Information Exchange Evening

The information exchange evening was a chance for me to meet and ask students who had just come back from work placements/ experience questions. It is to give us an idea of whether we want to do a year placement or just a few weeks experience and where we want to go. Here is what I found out...

Laura Mansell - Eternal Spirits, Nottingham

Eternal Spirits is an independant boutique in Nottingham that makes and sells Bridal wear, lingerie, corsets and accessories. Laura worked there for nine months, to get this placement she rang the company almost every day and had an interview there. She was paid travel expenses. Tasks included creating window displays, merchandising, fabric sourcing, she made a corset of her own, sourced accessories for photo shoots, crystallised corsets with swarovski crystals, maintained the website and was the backstage manager for a fashion show. She enjoyed all of it and didn't have a least favourite part. Her working hours were 9am till 5/5.30pm mon to fri but if there was a show to prpare for she would work till 6/7pm. Laura would definately recommend Eternal Spirits and says her confidence has grown and her fabric choices have improved.

Laura Pearson - Playboy, Nottingham

Laura worked at Playboy for three months, her role was Junior Designer, she assisted the designers and was paid £50 a week. Her tasks involved creating colour pallettes and mood boards, creating graphics for tshirts and she designed a garment using CAD. Hert favourite part was she got free stuff including a coat from the winter 08 collection the company also paid for her to go to the Designer Forum in Nottingham. Her working hours were mon to thurs 9am to 5.30 pm. Sarah learnt a lot about using CAD and said the people there are friendly and helpful.

Lauren Middleton - Alice takes a trip, Sheffield

Lauren worked here for 5 weeks, she designed and made her own collection which was then sold. Lauren also helped with fashion shows. She says her favourite part was making her own collection and then actually selling it. Her least favourite part was promoting, handing out flyers on the street. The working hours were mon to fri but were flexible, Lauren didn't see it as an actual job. She learnt about promotion and also how to pick models for the fashion shows.

Hayley Lytell - BC International

Hayley worked at BC International a company that produces garments with brand images on them such as children's television characters for one year. Her role was product developer, she was not paid. Tasks she took part in were visiting swimwear exhibitions, liasing with manufacturing,making sure products designed were in budget, overseeing the development process and developing new shapes for garments to british standards. Best part for her was she got a lot of factory contacts and also the people were really nice. Her working hours were 9am-5.30pm mon to fri. What she didn't like about working there was she doesn't actually like the clothes the company makes and she didn't like having to measure up garments. She wished she had a more creative role and hadn't taken the first placement she found.

Laura Fox - Burberry and Sixtynine magazine

Laura was an assistand technician and worked there for 3 months, her role was to shadow the sample machinist. She was not paid and her working hours were 8.30am to 5.30pm, she said it was good to see the factories. Laura worked at Sixtynine magazine for 3 weeks her role there was to rewrite press releases, her favourite part was interviewing an ex England football player. Laura wasn't sure what she wanted to do and so tried different job roles.

Krishna Haveliwala - Vogue New York and Esquire magazine

Krishna worked at Vogue for 3 months she didn't get paid as she didn't have a Visa even though her rent was £1000 a month. She found working at Vogue challenging but a good experience, it was very competetive and she wasn't allowed a break all day. Her favourite part was meeting lots of designers but the worst part was the atmosphere was intense and bitchy, she even got to pick up Anna Wintour's drycleaning. Apparantly you can't get a job at Vogue people just get promoted to positions.

At Esquire magazine Krishna learnt more, she unpacked and steamed clothes there. The editor actually spoke to her and the people were nice. She got a two day job through Esquire with M&S she was paid £100 a day, she dressed mannequins and was allowed to give her opinions and ideas. Krishna wishes she had done a placement in design.

An update on my projects

Fashion Issues
I think I have decided on a location for my photo shoot for the marketing campaign I am creating for the company New Look, because they normally advertise in magazines such as Heat and More, I want to create an ad that would be worthy of Vogue magazine. The location I have chosen is the centre of Derby at night as I want to have the city lights in the background and perhaps the big screen outside the assembly rooms. I have my model too my gorgeous friend Kate who has modelled for zoo magazine amongst various others and has been on the cover of Loaded magazine. I have requested a photographer from the photography dept at university and will do my model's hair and makeup myself. Because I work at New Look I own a lot of their clothes and so my model will wear some of them for the shoot.

Research for the group presentation is not going as well. I am struggling to find info on the company, my only resource is topshop.com I must think of somewhere else to find info. My group also need to start meeting up more to discuss the direction we are going in.

Directed projects in fashion
Well I have finally cracked Illustrator...I think, and have started on my technical sheets. I have created my patterns for my two garments and nearly finished my stretch garment toile, I am going to start my woven garment toile this week.

Professional studies in fashion
I can honestly say I have been terrified by this module and all the things I have learnt about what to do and what not to do when applying for a job! Tonight is the info xchange and so hopefully I will get some useful contacts and information and can finally start applying for work experience at companies.

John Morley from Paul Smith talk

Today we had a talk from John Morley, he is MD at Paul Smith. He joined the company in 1989 as a director and shareholder, a charted accountant by proffession he has been MD over 17 years.
We were given a brief history of Paul Smith himself. He wanted to be a sportsman this was his first career choice but was hit by a car riding his bike and broke a lot of bones. From there he went on to help a college girl start up her own clothes shop, he also helped run the shop. This inspired him to open his own shop in Nottingham in 1970 with help from his wife who taught him pattern cutting and most of the stuff he knows about design, launched a very successful business. The shop was named Paul Smith because at the time shops had crazy names but Paul Smith wanted people to know who owned the shop and so named it after himself.
The company has had a rapid growth of turnover in the past 15 years with accessories being the main point of sales at 33% Japan is the biggest market, Paul Smith is the most successful brand in Japan as they are a big fan of the English eccentricity, they understand Paul Smiths clothes with their simple designs but quirky touches. Paul Smith himself calls this 'classics with a twist'
Worldwide the company has six show rooms and five press offices. Each shop has a different format as Paul Smith believes in individuality. To name a few places the company have stores include: Melrose Avenue in LA, Greene Street Soho New York, Rue du Faubourg St Honore Paris. Also franchise stores in Istanbul Turkey, Johannesburg South Africa, St Petersburg Russia, Seoul Korea. Paul Smith also has a furniture shop in London, the company buys furniture and gives it a twist.Paul Smith is always looking to open more stores, their are stores due to open in Antwerp, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Paul Smith promote themselves using PR related activities, collaborations with artists and companies and host art exhibitions and cultural events in their retail stores. They advertise in magazines, newspapers, online and on taxis and trams, Paul Smith is always trying to be different and stand out with their advertising, for example the new TV advert for the fragrance Paul Smith Rose is different to most perfume adverts, it is quite short and features no people like most other designer companies.
Paul Smith follow the seven P's these are: product, price, placement, promotion, process, people, profit.
Unfortunately Paul Smith don't take on students for work experience and I don't want to do the placement year...shame i'd love to say i've worked for Paul Smith.