areas of the fashion industry. It seemed that most fashion based
courses from marketing to branding, covered all areas of the
spectrum. Rosie Barnes, Fashion Communication graduate from
Northumbria University said, “The Fashion Communications
course is fantastic for those who are interested in the fashion
industry but who are unsure of what exactly they want to do.
It is a really varied course. You get to have a taste of fashion
photography, journalism, marketing, branding and all sorts. In
your final year, you can go off in whatever angle you want; I
decided to do branding.”
The most frequent topic of discussion when speaking to
the graduates was definitely internships. It became apparent
that most of the universities believe industry placements to be
essential for graduate employment, with many courses including
an obligatory sandwich year in industry. Jasmine Virtue, Fashion
Design graduate from the University of Leeds, explained why
work experience is just as important as gaining a degree, “You
have to do internships not only for industry experience but also
to understand what you are going into. Sometimes people do
internships and then decide the fashion industry is just not for
them.”
Chloe Jones, Fashion Design graduate from Bath Spa
University and winner of the prestigious Graduate Fashion
Week Gold Award, explained how her work experience has
been invaluable, “We are incredibly lucky on our course. Our
tutors always inform us of opportunities and almost all of us have
managed to get internships. I managed to get a placement with
Bruce Oldfield.It was amazing just to be in the studio and to work
with the garments.
I have actually
interned
at
Temperley London,
which was fantastic
because I worked
in the head office
and was involved
with supply. It
was good to see
that side of the
industry.”
The feedback
on
graduate
support services,
both inside and an out-with university was generally positive.
Lisa Hill, Fashion Design graduate from the University of Lincoln
said, “Without the university I would not have a clue where to
start.They have given me so much help and support, especially
with finding internships and teaching me how to promote myself.
I just finished last week, and I have already started an internship
which is paid.”
Marine Aves, Colchester University BA Honours Fashion
Textiles graduate said,“To be honest, I think it is mostly down to
you.There are so many companies such as My Identity helping
students at the moment, but if you do not push yourself, you will
feel lost. I believe that if you have the determination and passion,
you will find a job.”
With a strong fashion heritage, London is still considered to
be one of the world’s most stylish cities.Worth a staggering 21
billion pounds, the British fashion industry continues to produce
fresh fashion talent, despite difficult times. Much of this success
is down to the wide range of educational courses on offer up
and down the country and, after speaking to graduates from a
wide variety of fashion courses, it is easy to see why hopefuls
compete from across the globe for places in British fashion
colleges.
As I walked around the university stands at Graduate Fashion
Week I could not help but feel uplifted.Though the figures are
stacked against them, it seems today’s fashion graduates will
survive the recession with a strong education and supportive
organisations like Graduate FashionWeek behind them.
http://www.gfw.org.uk/
“
You have to do internships not
only for industry experience but
also to understand what you are
going into. Sometimes people do
internships and then decide the
fashion industry is just not for
them.”
bite
real
life
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