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Every issue, GRAZIA USA highlights Game Changers, who inspire, educate, and celebrate individuality, beauty, and style. Meet Peter Som, the award-winning designer using his creative passions to build a bridge between food and fashion.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n My journey as an entrepreneur begins with me in the fifth grade. At that point, I already knew what I wanted to do \u2014 start a fashion line. I was a very shy child, and I was always drawing, especially pictures of my mother. That eventually evolved into sketching her clothes. But then a family trip to Paris as a kid made that dream feel like it could be a reality. While there, my sister bought <\/span>L\u2019Officiel <\/span><\/i>and French <\/span>Vogue<\/span><\/i>. Those publications opened a magical door to fashion with a capital F. While being inspired by the pages of the magazines, I thought: \u201cBy the time I\u2019m 30, I will start my own line.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Turning 30 holds a certain level of symbolism when you\u2019re a child. It felt like an age when people have everything figured out. Even though, as you grow up, you learn that you might not. Despite coming to that realization, I still was able to\u202freach my goal of having my own collection by 30. In order to make that childhood dream a reality, I had to combine strategy, work ethic and instincts. There are a lot of unexpected turns on this path, but every step and misstep offers an opportunity to learn.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve learned a lot throughout my career and with developing my own brand. My approach to entrepreneurship parallels my design process and creating a recipe. There\u2019s a lot of thought put into it. Whether it\u2019s clothing on the rack or food being plated, it has to look great and make people feel good.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I first started my line, retailers were very clear about the fact that the clothing had to stand out. My work in the culinary world is similar because we eat with our eyes. I want to make things people want to either eat or wear again. I have a creative approach to everything that I do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I was younger, I prioritized placing my energy toward the end goal and figuring out what\u2019s next. As I\u2019ve gotten older, I\u2019ve learned to live in the present. I\u2019ve embraced living in the now and just saying, \u201cOkay, this is cool.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While trying to live in the moment, I still want to continue to work in the food space and expand my brand. Within the next five years, I see Peter Som growing and encompassing everything under the lifestyle umbrella. I still work in fashion because I will never leave the fashionista inside of me. I still have my collection with Rent the Runway, and it\u2019s ongoing. But Peter Som the brand will continue to be an extension of me and include fashion, food and more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A<\/span>s my marquee evolves, there are steps to turning all of my ideas into something tangible. With attempting to turn an idea into something real \u2014 whether that be a dress or a dish \u2014 my parents were the perfect example. As architects, they were able to talk to someone, develop a blueprint and build a house. In my eyes, my work requires me to take the same type of leap. There\u2019s a lot of trial and error when you\u2019re creating and growing your own business, but the more you can get on paper the better the execution will be.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While reflecting on the development process, it\u2019s also the foundation for what\u2019s to come. I think about what\u2019s next in this professional journey a lot. I\u2019m working on so many different things, and I love what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019m focused on broadening what I do and how I communicate it.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Read GRAZIA USA\u2019s Fall issue featuring cover star Nicola Peltz Beckham:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n