In an era where so much is computerized, I’m still quite fond of using notebooks. One reason that I enjoy them so much is that it’s fun to flip back and see what I was thinking about or working on in months and years past. I’ll use them for to-do lists, to take notes during phone calls, and to doodle in.

While cleaning rummaging around my desk today, I came across a spiral notebook that I had while I was working my day job a few years back.

For those who might not know, I didn’t begin my post-collegiate career in fashion. I graduated with a dual degree in Economics and Public Policy and had no interest in pursuing a job relating to either major. I ended up taking an offer at an IT consulting firm and working in that industry for seven years; during those last three years, I was simultaneously working on 3sixteen with my partner Johan (it wasn’t until Januay 2007 when I quit my consulting job to work full-time on 3sixteen). Some of my clients were local and others required me to travel weekly – this notebook was used during my project in Honolulu, where I spent 3 months in 2006.

What I found most interesting (to me, at least) was the visual reminder of how I was juggling my side passion during my day job. If you look closely you can see references to 3sixteen – credit card numbers, new store information, invoices to be charged – lodged in between notes from meetings on software fixes to be made. Finding this notebook was a great reminder of how much things have changed, how far we’ve come as a brand, , and most importantly – of how grateful I am to be doing what I love all day long.