got lucky with my first job at a great fashion company in Korea where I consider having some of the best “first” fashion experiences in my life. Here, I was given a chance to travel to Europe and somewhere during that time, I made up my mind to further my study in Italy, the city where new ideas and styles are continually developed. It was the late 80’s, and I started to attend the Instituto Marangoni, located in Milan, the beating heart of Italian fashion and design at the time. From then on, I was given the opportunity to work at the Jean Paul Gaultier’s Studio, Fendi fur collection, Palzileri (specializing in menswear), and various projects with different companies. In the late 90’s, I opened my first fashion studio in Italy, where I designed and imported merchandise to Korean fashion companies. However, I had to fold my studio during a poor financial climate and found myself in California. This is where I came to meet the CEO of Forever 21 by pure chance.
I was offered a job working with Forever 21, and spent the next 8 years as the Vice President of the company. I was the head of women’s design and buying, spent 6 years in men’s wear and launched their children’s wear. It was one of the biggest blessings and influences in my career.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is easy in life. However, I believe that if you find something you love and put effort into it, the road always leads to a happy life. As far as challenges, I would say it was all that comes with living in a foreign country. While living in a foreign country sounds exciting and romantic, it does have a catch.
Everything is unfamiliar; from the weather, landscape and language to food, fashion, values, and customs. Becoming a part of the local culture is the hardest part of life abroad. This happened to me first in Europe, then America. First of all, there was the language issue where Italian and English were not my mother language, it was difficult to communicate and express myself. At times, I felt homesick, depressed and felt out of place. Other times, I felt outright rejected. Naturally, as time passes, I was able to better understand and enjoy my new surroundings. Especially in California, with all different cultures coming together, I learned that keeping an open mind was important and major obstacles, such as misunderstandings and mistakes, can be easily understood and resolved.
Prisma Fashion Design School – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
PRISMA Fashion Design School specializes in teaching student’s practical knowledge that is actually needed in today’s frivolous fashion design industry. Not only do we teach the principles of fashion design, but the curriculum is designed so that each one of our students are taught at a personal level and pace that they are comfortable with. One thing I am very proud of is that my students don’t just sit in classrooms, we actually go out to survey today’s markets and customers. We learn about the industry’s history and its key designers by watching documentaries, films, and fashion shows. We go shopping together weekly, from shopping malls to designer boutiques, and vintage markets. We volunteer at various fashion events where the students get to actually be behind the scenes of the industry and see for themselves how it actually works. Most importantly, we do all of this together. It’s great to see the students reach success on their own but it’s even more amazing when students get together to share their ideas and reach success together.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Professionally, I feel successful as long as I can passionately work with my students, sharing the knowledge I have acquired over the years. Success isn’t something that comes overnight and it doesn’t happen by accident or luck. Success is built one day at a time, originating in your daily habits. With that, I certainly had some days where I found success and failed miserably other days. There are many shared qualities that make up success for everyone but, the most important of them all is quite simple. Success for me is to have the determination to work hard for what you love, every day. Do not try to live your life as most people live. Do not settle. If you constantly give yourself your best, your best will always come back to you. Finally, success, for me isn’t all about myself. I don’t want to waste my time building something that only I can enjoy. When I can share my success with others, that’s when I truly feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3470 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500
- Website: www.prismafds.com
- Phone: 2135597835
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prismafds
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prismafds
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/prisma-fashion-design-school-los-angeles-3
Image Credit:
PRISMA Fashion Design School
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