let the revolutionaries speak

Revolutions like the internet, they don’t happen a lot in history; revolutions that put the world as we know upside down, that change the way we communicate, exchange the way we work, change art, change nations, change our vision of the world.

Revolutions, often when they start, they’re not taken very seriously. Six years ago, I opened my blog—it wasn’t taken very seriously. But I believed in it, and I got very serious about it, just because I had so much fun doing it. For the first time, I was able to express myself in a way that I would never have imagined possible.

In one format, I could illustrate, write, photograph, film, and share it with people directly wherever they are in the world. Exchanging and communicating, moving from the information age to the communication age—that dialogue is the revolution of fashion.

I’m so happy that my generation is living it, and I’m very proud that Scott and I are at the forefront of it. If we’ve opened doors and inspired others, then we’ve really done something important.

So tonight, I want to say, take your fun very seriously—protect it, nourish it, cherish it. You never know, maybe one day, you’ll start a revolution.

—Garance Dore

People tell you, “never give up,” “never let go of your dream,” and I would say, don’t listen to those people. When I was growing up I wanted to be the next Armani, but I could look at my own work and realize I wasn’t going to be the next Armani. But I adjusted and I moved towards my talents. So instead of becoming the next Armani I became the first me.

People also tell you that to make it in fashion, whether it’s in media or design, you have to have a lot of money or a big company behind you. But I think Garance tonight has shown that when I started, I had no money and I spent no money to start the blog. No money in developing, no money in printing, no shipping, but what we did have was a simple idea, a unique vision, and an ability to execute it in a consistent way. So if you can do something like that and have a truly unique vision, you can still make a difference today. 

— Scott Schuman