The information Xchange is an annual event where 3rd year fashion studies students present the work that they have carried out on their year out in industry. This evening gave us the chance to see what we could acheive if we wanted to working in industry for the year. It was a very interesting evening, finding out people's experiences, where they worked, if they enjoy what they did. I was very inspired and interested in 3 people in-particular:-
Elizabeth Rong
Victoria Lamburn
Holly Jones
Elizibeth Rong was the person i was drawn to first as i was excited and
intrigued to know how her inter with Alexander McQueen went.
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| flyer that she handed out, showing where she worked and what her jobs consisted of. |
Elizabeth worked for Alexander McQueen as a press intern, her daily tasks consisted of her reading newspapers and magazines,sending out samples to celebrities and publications, booking samples in that have been returned, organizing and tidying the press office as well as running errands for people. The intern was in London, and it wasn't paid for meaning that she was spending about £400 a week on accommodation in London, meaning that it was costing her loads. However she manage to stay at a friends which was a lot cheaper. In saying that her travel expenses and lunch were actually paid for on a weekly bases. I was quite shocked to find out that she had a bit of an awful time at her intern, so much so she had to leave half way through, this was also due to sickness, but mostly due to the fact that she was changing as a person. She explained that she used to get shouted at most day, and come home crying it was that bad, in saying that though she came out a stronger person. One piece of advise she did give to me was always be prepared!.
Elizabeth Rong did however have another intern at wedding belles in Blackburn, she said that she enjoy this one the most, she felt like it was more relaxed and could be herself a lot more. I guess just because it a designer company doesn't mean its going to be necessarily better.
The second person who i saw was Victoria Lamburn, she had an intern at George @ asda designing which was in Lutterworth, so not very far meaning travel expenses are wouldn't have been to much. Originally victoria only worked a 2 week placement with George @ asda, however because she done a great job, left a good impression and said that she was free for the next year they offered her 8 month intern. I was so shocked to find out that they offered to pay her designer wages which was £18,000 a year.! Victoria wanted to design for women's wear at first, but they only had a children s wear available, because of the amazing opperturnity and they wage she took it straight away.
I was absolutely blown away by what she had produced and achieved. For the last 6 month her designs (garments) have been in asda stores across the country, i think when she told me this i kept just saying wow! just because it was a brilliant thing to have achieved, having your own designs in store for everyone to see and buy. The pictures above are showing some of her finished garments and working drawings, which are up to such a high standard. They treated her with respect in asda, she got fully trained on Photoshop and illustrator, whcih i think is such a great thing that they did, helping her thrive and learn new skills in her future career. In doing this placement, it really opened her eyes and changed her mind on what she wanted to do career wise, children's wear designing was something that she really enjoyed. She also gave me the name of the man who organizes work placements (Paul Jenkins) and the place to go online for the email. After seeing Victoria's display and hearing what she had to say about the placement if felt very inspired and wanted to achieve what she had achieved.
The last person I saw was Holly Jones who originally had a work placement at Topshop, because she had her heart set on women's wear designing, however her mind quickly changed when she started there, she found that she was more interested in styling. She started a work placement which Susie Coulhard who works world wide as a freelance fashion stylist.Working with Susie Coulhard really brought out her new found passion for fashion styling.
Her work placements were also in London, so she had to stay with friends as well as flat share, altogether i think she mentioned she stayed in 5 different places, so it was a lot of moving around, She said it was so worth though. As well as working with Susie Coulhard she worked with Jacqueline White & Bitching & junk food, so 3 brilliant fashion stylist/ clothing ranges that she has experience with. After she finished her placement, her passion her styling went further in that she wants to create her own freelance fashion styling company now. To start this off she need to make her own portfolio of work to show possible clients., which at the same time was helping the models out as well because they needed a portfolio. I was also very inspired by what Holly had achieve, because fashion styling is something that I am quite interested in.
Going to the information Xchange evening was for me quite inspiring, as i was really unsure if i wanted to do the 8 months of work placement, but seeing what everyone had achieved especially Victoria Lamburn made me realize that i had the potential to achieve that as well and has change my mind about about the work placement, i think i defiantly want to carry a year out industry now. Hopefully that will help me realize ,like it has done for the people I saw, where my true heart lies in the fashion world!
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