Erin
“Womanhood is community.”
Erin is a strong and enthusiastic leader, both in her professional and personal life. She is always willing teach when others are eager to learn. She has an incredibly creative mind, which is evident in her passion for sewing. Erin makes all of her own clothes, and never seems to run out of ideas. She is independent and adventurous; she moved halfway across the world with one suitcase, and she didn’t give up until this place became a home. Meet Erin. This is her story.
Erin, in her sewing room (her happy place)
P: Please introduce yourself!
E: My name is Erin and I'm from Toronto, Canada. I've lived in Wellington, New Zealand for the last five and a half years, where I do web work for the New Zealand government.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
E: I'm a creative and independent city lady who finds joy in craft, good food, and having good people around me.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
E: I've always been crafty, but in 2010 I got more into sewing and this hobby has brought me so much. The act of making things brings me peace and inspiration, and as my practice has improved, it's changed the way I think and made me more methodical. I've also been rewarded by an incredible community of makers around the world, and have formed some deep friendships with people who share my interests. Recently, I've been trying to share these skills and knowledge with other people in my life and it's fun to see them learn and get the satisfaction of making something they love.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
E: I moved to New Zealand on my own in 2015, without ever having been here and not really knowing anyone. I had lived abroad when I was younger, but an international move is a much different prospect in your 30s than it is in your 20s. Starting over from scratch (I came here with one suitcase) and trying to lay down roots and get comfortable in another culture has been a CHALLENGE, but I've grown so much, met some truly rad people, and learned a lot about myself. I've gone from living out of a suitcase in someone's guest room to becoming a permanent resident, having a satisfying career, creating a community of people I love, and living in a space that makes me happy.
Photo by Beth Brash
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
E: Start saving for retirement! I was a little late to the financial literacy party and it feels like I'll always be playing catch up. I wish I had started younger.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
E: Womanhood is community. We share many burdens and challenges, but also the freedom to inspire, create, connect...
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
E: I'm really inspired by fat activists like Marielle Elizabeth (@marielle.elizabeth) and Aubrey Gordon (@yrfatfriend), who speak out against anti-fat bias and the harmful effects of diet culture. There is so much work to be done in making this world kinder and more accessible to fat people and I hate to think how much abuse they take for fighting for this cause.