When he was young, Christopher McCallum dreamed of being a fashion designer, but he also thought of being a fighter pilot, rock star, hotelier, or international playboy. He began to seriously consider fashion design when he was in college.  "I floated around and kicked around different ideas, but I seemed to gravitate to the more creative side of things.  So I gave it a crack."

He is from Brisbane, Australia. His interests include men’s fashion, shoes, art, product design and marketing. "I’m a retailer online and in the physical world, so I’m interested in website design and interior design. I’m a manufacturer also, so I’m interested in materials like leather and rubber and manufacturing processes."

His definition of fashion is positive and all-encompassing. "Fashion to me is both an aesthetic, a mood, a visual manifestation of who you are or who you want to be and also an overall presence.  The accessories of fashion are like a tattoo that you can change every day.  Fashion includes clothing, shoes, hair, make-up, grooming.  It also includes the body, which is the core of fashion.  It also includes attitude and language.  So a person’s total fashion starts with a confident, positive attitude and a healthy fit body, well groomed, hair styled…then adds clothing, shoes and accessories in a congruous manner.  Fashion should make you feel better."

Christopher's favorite thing about the design profession is the creative process. "I like the creative side of the profession the most. Bringing a physical product into the world that was spawned in the mind is incredibly satisfying.  Seeing it delighting a stranger is even more so.  When a customer adopts a pair of shoes, it is very exciting.  I most dislike the wholesale side of the business." He feels that integrity is not always a priority, and he has " just dealt with far too many sharks."

He has had many creative and commercial successes. "There are a lot of things that could be considered accomplishments, like opening my own boutiques, setting up my own workshop, employing positive people, being profitable, being involved in fashion weeks and such… but I think the greatest accomplishment for any designer is to have repeat customers part with their hard-earned cash to own something the designer created and then enjoy using that product."

He advises aspiring designers to consider the business-side of fashion design. "Unless you work for someone else, being a fashion designer equals being a business.  And usually fashion people are not so great [as] business people.  So, unless you have a double personality, find someone that can make the business decisions to leave your creative juices free to flow.  Oh, and “selling” is not a dirty word.  Designers are horrible salespeople because they don’t want their work to be judged.  And a purchase decision is the ultimate judgment.  Embrace selling.  If no one buys your work and no one wears it, it’s not fashion."

Christopher McCallum is a featured independent designer at UsTrendy.com. View his portfolio and blogs at: http://www.ustrendy.com/vein-wear/.