Jonas Schwaer

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July 4, 2025

What's the Opposite of FOMO?

Taken by Yasu-san. Tokyo 2025.

One of the nicest parts of Paris Fashion Week is seeing friends and meeting new people. Over the years, I’ve carved out time (or simply had the time) to take meetings, drink coffees, visit showrooms, and go on countless fashion week runs—which, at this point, feels a bit excessive.

There’s an overwhelming number of events and parties, and it’s often hard to decide where to go. There's also this subtle feeling that you might be at the “wrong” event—because somewhere else, people are at the “better” party. And so, many end up rushing from place to place, driven by a mix of FOMO and the pressure to be seen. Trust me, I’ve been part of that group, from New York to Paris, more than once. 

But every time I’ve missed Fashion Week because of work or travel, I never truly felt I missed out—or at least, I didn’t wish I was there. That feeling always stuck with me. What I’ve realized is this: the sense of missing out disappears entirely when I’m passionate about what I’m doing. In those moments, everything else fades into the background. Time flies, I’m focused, and I’m not thinking about where I  could  be, what I’m  missing, or where the “coolest” party is.

We’re often told to find something we’re passionate about, and life will unfold in magical ways. But what is that thing? How do we find it? Does it happen by chance, or is it a strategic process? For me, it’s a process that starts with intention and time. And when passion finally sparks, it demands endurance and focus—almost to the point of obsession. In that state, value is created—even if it’s not immediately visible to others.

Over the past weeks, I’ve been working on projects I care deeply about, and we’re about to open our second exhibition in Arles (I’ll share a recap soon). During Fashion Week, I saw a few friends and attended one lovely run. Not once did I feel like I was missing out.

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