Here’s what you don’t see: while I was focussed on the colour and artistry of that silk scarf, my husband, feeling sprightly, tried to hop over a little wall around the pool. What you need to know is, that my husband is no longer spritely 😂!

He tripped, and got the TINIEST little scrape on his knee. Within seconds he was surrounded by resort workers. They came running in from all directions, carrying Band-Aids, towels, and even a stretcher. They dealt with his tiny little scrape with the concern and  care normally reserved for survivors of natural disasters! One man gently held his head and stroked his hair, while another, cleaned and bandaged his “wound”. The whole time, my husband just looked sheepish.

Eventually, my daughters, and I noticed the hullabaloo and looked over, worried at first and then holding back laughter. 

This is what travel is about. It’s not just the things you see in the pictures, it’s the things you can’t see in the pictures. It’s the memories, the mishaps, the laughter, the culture, the food …and, of course, the outfits that keep you mesmerized on a sunny day at the beach!

1. I’m 52 years old and I founded chiangmaicctv 4 years ago.
2. My favourite colour is teal. But only when it’s paired with red. Otherwise it’s emerald green but then I also love me a good purple! Wait, but also just red, maybe with orange? Oh! And ochre! And olive! Maybe it would be easier to list colours I don’t like…. Nope, can’t think of any 🙈 
3. I taught at high school for 25 years with the Halton and Peel District School Boards. I started out teaching English and History, but eventually found my niche supporting students with learning disabilities. Teaching kids is fun because the best learning comes from play!
4. I’ve known my husband for over 30 years and our journey together has been one of growth and increased communication, love, compassion and understanding. (Yup, that is definitely the bird’s eye view!!) Together, we have three daughters, all of whom have found ways to give back in their personal and professional lives. Their future on our planet was my inspiration to create a brand that allowed women to still have fun with clothing in a way that doesn’t harm the earth. 
5. As a child, I would tie myself into my mom’s colourful sari petticoats to create multi-layered dresses. I would drift through the house practicing “poise” by balancing an Avon soapdish holder on my head as a crown. I still love clothes and playing dress up! It’s an ethereal feeling to twirl around and have the silk float through the air as you spin!
6. chiangmaicctv is the evolution of a sustainability journey that started with vintage furniture. I have always felt that “things” carry with them the energy and dreams of their owners and through sharing these “things” we share in people’s journeys. I often imagine the people whose stories I now get to share through the garments I create from their pre-loved saris. What made them choose that colour? What event did they wear it to? Who did they take shopping with them? By wearing upcycled vintage silks, we get to be chapters in the fabric’s story, a story that documents people’s lives.
7. Comfort is everything these days. Age has stripped away the energy for being precious about how I look—belts, buttons and panty hose are things of my past. Now I enjoy the things that matter, like being comfortable in my own skin and in my clothing (and shoes!!)
8. I am all about community! How can we lift each other up and use our energy to improve everyone’s life, not just some lives? How can we bring people together where the focus isn’t fashion, but is individuality and authenticity. How can we re-envision “consumerism” as a way to improve our world for all the people in it? How can we be more accepting of ourselves and each other? I want shopping to be about so much more than just the “stuff” we buy. 
9. When I meet someone, I look for their inner child–the most authentic part of themselves that is still full of wonder. I feel like the children within us deserve to be seen and given the opportunity to play dress up again!
10. I am blessed. I know you hear that a lot these days, but I really mean it! Every day is a miracle of people and ideas and opportunities to just “be” but in new exciting ways.

“Perfection” was a lot easier when I was younger.

First of all, I didn’t know enough about the world to see all of it through a realistic lens. My rose-coloured glasses kept everything that wasn’t “perfect” blurry and out of focus.

As I get older and realize that perfection is and always was a myth. Imperfection allows me to make mistakes which create space for me to grow.  Imperfection allows me to embrace more of this world and of myself.

There’s something scary about perfection. Perfection begs to be maintained, and it is so easily offended by reality. And I think that’s part of the reason I am so very okay with wearing clothing that is slightly flawed. If a piece of clothing comes pre-“flawed“, I feel less pressure for me to try to maintain the illusion of perfection. Flaws mean that that piece of clothing is real, and I think I’m ready for “real” with all that entails. 💪🏾

If there is perfection, it is fleeting, and that’s what makes it special, not the fact that it can be maintained forever.

Some of you may remember during my most recent IG live that Shefali, Mira and their friends walked through the store on their way in from a photo shoot and out to enjoy Friday night life. They were dressed to the nines in incredible fashions that showed off their personal style and their young bodies.

I used to be those girls.

I had boundless energy. I wanted to go out and have fun and I was happy to show all the leg I have!

What happened? Well, I think it may have started with the shoes. I can’t wear heels anymore. My life is too busy for me to be tottering around, hoping that my feet can keep up with the rest of me.

And I’m running out of energy. It’s not boundless anymore so I have to choose how I use it. I can only allot so much of it to the act of starting my day dressed and ready to go.  

And…I don’t dress for other people anymore. Not to say that I was out to impress, it’s just that I wanted to be part of what everyone else was doing in fashion, so I played along by keeping up with trends that made me more acceptable. So people would feel comfortable with what they saw, even if they weren’t comfortable with who I was.  

So maybe the difference is that I am more comfortable with who I am. People can like what I wear or not and I am now old enough to realize that that what they think not a reflection of me, but of themselves. Only I can define myself.

I still love to look good. To put on a pair of earrings that make me feel special. To walk into a room know that I’m turning heads, but I think now that I’m older, I want to be turning heads because of my confidence in myself and because people can see that I know who I am. I finally don’t need to show other people what I think THEY want to see. (That one took a long time for me to figure out – why the heck do I think that I know what other people want to see?)

So many times I have heard that youth is wasted on the young. I’m happy not to be a youth anymore. I don’t want to still be figuring every single thing out about how I fit into the world and whether or not who I am is acceptable to other people. I don’t want to dress a certain way because I’m concerned about how other people will define me.

I’m proud to say I’m finally defining myself.

By Priya Mohan