Another successful ex

behemot

Jonathan Saunders Thanks His Upbringing

Fashion designer Jonathan Saunders thanks his Jehovah's Witness upbringing for his successful career.

Fashion designer Jonathan Saunders says his Jehovah's Witness upbringing pushed him to succeed in the clothing industry.

The Scottish-born designer - who wowed critics with his floral designs for spring/summer 2011 at London Fashion Week - admitted he hasn't spoken to his religious parents since he left home at the age of 16 to pursue a career in fashion.

Jonathan - who is renowned for his edgy geometric designs - said: "You have to go without something to really want it. I'm quite thankful for my upbringing because of that. It pushed me to get what I want."

The 32-year-old also revealed that moving into the world of design was a shock to the system after a fashion-free childhood.

Speaking about his time studying at the Glasgow School of Art, he explained: "Even the physical environment of the art school was influential - it was my first introduction to modernism."

However he found his time at Central Saint Martins - where he graduated with an MA in printed designs - even tougher.

He added to London Fashion Week The Daily newspaper: "It was the biggest awakening. They embrace frivolity. It was a whole other level of fashion that was fascinating to me and I felt completely out of my depth."

source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jonathan-saunders-thanks-his-upbringing_1167463

lifelong humanist

behemot

Thank you very much for posting this information.

I'm almost certain that this man is the son of Keith Saunders, who, I was attached to the Rutherglen congragation (Glasgow). I knew him and his wife Pamela - he was quite a liberal JW as I recall, much more caring than your average JW elder. I can only vauely remember their son, Jonathan, though.

I was also at the Glasgow School of Art, back in 1968/9. I was severely counselled about it from those in charge of the Cathcart congregation (Glasgow) at the time.

If Jonathan reads here, best of luck to you with your already outstanding career achievements! If your parents are still alive, I'm sure that they are very proud of you.

lifelong humanist

MMXIV

That's really interesting. A brave boy to leave home at 16 to follow his dreams. I wonder if his parents secretly acknowledge his success from afar?

MMXIV

WingCommander

Can you imagine that absolute SHIT and constant belittling his parents must get ALL THE TIME from the other congregation members??? And of course, because he's in fashion design I'm sure the biggest rumour is that he is probably GAY. I don't know if he is or not, but I'm sure that's the rampant rumour about him.

Instead of praising his determination and successes, I'm sure he's held up as an example of what NOT to be at the assemblies.

Any pride his parents/family feel is quickly beaten down by the harsh WT rod of shame and indignity for not serving THEM.

- Wing Commander

Broken Promises

In the pic, they all look like they’re at an assembly, lol.

Good on him.

miseryloveselders

I was just about to post a thread on this. Glad I did a search first. It makes me feel good to see him sucessful. Makes me feel real good. I hate that he hasn't spoken to his parents since age 16, but it exposes the tretcherous nature of this religion. The ironic part is JWs and the WT loves news articles with a positive expose' on the religion. I wonder how many JWs saw the title of this news article and were all ready to share with other JWs or relatives, only to discover that this guy's success was driven by the WTS totalitarianism.

miseryloveselders

Here's another one by the way. Luke Evans.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23873480-how-luke-evans-swapped-welsh-valleys-for-hollywood-hills.do

He grew up in the small village of Aberbargoed, the only child of a builder and a housewife. They were a young couple – 19 and 23 when he was born – and both are devout Jehovah's Witnesses. 'That's what I did for the first 16 years of my life.' Spread the Word, door to door? 'That's it.' What impact did that have on him as a child? 'You're knocking on people's doors every week, in other villages down the valley, so you do develop a sense of confidence, to deal with the knock-backs and with people not wanting to speak to you.' It was a happy home – 'they're people with good morals and standards. No swearwords were allowed at home at all, ever,' – and Luke only gradually moved away from the faith as a teenager, leaving behind Creationism and the total ban on swearing. By 16 he had his own ideas. 'I wanted to live my life. I didn't want to upset anybody but I had a clear vision of how I wanted to live and it had nothing to do with religion.'

School, Bedwellty Comprehensive, was more difficult. 'I was bullied at school, I was very unhappy. Being a Jehovah's Witness, being an only child… in a small village you only have to be a little bit different and you're vilified.' The bullying wasn't physical, he says, just a continual alienation from his peers. On his first day out of school aged 16, he went to River Island and got a job shelving shoes. He saved £15 per week for acting and singing lessons, and a year later, won a scholarship to the London Studio Centre, a college specialising in musical theatre. 'Oh, it was wonderful being able to sing and act every day. I'd always thought it would just be a creative vent and I never thought I could do it for a living. So the way things are now is just amazing.'

snowbird

Good for him!

Syl

badcompany

Bravo! I can relate. If you spend your formative years selling everlasting life to an unsuspecting public you can translate it into amazing success later on. That is, if you get out in time.

Another successful ex

Jonathan Saunders Thanks His Upbringing

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