For BANDITxAPPAREL’s second promo shoot, I had the privilege of working with an old friend from way back in elementary and middle school, Patience Taylor. Patience and I met around the third grade and went to the same school through eight. When I discovered, now at 23 years old, that Patience not only studied psychology, (which is super dope in and of itself) but is also a model, I knew she was the perfect person to ask to be a part of the project.

And I was exactly right to do so. Working with Patience was a DREAM. Collaboration is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s one of the primary reasons I love filmmaking, why I decided to go full force on BANDIT as opposed to playing it safe and small as I originally planned. So, working with someone who genuinely wants to model was such a treat. Because it benefits the both of us.

And let me tell you, Patience really has it. So, this is my endorsement. HIRE HER. You will not regret it.

But wait! There’s more!

Because the amount of positive feedback we got on the designs that day?! It was enough to almost bring a girl to TEARS. And I’ll be honest, I was suuuuper nervous about the double DAISY print. It was risky and loud and I almost cancelled the order several times. But thankfully, I stuck with it. And it turns out people really loved it. We got so many compliments on the look–the combined efforts of my designs, outfit styling, and Patience’s make-up and accessorizing (which she did herself!)–that it was exactly the reminder I needed to push me forward with this project. 

Everything with this has been so risky. Unlike the other forms of art I create, starting a clothing brand is only successful if other people like what you’re making. It’s not as self sufficient as writing or digital artwork. And I won’t lie, it’s been rather intimidating to acknowledge. So, the receptiveness of literal strangers was so so so so so reassuring.