Beata Englert Dirycz
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You Full Name: Beata Englert Dirycz
Occupation: Fashion designer
Website: www.beatadirycz.com
Where you were born? Tell us a brief background about your upbringing.
I was born in Poland and lived there until I was 7. My family then moved to Germany for 2.5 years, and then Canada. I ended up relocating my business to Los Angeles in 2008 and have been living in Hollywood since then. I had a great childhood. I grew up around my grandmother on my mother's side, who made the most beautiful clothing. She used to make me outfits and then matching ones for my dolls. Although she's no longer here, she's a big part of what still inspires me, and she's what inspired me to get into fashion.
What did you dream about becoming; when you were a young?
Well, I didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grow up. It's when I started applying to colleges that I realized what I really wanted to do. Before then, I made things for fun, but never really thought I could make a career out of it. When I went to apply to college, I realized it's possible and I knew right away it's what I wanted to do. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. If right now I was told I could no longer do what I do for whatever reason, I just don't know what else I would do. I just can't imagine feeling that way about any other career.
Have you fulfilled your dreams?
I feel very lucky to be able to do what I love, and not be forced to work a typical 9-5 job that is draining and something I'm not passionate about. I feel I'm doing what I love, but there's always more I'd love to do with it, and expand.
How so? Was it a struggle? Was it worth it? How long did it take?
I have had my line for 6 years and learned a lot on my own along the way. Going to school for fashion design is such a tiny part, and doesn't even prepare you for having your own line. I feel I had to learn a lot along the way myself, struggled and made lots of mistakes that in the end were the best thing that could happen, since I learned from them. It is always a struggle doing what you love, especially starting out, and if you don't have a lot of money to put it into it in the beginning. I worked for a few other designers before starting my own line. I designed some pieces and saw how well they sold, and that gave me that push to have confidence and start it on my own. I was lucky to have that, it was a great learning experience, and it's the best way to really get started, in my opinion. You get to see how things work, and it prepares you to do it on your own. You see the creative process and the business side as well. That said, it is a lot of work, and you have to be willing to put a lot into it. I didn't have a lot of money to get things started or move things forward, so I did a lot myself. I enjoy different parts of the business, so it's great to be able to do it all if I want/need to. It took me about 5 years to finally get things to the point I'm happy with.
If you had to do it all over again, would you?
I can't imagine doing anything else, so yes, I would definitely do it all over again and wouldn't change anything. There have been struggles and many stresses along the way, but it was all worth it. Things just keep getting better and growing every season, and I really love what I do, so in the end, all the struggles were worth it to get me to where I am.
What have you compromised in your life to be able to fulfill your dreams and goals?
The main thing I compromise is my time, which is a huge thing. Although I'm very happy to not have the 9-5 job that most people have, it's quite different when you have your own business and work 7 days a week. You don't get to clock out at 5 pm and call it a day. It's strange to hear people complain about being bored, I can't remember the last time I felt that. I struggle to find time for myself, and relax. There's always something that needs your attention. Luckily, my husband also has his own business, so we are in the same boat. He's a comic book artist, so he also works for himself and at least we can take moments away and try to relax and take breaks together. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make right now. I am willing to give everything I have to make things move forward and to a point where my line is carried in larger stores, and expands to the point that I'm happy with. I realize this is how it has to be right now, but at least I'm putting everything into what I love, and in the end it will be worth all of it.
What have you accomplished and learned by following your dreams and goals?
Things move forward every season, and new stores carry my line. I have learned that you have to be willing to put a lot into it, and really push with it if you want a career out of it. If it's what you love doing, then it's worth it. There's no better feeling than doing what you love, and making a living off of it.
What would you tell other inspiring girls and women to do as far as following their dreams?
Everyone has moments where you doubt what you're doing, and just feel so overwhelmed that you question whether it's worth it, or will ever be at the point where you're 100% happy with it. The way I always look at it is, there are people out there with crazier dreams and goals than me, and they are making it happen and making a living off of it, so there's no reason I can't. There are moments you have where you just feel like you can't take it anymore, or you're exhausted, but then you see the good that's coming out of it, or things move forward, and the excitement that comes from that makes it worth it. You can't expect things to just be handed to you, and have things happen right away, but if you're willing to put the time into it, it will eventually get to a point you want it to. You just have to look at the good that's coming out of it every season, and not look at the big picture and feel disappointed or be hard on yourself if it doesn't happen fast enough. It will happen, you just can't expect it to happen over night. With what I do, there's so many people I went to school with that ended up deciding in the end they don't want to be in the fashion industry because it's just more work than they expected. Lots of people look at it as this glamorous career, but you start to see how the creative part is really just a small part of it. As long as you're willing to put the time into it, and give it everything you have, there's no reason for it to not work out how you want it to in the end. At the end of the day, when you see how much you've accomplished, and how things have moved forward, it's all worth it and it makes you excited what comes next in the future. As long as you love what you do, it's worth the struggles and the stress. You spend most of your day and life working, you might as well do what you love.
Occupation: Fashion designer
Website: www.beatadirycz.com
Where you were born? Tell us a brief background about your upbringing.
I was born in Poland and lived there until I was 7. My family then moved to Germany for 2.5 years, and then Canada. I ended up relocating my business to Los Angeles in 2008 and have been living in Hollywood since then. I had a great childhood. I grew up around my grandmother on my mother's side, who made the most beautiful clothing. She used to make me outfits and then matching ones for my dolls. Although she's no longer here, she's a big part of what still inspires me, and she's what inspired me to get into fashion.
What did you dream about becoming; when you were a young?
Well, I didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grow up. It's when I started applying to colleges that I realized what I really wanted to do. Before then, I made things for fun, but never really thought I could make a career out of it. When I went to apply to college, I realized it's possible and I knew right away it's what I wanted to do. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. If right now I was told I could no longer do what I do for whatever reason, I just don't know what else I would do. I just can't imagine feeling that way about any other career.
Have you fulfilled your dreams?
I feel very lucky to be able to do what I love, and not be forced to work a typical 9-5 job that is draining and something I'm not passionate about. I feel I'm doing what I love, but there's always more I'd love to do with it, and expand.
How so? Was it a struggle? Was it worth it? How long did it take?
I have had my line for 6 years and learned a lot on my own along the way. Going to school for fashion design is such a tiny part, and doesn't even prepare you for having your own line. I feel I had to learn a lot along the way myself, struggled and made lots of mistakes that in the end were the best thing that could happen, since I learned from them. It is always a struggle doing what you love, especially starting out, and if you don't have a lot of money to put it into it in the beginning. I worked for a few other designers before starting my own line. I designed some pieces and saw how well they sold, and that gave me that push to have confidence and start it on my own. I was lucky to have that, it was a great learning experience, and it's the best way to really get started, in my opinion. You get to see how things work, and it prepares you to do it on your own. You see the creative process and the business side as well. That said, it is a lot of work, and you have to be willing to put a lot into it. I didn't have a lot of money to get things started or move things forward, so I did a lot myself. I enjoy different parts of the business, so it's great to be able to do it all if I want/need to. It took me about 5 years to finally get things to the point I'm happy with.
If you had to do it all over again, would you?
I can't imagine doing anything else, so yes, I would definitely do it all over again and wouldn't change anything. There have been struggles and many stresses along the way, but it was all worth it. Things just keep getting better and growing every season, and I really love what I do, so in the end, all the struggles were worth it to get me to where I am.
What have you compromised in your life to be able to fulfill your dreams and goals?
The main thing I compromise is my time, which is a huge thing. Although I'm very happy to not have the 9-5 job that most people have, it's quite different when you have your own business and work 7 days a week. You don't get to clock out at 5 pm and call it a day. It's strange to hear people complain about being bored, I can't remember the last time I felt that. I struggle to find time for myself, and relax. There's always something that needs your attention. Luckily, my husband also has his own business, so we are in the same boat. He's a comic book artist, so he also works for himself and at least we can take moments away and try to relax and take breaks together. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make right now. I am willing to give everything I have to make things move forward and to a point where my line is carried in larger stores, and expands to the point that I'm happy with. I realize this is how it has to be right now, but at least I'm putting everything into what I love, and in the end it will be worth all of it.
What have you accomplished and learned by following your dreams and goals?
Things move forward every season, and new stores carry my line. I have learned that you have to be willing to put a lot into it, and really push with it if you want a career out of it. If it's what you love doing, then it's worth it. There's no better feeling than doing what you love, and making a living off of it.
What would you tell other inspiring girls and women to do as far as following their dreams?
Everyone has moments where you doubt what you're doing, and just feel so overwhelmed that you question whether it's worth it, or will ever be at the point where you're 100% happy with it. The way I always look at it is, there are people out there with crazier dreams and goals than me, and they are making it happen and making a living off of it, so there's no reason I can't. There are moments you have where you just feel like you can't take it anymore, or you're exhausted, but then you see the good that's coming out of it, or things move forward, and the excitement that comes from that makes it worth it. You can't expect things to just be handed to you, and have things happen right away, but if you're willing to put the time into it, it will eventually get to a point you want it to. You just have to look at the good that's coming out of it every season, and not look at the big picture and feel disappointed or be hard on yourself if it doesn't happen fast enough. It will happen, you just can't expect it to happen over night. With what I do, there's so many people I went to school with that ended up deciding in the end they don't want to be in the fashion industry because it's just more work than they expected. Lots of people look at it as this glamorous career, but you start to see how the creative part is really just a small part of it. As long as you're willing to put the time into it, and give it everything you have, there's no reason for it to not work out how you want it to in the end. At the end of the day, when you see how much you've accomplished, and how things have moved forward, it's all worth it and it makes you excited what comes next in the future. As long as you love what you do, it's worth the struggles and the stress. You spend most of your day and life working, you might as well do what you love.
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