Glitz. Glamour. Allure. These are all words we think about, when we think of the fashion world. In this interview Elise Borja gives us a glimpse of what lies behind such glitz and glamour. Working for some of the biggest fashion houses and fashion publications, Elise reveals how she was consistently told to stay “in her lane” simply because she wanted to move away from the “negativity” and the “toxicity” that rules the fashion industry. In such a world mental health struggles, not making a living wage, not getting a real lunch break and working till 2-3 am in the morning is all seen as a norm and is almost expected. Elise tells Res Publica Editor Aimann Naveed about how she’s planning to open her own fashion consultancy brand “Reformer Studios”.The brand will display how one can have both: being a part of the fashion world without it ruling your life.