My Journey of Healing and Rediscovering My Dream of Fashion Design

My Journey of Healing and Rediscovering My Dream of Fashion Design

From the moment I was 10 years old, I knew I wanted to become a fashion designer. I would spend hours sketching, dreaming, and envisioning my designs on runways. Fashion was my passion and my way of expressing myself, and I was determined to make that dream a reality. I felt I had a clear path ahead of me — until everything changed when I was just 18 years old.

In 2003, a devastating event occurred that shook my world. My fashion designs, the intellectual property I had poured my heart into, were stolen. Losing those designs was like losing a part of myself. It was more than just artwork taken from me; it was the embodiment of my dreams, my hard work, and my vision. The theft of my designs left me shattered and forced me to retreat into myself. I stopped showing anyone my work. The introversion and self-protection that followed became my way of surviving that loss.

However, life has a way of guiding you, even when you feel lost. Though my journey in fashion took an unexpected turn, it was also the start of something deeply transformative. During that period of withdrawal, I discovered the healing arts, which became the balm for my wounded creativity. As I practiced healing myself, I found a new way to reconnect with my passion. Creativity never truly left me; it evolved and became my lifeline in a different form.

Over the years, I realized that my journey wasn’t just about fashion design. I had many dreams, many goals, and I was drawn to various areas of life that needed my attention. Whether it was through art, wellness, or my connection to nature and Indigenous culture, I began to accumulate experiences that shaped who I am today. I learned that healing, like creativity, is not linear. It requires patience, persistence, and the courage to explore new paths.

It took time, but eventually, I embraced that these different pursuits were not distractions but rather necessary parts of my journey. Through my work with healing arts, I started to see how my creative abilities could flourish again. I began sharing my work slowly, not just in fashion but also in other forms of wellness, art, and culture. Each experience, whether in art, health, or self-discovery, was preparing me for something greater — a return to my original passion, but with a deeper purpose.

Today, as the founder and designer of BALU, my fashion designs are intertwined with a greater mission: wellness through creativity. Every piece I create, every workshop I hold, is an extension of the healing I’ve experienced, and I want to share that with others. My work isn’t just about clothing; it has always been about empowerment of self and empowering others, cultural expression, and nurturing a deeper connection with the spiritual self through creativity.

The theft of my designs years ago was painful, but it ultimately shaped me into the multidimensional creator I am today. I’ve come to understand that loss doesn’t define us; how we heal and rise from it does. My fashion journey is still unfolding, but it is richer and more purposeful now. BALU represents the merging of all my dreams — a celebration of resilience, healing, and the beauty of growing from every experience.

Through BALU, I’m honoring my younger self, the one who never stopped dreaming, while also embracing the woman I’ve become: a creator, a healer, and an artist. Every piece of work I offer is a reflection of this journey, and I’m so proud to be able to share it with the world. My dream of becoming a fashion designer never truly disappeared; it transformed, and it’s stronger than ever today.

- Balu Founder