We recently connected with Anya Gibson and have shared our conversation below.
Anya, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
By taking a break.
If you need to hear that one more time – by taking a break.
If you power through your body and mind’s call for help when you start feeling it, two things are going to happen: you’ll crash and you’ll put out subpar work that you (most likely) won’t be proud of and won’t have a positive connection with. I have past designs that were forced out as a result of burnout, and when I look back at them, I’m reminded of nothing but stress, imposter syndrome, etc. If you’re a professional creative and you’re trying to overcome burnout, learn to consume for the sake of enjoyment. Scroll through your social media feed for art to simply enjoy, not because you’re looking for reference photos. Go to a fun event to enjoy said event, not to network. When you get out of that “work work work” mindset and take a few days off to simply exist and enjoy a new book, TV series, whatever, you’ll be able to come back to your projects with fresh eyes and so much weight off your shoulders!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the proud owner of Three of Swords, a goth/alternative clothing brand founded in Atlanta, GA! I’m inspired by everything from the lyrics of my fave post-punk albums and the latest anime series I’m binging to experimental makeup trends and the baddies I see when I’m out. Three of Swords launched in 2020 for two reasons: a desire for comfortable, unique alt clothing and a desire to amplify the voices and faces of alt people of color. Being raised in metro Atlanta allowed me to see such an assortment of eclectic, cool people at a young age, and I wanted to show the world that these communities are thriving and abundant!
Our 3rd anniversary just passed, and I’m so excited for what’s to come in 2023! Plans include collaborations with fellow alt designers, special drops, taking the brand to more states, maybe even bringing back some old faves…lots in store that’s top secret.
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?
You definitely don’t want to read about generic advice that you’ve already heard, so here’s 3 unique tips/thoughts that helped me and will definitely help you too:
1. You will have people that didn’t support you in the past begin to support you once they see that you’re “on”. From old high school classmates to estranged family members that haven’t spoken to you in 5+ years, I can almost guarantee that someone from your past is going to pop out and compliment you before asking for advice, free product, support, etc. Your gut instinct might range from *eye roll* to “I’m about to let them have it,” but either ignore them or give them a sincere thanks. People do change, and you may be able to form a new relationship with them if you feel that they’re genuine. This doesn’t seem like a big thing, but it’s 100% going to happen, so warning in advance!
2. Don’t let someone give you advice if they have no expertise in your field. Would I, someone who can’t swim, go up to a lifeguard and tell them they’re going their job wrong? Nope. If you’re trying to be a designer, should you trust that random uncle who can’t dress and doesn’t know the difference between screen printing and DTG? Nope. Take advice from the people who are already where you want to be.
3. Jack of all trades, master of none. Dedicate yourself to mastering one thing or a few things, not everything! Yes, at the beginning you’ll need a decent grasp of every aspect of your business because you’ll be doing it all yourself. You also want to have a general understanding of it all because you need to know what you’re looking for and how you can improve. But if you’re planning on being the best printer and the best social media manager and the best SEO analyst and the best photographer…it won’t happen. Discover where your strengths lie and hone in on those.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always on the prowl for likeminded collaborators! If you’re an alternative/goth person of color and you design or model, especially in the metro Atlanta area, definitely reach out! E-mail is preferred, but my IG DMs are always open via @threeofswordsatl.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://threeofswordsatl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeofswordsatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threeofswordsatl/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@threeofswordsatl
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/threeofswordsatl/
Image Credits
Anya Gibson and Madeline Lenahan
