Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Atienza.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story starts in San Jose, California, where I grew up, initially drawn to veins of expression such as theater, photography, writing, music, and style. After high school, I spent several years in Hungary and around different parts of Europe studying theology and serving with ministries out there, a journey which eventually gave me the opportunity to write a thesis about the role and power of divine feminine beauty in God’s plans and obtain a degree in theology. I do not currently practice organized religion, though I recognize that much of my path, artistic endeavors, and message are informed by studying theology, working with the church, as well as what I’ve learned in more recent years about Vietnamese Buddhism after the passing of my paternal grandmother.
In between theology studies, I found myself back in the Bay Area, met a musician, we had a bit of a whirlwind romance which landed and eventually dissolved in Austin, in the name of love forged during turbulent times. I had been modeling and writing beauty and wellness content under the name Give Me Cashmere for years at this point so I did in fact try to have my last name legally changed to Cashmere. Though I was not granted that name, this Quarantine Divorcée character, Ms Cashmere, was born in the dissolution of my first marriage. To process and articulate these experiences, I am writing a coffee table book – a series of essays, reflections, and thoughts on love through the voice of this character.
As of now, I am in an exciting season of creation as I make strides in Love Research, write this book, record music, and finish details on my first boutique collection of repurposed pieces.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t say the road has been smooth or clear, though taking a transcendental perspective to see how everything connects is definitely helpful. Some struggles were lit aflame by things out of my control, such as the side effects of living in a patriarchal society run by white supremacy. That which I do actively address is mental health. As both a child and an adult, I have had some experiences that have left me with PTSD, anxiety, and depression – along with the task to heal these through EMDR therapy, art, and spiritual and wellness practices.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Everything I am working on is rooted in the belief that if I can find ways to heal myself and practice vulnerability to empower others, this will create a ripple effect of healing – and this is how we heal the world. I call it Trickle Down Therapy. The idea herein is that uplifting one consciousness at a time, soothes the collective wound.
That being said, I am a musician/singer/songwriter recording and producing from my home studio full of beautiful vintage instruments. In an interview, I heard Dolly Parton refer to her earlier songwriting days as being full of a lot of “sad ass songs” and as a lot of the music I’ve been working on has been focused on processing traumatic experiences, exploring the interconnected nature of love and pain, and calling out to divinity, it is safe to say I am musically working through the Sad Ass Song era.
The music and writing endeavors are articulated through a character called Ms Cashmere, a fatally glamorous Quarantine Divorcée who truly wants to guide you through healing life’s wounds to help you love yourself and others – which is exactly what the book I’m writing is about. This project led to the evolution of Ms Cashmere into a Love Researcher when I launched Ms Cashmere’s Loveline, a phone line dedicated to receiving anonymous stories, anecdotes, and reflections in response to questions such as “What do you know about love?” ((Intrigued individuals can submit their responses to +1 (512) 200-3121)) I’ve been thrilled by the contributions so far and am excited to see how they continue to inform the book and the music moving forward.
Last piece here is the Give Me Cashmere clothing line. I take thrifted, vintage, and donated items of clothing, paint and bleach print designs, and add details like chain stitching to be sold locally and online. It speaks to one of my core creative memories of learning about style and ensemble by growing up going thrift shopping with my Mother, as well as encouraging a mentality away from fast fashion and towards a mindset of sustainability. The first collection set to release this month is all about love, abstraction, and art – which ties into everything else.
This month, I will be part of an AAPI art showcase where I will be doing an altar installation combining all of the above elements in the context of ritual. It’s basically a communal version of the altar I have at home, and I’m so excited to share this with the community.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?With everything the world has experienced these past few years in particular, the industries certainly NEED to pivot accordingly and address the needs of humankind rather than being ruled by capitalism. I recognize that this is a very idealistic perspective, though I fully believe this is what is necessary. There have already been massive amounts of research and evidence of how toxic the fast fashion industry is for the environment, with its contributions to global warming and masses of waste. Additionally, fast fashion has everyone looking the same while crying out for individuality. This will be a hard shift as capitalism has such a stronghold on fashion, but a focus on sourcing and buying from local makers is a way that individuals can use their dollars within their own communities to change the narrative.
People seek love, connection, and authenticity, and music is a beautiful way to articulate the experiences we have. The mechanism of live music in particular is a way to bring freedom and liberation to the masses by way of a a focused presence. Therefore, I do believe that there is and will continue to be a desire for different voices and styles to be celebrated and uplifted in the music and entertainment industry as listeners seek to be genuinely resonated with in the coming days.
My focus and intention is to be part of these shifts and I hope to do so as effectively as possible.
Contact Info:
- Email: vanessaatienza7@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/givemecashmere
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/givemecashmere
Image Credits
Photo in neutrals and photo with green top taken by photographer @charlezfair on Instagram
