I have all these ideas in my head and it's my job to make them happen and to put these clothes on bodies.

我的腦袋裡有很多的想法，我會把我的想法變成衣服，讓人們穿上我設計的衣服。

My name is Melissa Fleis. I'm a fashion designer based in Los Angeles.

我叫 Melissa Fleis。我是在洛杉磯營業的時尚設計師。

I started working in the fashion industry in my late teens, twenties.

我十幾、二十歲就開始在時尚產業工作。

However, I was more in the beauty and publishing side of things.

不過我當時更專注於美容和產品發行。

It took me until I was 27 to decide to go back for my master's degree.

27 歲那年，我才決定報讀研究所。

Originally, I was pre-law and when I finally decided to go back to fashion school is when things started clicking in my life.

我原本是法學預科生，但當我對人生的思考日漸透徹後，我發現了自己對服裝設計的興趣，從而報讀時尚學院。

I wish there would've been more classes when I was in high school. It wasn't part of the curriculum.

我多希望高中時有多一點關於時尚設計的課程，當時的學校根本沒有時尚設計這門課。

Me wanting to own my own business, I wanted to learn everything about this industry and how to sew a garment from beginning to end, how to pattern make it.

我想要開創自己的事業，我想要學習時尚產業的一切，包括如何從頭到尾縫製出一件衣服、如何打版。

My experience obtaining any sort of internship or job, it really takes you going after it.

我爭取實習的心得是，放膽去追！

And I just kept cold calling stores that I knew I wanted to work in.

我篤定了加入時尚產業的想法後就不斷打電話到不同的服裝門市去自我推銷。

For my final internship when I was in Italy, it was through the store I worked at.

我最後一個實習是在義大利，當時是通過我打工的服裝門市牽線的。

She was one of the designers we carried.

那位設計師是我們其中一位合作設計師。

I had sent a resume out. I had sent my portfolio and I also got a referral from my boss.

我把履歷和作品集寄出去，主管也從中幫忙推薦。

I definitely believe that having education and that work experience is really crucial.

我相信如果加入時尚產業，學歷和工作經驗缺一不可。

I think that being on "Project Runway" definitely taught me to trust my instincts.

而登上美國服裝設計真人秀《決戰時裝伸展台》的歷練教會我相信自己的直覺。

It taught me to realize that not everyone is going to love you 100% of the time.

也讓我認清不是每個人都會對你的設計買單。

There are going to be people who love your work.

有人喜歡你的設計，

There are going to be people who dislike your work and you have to be okay with that.

也會有人不喜歡你的設計，你要懂得調適自己。

The design process happens differently every time.

每一件服裝都著有不同的設計過程。

I think getting the inspiration varies so much. My next step is to take this inspiration, create a mood board, and then sketch from that.

我收集靈感的方式各有不同。我通常會把湧現的靈感記錄在情緒板上，再從那裡開始發想設計。

I also look at what's been selling in previous collections in ways that I can edit that, or create new garments from that because, in the end, you know, I am trying to make a business out of this.

我也會分析過去推出的作品，產生或改良過去的設計來創造商機。

I think it's really important to—number one is getting really talented at something and finding a niche for people to talk about.

如何找到自己的志向？我覺得最重要的是，你要先找到自己擅長做的事，然後找到你足以引起他人關注的利基點。

You need to be well-spoken. You need to be able to do math—use a lot of math.

你還要能言善道，並且對數字有概念，因為設計也需要大量的計算。

Learn how to sew, learn how to pattern make.

學習如何縫製、打版。

You know, work for somebody. It is about learning and working hard and getting internships and gaining experience because if you don't have that, who's gonna hire you?

如果你缺乏相關的從業經驗，想在時尚產業立足就更要積極學習、找到實習並下苦工累積實務經驗，否則誰會僱用你？

How are you gonna learn and how are you gonna grow within this industry?

你要怎麼學習且要怎麼在時尚產業裡持續成長？

But being any sort of skilled tradesman in this industry, I think it's amazing.

能成為時尚產業的熟練工匠，對我而言是很棒的一件事。

And I think there needs to be more of it.

同時，我也認為時尚產業還需要更多的工匠。