INSPIRATION for the UNLEASH Your Brilliance! show.

I wanted to hold an event in order to celebrate the amazing array of people we have here in Point Chevalier!!!! The intent was to get as many businesses, performers, everyday people, YBe customers, community members, all ages, involved as possible to pull togther an amazing event full of FASHION, ART, PERFOMANCES, DANCE, SONG, MUSIC, POETRY, FOOD, INFORMATION AND TALENT.

This was well and above achieved and all those involved gained something small or large out of it, whether it be to step up to a challenge, push their limits, be a part of a new event, help out in some way or be a stunnning first time model, or show their creations for all to see.

For me it is very close to my heart as I have wanted to do this Tiger collection for 8 years now (as well as showing my NZ Maori / Asia Pasific collection pieces) and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to come up... of course it happens to be in the Year of the Tiger... as I wanted it to be.

The year of the Tiger is about finding the strength and courage and conviction within to go forth and reach new heights, take the challenge and succeed, bringing forth all your passion and energy to keep the focus and determination to achieve the life of your dreams. We all have this burning desire to live our lives the way we want so that is where the 'Feed the fire within' comes through. The fire and passion and burning desire, being unleashed and expressed for all to see and for the self to see. In order to Be true to self and to Be the unique individual we were all born to Be and then living harmoniously within a collective whole, supporting each other through our journey and our challenges to become, believe, achieve and BE.

So this event was all about individual expression, the challenge, the expression, the achievement of that and community collaboration, involvement of many peoples to celebrate and show the diversity and the amazing array of support that is out there. Bringing the Pt Chevalier community together, promoting each individual person or business or group or centre and their involvement, celebrating the beauty of Pt Chev and surrounding areas and the Auckland Zoo which of course houses these beautiful Tigers and who so willingly came to speak to share insights and receive more support and awareness from the audience. All of these things are on our doorstep and I wanted to really show appreciation for all that there is to offer in and around Pt Chevalier.

Clearly as part of this I also wanted to show and celebrate what I do here at YBe but that all goes hand in hand with what the event showcased and the bringing together of a varied and many people. I did my best and worked hard and well and feel that I really did achieve what I set out to for this event. I hope to have inspired many people and know for sure already there were many people especially the performers who were first timers that I encouraged to give it a go... as well as this being my first time to organise such an event, bring in all the helpers, perfomers etc, make the whole new collection, at the same time continue running a business etc etc ... it all came together and was a great success.

There have been many lessons learnt, a great experience and a deep reverrance for all those who helped and supported and took part in and attended this event. I feel blessed and I hope that I will be able to continue doing what I am doing and hold future events.

Please take away from it what you will and please look on it as something to prompt you and to remind you to always accept the challenge or at least go for what it is that you are dreaming of in this life... you must take action steps towards it and keep the vision strong and BE who you truely are and go for it! UNLEASH Your Brilliance! Thank you to everyone!! I will post another update soon talking more about the inspiration, design elements and story of the actual garments in the Tiger collection itself... watch this space!

Jenny Lyn Walker.