When Bryan asked me to nip across the water with some paperwork, I swapped my heels for ballet flats in anticipation of the trek down to central station for the train to Birkenhead. Little did I know I would end up in Times Square not Hamilton Square! Last week I jetted out to New York to meet Ph.Creative NY, and to participate in a spot of shopping of course.
Bryan had arranged for me to meet the Ph.Creative NY team later in the week to collect some design work, so my focus initially was being a tourist. With my ipod blaring out Odyssey’s hit ‘Native New Yorker’ I took in the sights and sounds of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks. What struck me on walking 52 blocks in one afternoon is the amount of people and businesses crammed into such a small space.
I studied HND Fashion at college and have been an avid collector of British Vogue for many years, so my favourite part of Manhattan is the Garment District situated Mid-Town. On seeing the giant button and needle statue on Fashion Ave and 7TH, I was transported back to being 17 and thinking I could be the next Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood. There is a wealth of creativity just oozing out of the Manhattan streets and avenues, everywhere you look there are outlets whether it be fabric warehouses, fashion houses, PR & Media companies or design agencies. Whilst the opportunities are plentiful, the competition for that ‘chance of a lifetime’ role must be seriously fierce.
Once I had exhausted my budget on 5th Avenue and the Liberty Island Gift store (tacky stationery for all at our Liverpool office) I hailed a cab and headed over to meet the team at Ph.Creative NY. I was comforted to note that after finding my way down possibly the longest and most depressing corridor in the world; the contemporary yet cozy office is very similar to our Liverpool base. The similarities didn’t end there; book shelves bulging with design magazines and creative journals were precariously dotted around the walls, the team were all huddled over their individual monitors furiously clicking away at ongoing design projects, so the only thing missing was a Google Dave!
With design work in hand I headed back to my hotel to pack up and fly back to reality. I really fell in love with New York, the people, the food and sights and sounds. But in all honesty I fell for the belief that my creative dreams come true, and if you can make it there... well you know the rest.
