Journal Entry #1 : For The Faint Hearted
Original Conception
For The Faint Hearted had been rattling around in my head for months. I knew it was going to grow into something, but at the time, I wasn’t sure what that would be. What I did know was that it felt aligned with Old Eltons and its community. Old Eltons exists for the faint hearted.
The words have now found their place in a new design that we are excited to share with you. The collection evolved from a place of introspection, a desire to speak to those whose strength often goes unseen. At its core, it carries the message that it is okay to feel, to be vulnerable, to show the parts of yourself that sometimes feel fragile.
Evolution of the Stay Strong Flower
The new designs feature an evolution of our signature Stay Strong Flower. This symbol has always been about resilience, about beauty that persists even in difficult conditions, even if it can’t be seen. The incorporation of the eye reflects the sentiment that it is okay to be seen in our most emotional states, a reminder that no one is alone in their struggles.
The eye in the design is deliberate. It stares back at the viewer, reflecting and ideal of self honesty and recognition. An acknowledgement of our wounds is the first step to tending to them. There is strength in vulnerability, a power in confronting what we see when we finally choose to look in the mirror. For those with softer souls, ‘For The Faint Hearted’ reminds the wearer that their honesty and openness are not weaknesses. They are courage, the small yet persistent proof that even when life lays heavy upon you, you have always survived it.
Drawing and Design
I began to draw the designs with these ideas in mind. Flowers are delicate, needing warmth and light to grow, yet they are also resilient. They can lie dormant through seasons of cold and neglect, only to push through hard ground and bloom when the time is right. This resilience mirrored the people I imagined wearing these pieces, those who have weathered storms and still find the capacity to grow, to move forward, to explore new paths.
5:30am - Long Drive Ahead
Once the designs were done, I made the journey to print the deign with Sarah, the owner of Heck Press. It wasn’t easy returning to the press, but I felt it was important to be a part of every stage of the process for this design. The return felt like a re-connection to the brand and a stark reminder of why we do what we do. I set off at 5:30 a.m. to make the journey through the mountains. The sun was spilling all over the valley, so I stopped to take a break and capture some of it on my drone but mainly to take a breath on life moving pretty darn quickly right now. Got back in the car and arrived at around 9:30 a.m.
Company Along The Way
Jordy, who recently joined the team to help with community connection and marketing, came along for the journey, driving down from Liverpool. Being around Jordy and Sarah felt like a renewed sense of collaboration, a reminder that creation doesn’t have to be a solitary process from start to finish. The collection is meant to be shared, to reach the Old Eltons community, to remind them that they are not alone.
Each piece carries a message: keep growing, you’ve got this, you are seen. It is a gentle nudge to wander off the well-worn road, to explore the unbeaten paths of one’s own making. There was a few misprints along the way but Old Eltons has always been about embracing imperfections, so these will have a place somewhere on the website to make sure every garment we make has a chance to be worn.
Strength In Vulnerability
Driving back from Heck Press, it was great to be there all the way to the end with this one. It’s a crucial progression for the brand and what it is we’re trying to achieve; to make sure everyone that hears about us are reminded they’re not alone. It had demanded some patience, some focus, and a willingness to return to the hands-on work that first drew me to creating, but it’s always worth it. To those engaging with these pieces, it is okay to be seen, it is okay to not feel your best or to even feel your worst. For The Faint Hearted is for anyone willing to, or who needs some encouragement to tackle the curveballs head on. For The Faint Hearted is here to stay and you are to.