BLADIMIR

Who are you?
Rene descarte once famously said "I think, therefore I am," not to get very deep and philosophical, but that quote basically means (in my own frame of thought) that whatever you think will be a manifestation of who you really are. The most fascinating answer to that question is- one will never know. Yea, I can give you characteristics of myself but that'll serve no purpose. To really know who you are is to live beyond human years (that of which) is to live past your own time in life. To make it very simple. My abuelo (grandfather) who lived up to ninety-six years old once told me in his early nineties in Spanish "You have a long life, just treat others the way you would want to be treated,". Such a simple answer yet holds so much ground. The essence of figuring out who you are is to come to a realization that we will never know, just like how scientists still don't know why love or compassion exists in this life.

Was there a moment when you realized you were you?
The moment when a friend or a family member asked for my help in situations where it was extremely important-like when it was 4 a.m. and my friend needed my help to take him to the hospital. I did take him and he pulled through, but it's these moments that really hold that question to its core. I look back at that moment and others and dissected who I was and who I wanted to be. When you're comfortable in your daily life- it's great; isn't it?!?! But when life hands you that pop quiz which you weren't expecting, then "Who you really are,'' shows their true colors. Perhaps the real significance of "you were you" is by one's actions towards other people. 

Why did you design the bag you did? Why did you select the style? Leather?
I designed the bag with my own representation of myself and life. Life is rough and with time it can give you some wear/tears along the way. That's why I chose leather! Now, the blue represents the color that always fascinated me because it's one of the primary colors that cannot be mixed. You cannot mix two colors to form blue and that means that blue is a true trendsetter. It's original in its own right and cannot apologize for being so. Blue is a true individual color that stands alone just like the other primary. The buckle(I chose silver) because of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Which made it even more badass. Inside I chose light blue because it blended well with the other colors.

What does it mean to be one of a kind?
To be one one a kind. Is to look at the world objectively. To know in absolute that other peoples opinion is just that-there own. You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to be or what you ought to accomplish. You or I, have no responsibility to be like what others expect you or me to be and never ever follow the crowd, be your own individual.

What event in life has shaped you most as a person, and how?
Traveling has shaped my views in life. Come to think of it- a lot has shaped my views in life. Traveling, books, classes, different types of religions, music, literature, philosophers, philosophy, psychology, science, astronomy ETC. I mean I could go off in a tangent. Though, the one thing that stands out is experience. We live and we get older, and it's through getting older where we have experiences in life that will inevitably shape the way we think about the world. Human beings are always reaching for that banana that could never be grabbed. Why? Because life is how we experience it. Yes you can mold it and shape it how you want it to look but as far as picking an event that would solidify your whole being?!?! Well, I would have to pick LIFE in a nutshell.

How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe my personal style as very eclectic. Style derives from oneself and experiences one of which can transition from one style to the next in a flash. I do appreciate old school 1950's Hollywood attire or I may jazz it up by wearing clothing from old France or Italy. For example, the paperboy hat I wear often when it becomes winter. I like to take risks in clothing, because it'll give me a gateway through different styles in which I may not have thought about.