Sydney Mintle featured by The Guardian

I recently had the chance to share my thoughts with The Guardian on what I would have told me “2020 self” as we enter year three of the on-going pandemic. Here’s an overview of my responses.

What was something you realized in 2021 — the second year of pandemic life — that you wish you'd known in 2020?

By 2021, I realized that I actually thrive in situations that require me to pivot at a moment's notice. I genuinely embrace the forced creativity that it evokes and I think we all benefit from taking a pause to consider all the possibilities. I now wish someone had told me earlier on to savor the quiet moments of reflection instead of panicking about when things would return to normal. The truth is, there is no "normal" anymore and we have to remain agile and imaginative.

What new habits or perspectives did you pick up this year, as a result of the pandemic, that would have come in handy sooner?

The pandemic has shown us that we all truly want to be seen and connected. Whether that's taking place digitally or in real life, what we missed most during the pandemic was human connection and the opportunity to share ideas. During the pandemic, I joined a book club and started reading books by authors of color that have deeply resonated with me. Seeking to understand different points of view will be critical as we work to navigate the changes ahead in 2022.

What unexpected lesson have you learned over the course of this very long and challenging pandemic that you will carry with you, going forward?

One of the events that deeply impacted me in 2021 was the untimely passing of Virgil Abloh, founder of Off-White and artistic director for Louis Vuitton. He was only 41 years old and yet, his body of work had such a profound impact on so many people. Over the years, his work explored the idea of the "tourist" and the "purist". Tourists, being people who are eager to learn. Purists, being people who know the deep history and nuances of things like art and strive to keep them sacred. He often said that his work involved creating moments in which the tourists and purists could interact. I think about this often in my work and will continue to find ways to make the fashion industry a more inclusive space for future generations.