Journey

As human beings inhibiting this earth, we tend to find ourselves on the quest for purpose within life from the time we are born until our time expires. The very first day we enter into the world starting with birth, our journey of life takes off. Although some may experience less challenges than others through in life, we evolve through time. Every individual has their own personal narrative and ideology of their journey. One thing is for sure; if we personally desire evolution or have the will to grow then we hope to understand our purpose on earth. I began recording my journey with this project starting with the process of my senior year, the year that will transition my life into complete adulthood following graduation. 

The idea for my senior collection was to research different cultures, religions and other elements that people usually turn to for guidance and the understanding of their purpose in life. As I began recording my journey, I shifted my focus onto self, becoming self evident or more aware of my identity and aesthetic and what exactly ties to it. I desired to make this collection as personal as possible, describing my brand and myself. The summer of 2016, I went back home where my roots were established, Charleston, South Carolina, to understand more of what it is known for. I recorded my family and friends, which helped me to create a clearer self-concept. I used part of South Carolina’s history and culture, the Gullah heritage, which consists of African linguistics and craftsmanship. This deeply rooted and rich heritage continues to live throughout the city of Charleston and other surrounding cities within South Carolina. 

While researching, I began making notes of what my grandmother would say to me from adolescence to now. I asked her to make as many notes on sayings that were said to her as a child from my great grandmother. As we both wrote out theses sayings one in particular stood out the most, a Gullah proverb that states, “New broom sweep clean but old broom gets corners”; I decided to use this quote as my collections name. When I hear this particular saying it is a reminder that my generation has evolved greatly through time with technology and much more, but with all of the surrounding distractions happening in the world, we can lose a sense of self if we are not grounded. To find myself within my life’s journey, I felt the urge to return back to the beginning, the past, the roots, to remember who I was before, where I came from, and who I am today to continue on and understand where my destiny lies. As human beings, we sometimes have to go backwards to rediscover our history to move forward. Although this new world seems enlightening and exciting, I am still a fairly new broom in it but I need the older brooms that have aged like my mother, my grandmother and the roots of South Carolina to gain knowledge, receiving the history that will propel me forward. This process begins my journey.