Meet Alice Waraxa

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alice Waraxa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alice , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I know this will sound silly to most people, but my confidence in my art or work comes from those around me. It is not that I look for an external source of validation but the words people in my life and mostly strangers share with me about, my work ring in my head when I do not want to continue. There will always people who offer up their opinions of what I am doing either negative or positive. It is the conversations that I have with other artists or business owners when I am out in the public selling or talking at an event. I have learned that my reaction and my response is made from the confidence I have. Ask me why I do what I do? I have an answer! Tell me how you would do it better! But do they do it at all?

Normal, everyday confidence, and self-esteem I get from setting and accomplishing goals. Many times I would share the things I have done or events I have planned, art that I show and publications that I am a part of like it is a part of everyday conversation.
It might sounds very much like “Oh I went to the post office” to me, but to others who have never experienced my path or had motivations for the things I want to do and am are passionate about; their eyes light up. Having people then follow up with questions of how I got there from where was is really special. Most of the time, I leave my house with anxiety and a little fear of what might come next and then I will get a compliment from an elder or even a child and that is just the validation that I need to put my chin up higher that day.

I often question myself like many others, I have just never stopped looking for the answers. I do not think “giving up” has been programmed into my DNA. I never really see it as an option. It is never me who throws my hands up and says ” that’s it, it is over! I cannot find a solution.” I see that as a challenge, a request for more, even an oppurtunity to be proud of the work I put into the project and thankful of the oppurtunity to learn through a problem. Hands on! not just theoretical.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

SPACE CADET’S MISSION
A new genre of CYBERdelic designs and PsyCODEelic videos and digital concepts.
Creates interiors, exteriors, space and dreams… Sustainable ATMOSPHERE!

A Brand, A concept. Slow Fashion. Couture Clothing. Upcycled and Handmade Goods for Sale. Leather, Mesh, Velvet, & Often Vintage. 🌈 For ALL! Unisex!
Sustainability Applied – Mushroom Propaganda
CLE based brand and concept:

Space Cadet specializes in handmade custom clothing and handmade goods and home decor, often vintage and upcycled. Upcycling and repair — the aim to keep as much as possible out of the landfills. To use what we have, fix if necessary and remake. With the use of a curated aesthetic and an artful eye… uniqueness, one of a kind and purposeful.

“We are focused on SUSTAINABILITY as a lifestyle not just a buzzword”

Our lead designer, Alice, has been sewing since she was 13 years old. She learned most of her skill from her mother and fine tuned her craft as a student of art, Milwaukee Area Technical College as well as the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.
She is determined to keep learning new skills and focused on quality. She is committed to quality and long lasting materials. Re Using and Recycling what she can and seems appropriate to each product design.

I have a few new directions that I am taking Space Cadet in 2024
I am focusing on lounge wear made from upcycled sheets and bedding in to loungewear. I also have reworked or redesigned lingerie with screen printed spore prints and space themed.

I have spent some time in the last year making my product packaging cohesive. I tend to get recycled materials that I can stamp so it is low waste or of non harmful materials to the environment.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My skills are in clothing design/ redesign, Alterations/ repair/ restoration
A lot of people use the term “upcycling” which is new but the concept is old. It is mending, restoration or reworking designs or materials to make new clothing or updated style designs.

My areas of knowledge as in experiences and education are mostly in photography, building brand heritage/ history/ storytelling and all the advertisement and copy support for small businesses. Individuals and organizations. This includes finding funding sources, partnerships and editorial content for concept development and making missions for said brands.

My important qualities all reference my passion for conservation of our planet, restoration in community, space and land and the ability to see past what I see to the ideas and roots that inform personal/ professional movement. I mean to say I am a passionate, empathetic networker. I listen and share opportunities as well as kindly educate others in the areas I work and others want guidance in. I seem to always have a part in my brain working for other people’s ideas. But mainly sharing info that can help me achieve their idea or goal.

This is innate; it comes from wanting to help people. I want those around me with passion and ideas to be closer to the resources that can help them actualize their dreams. I myself struggle to gain and maintain resources that I can use to actually help others around me. But from a modest point of view I could give them info or contacts to get them closer to what they need to get their work done. It comes from my position in the magazine we had created and ran for 5 years in Milwaukee (my home town) called Rust.

I was almost a coach, a guide, a head hunter and foot on the ground advertising ambassador for our brand because I believe in us and what we made. I can always find a way to include someone who wants to contribute to the community they are a part of. If they have the will, I will find a way. All of this wrapped up into a cofounder and visual editor of this magazine.

If I could give advice to someone early in their journey I would say get involved, volunteer, talk to some strangers. I am not saying throw your work at people and give it away for free just because you want exposure. I am saying use some of your extra time to offer to table at an event you want to be a part of, especially if you have a hard time getting in or applying before the event. Your journey should not be looked at in years as in “I need to accomplish this amount of things in a year.” Set milestones. Step one: Recon — go to events, talk to people with like interests and network while you are making something or building a brand. Some stranger might have the wisest words to say that need to be heard at the moment you heard them.
Step 2: pilot your idea or merch idea! Be your own 1st customer. Wear it, Use it, Show people how to use it too! Use your skills to impress you as a client.
Step 3: Research and development: now that you are around people that you want to be around, ask them how they got there, what they overcome, how many people tried to stop them or stand in their way.

These are all arbitrary steps, they are not a exact guide and more of a how to. I want to tell you that you are not alone in this. There are many people in so many phases of their idea that want to help. They have advice. You will meet people who laugh and tell you to give up. Those are not your people my friend. Stop seeking validation of the masses and people who will never even have the motivation to do what you are doing or about to do. They will just fill the air with words… you will find support. So many people started with nothing to build what they built. You at least have your idea and your vision. Develope that before you worry about developing an audience. The audience will always be there waiting for you to speak clearly about your efforts and goals. They will be there in the journey to point out weaknesses and strengths you never knew you had. They will be there to fake support when there is an army of real supporters behind you.

Listen to it all… it is up to you how you apply the information.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

I suppose the surface answer I want to say is an educated client on the topic of my mission and work.
That is so simple and easy. But on a deeper level, my ideal is the (un)educated client willing, waiting with an open mind. A client mainly who sees the value in my mission, my work and wants to know more. Like mindedness can only get you so far when you want to be part of a “movement” in culture you need people with open minds who do not always think just like you.

Yes I am a brand. I pay my bills with sweat equity! Yes I want ANYONE and EVERYONE to spend your money so I can continue. I want those who want to buy or hire me for what I offer, but the fact is, I need a wider audience than my ideal. Clients that are willing to listen and understand the process if they want to know how I get the result.
I also love clients who do not care about the process but are very much satisfied with the result, who trust my work.

All of my work is rooted in big ideas of conservation, it is just that not everyone wants to participate. I have a little something for everyone. Anyone who wants to buy a product! I have one. Anyone who wants to build and idea and make a plan! I can help. Anyone who needs assistance with their own brand story or articulation of their ideas so they can find funding! I have experience to help guide them.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All images:

Photographer: Alice M Waraxa

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