Presentation is done!

Finally did our group presentations today. I really enjoyed doing mine. A couple of our team members didn't turn up but there was 3 of us. I was worried it was only going to be me for a bit. I think my part went well because I was genuinely enthusiastic about what I had designed, of which I will be putting pictures up of cute animals and their info. Also handed in PPRD, you would think it would be a relief but I really enjoyed writing some of the stuff for it. And it didn't get in the way of any of my other work so I think I'm going to miss it really. But I've still got my blog that I am going to continue with. Might set myself some random topics to write about like the future of british fashion and becoming a fashion pioneer.

Save Our Skills

There is a new campaign called SOS. Drapers even have a whole section dedicated with it in their bookmark bar. So it really is just about promoting the people who actually make the clothes. It seems it's not a very 'cool' job to have and there is a huge gap in the market. Great for me as a seamstress! But not so good for, well, just the UK in general. In the 1960s our textile industry was booming. Hopefully we can get it back to that stage. Loads of important people are getting on board though. Burberry are offering internships, Clarks shoes are bringing manufacture back. Sir Phillip Green is talking about doing the same which would be amazing as he owns Arcadia. Even Sir Alan Sugar is on about creating incubator factories. All of which is incredibly exciting for me! And the industry of course.

Group Presentation

Today we were supposed to do our group presentation but it got cancelled. I was really looking forward to doing it although I am worried I've forgotten everything I am supposed to say because we went through it so long a go. It has been rearranged for Monday but someone said that we aren't going to be marked on it anymore. But my group did all of our work in a sketchbook and on boards. Of which I've already handed in so can't take any photos to put on here. I'm a bit worried about the marking of it but the teachers know what their doing so I guess it'll be fine. I'm probably just displacing my stress. I will put pics of my designs up though because my little creatures were so cute, and they had product information and everything.

Collection Fabrics

Today I was really looking forward to sitting down with Karen and getting her to go through my swatches with me. She is a bit of an eco freak like me so I knew she would be interested in my fabrics. She mentioned wanting to have a look at them in my toile review. She asked me today if she could have a look at them and of course I said yes and asked her if she could come and help me afterwards. Unfortunately she gave them to another student to look at who now wants to use the fabrics that I'm using in my collection. I know I should be really happy that they are using ethical fabrics, but they don't care that their ethical. It's not like they will be adopting a new ethical outlook on life. Their justification for now using ethical fabrics is absurd. One of the nice things about my collection is that I'm banishing the myth that ethical fabric is dowdy and all of my fabrics are completely different to everyone else in the class. I spent days trawling through sites searching desperately for ethical fabrics. At one point I was genuinely contemplating growing bamboo. Until I realised that was a ridiculous idea. To me it seems a bit unfair I put all this work in finding the fabrics, e-mailing countless companies and trying to think of different ways to reuse fabrics, get off cuts and end of rolls, had over a month of hassle trying to get the fabrics once I found them and now someone has come a long and got all of my hard work for free.

On the plus side I know which fabrics I'm having for what designs. But when Karen went through my fabrics with me she had already been through all of my fabrics so wasn't as excited as she might have been looking through them for the first time.

2nd Toile Review

After the last review I was really worried about this one. But it was fine. I think the tutors might have just been in a much better mood. I made up a new leg of my hurricane trousers that only has 7 pleats instead of the original 24. Everyone but Jody preferred the new ones but I've decided to stay true to myself and do the outrageous ones. I've got a few bits of fit to change but will hopefully be ordering my fabric next week.

Fabric Samples

I finally got my fabric samples today. I paid £30 and ordered them over a month a go. After a million e-mails, each slightly ruder than the last they are here. Although I did have to pay £13 because they didn't pay the postage! You would have thought spending £30 on samples probably means I will be spending a lot on fabrics so would expect good customer service. As you should really expect of you're paying any money for anything. But the samples are beautiful!!!

BP Oil Spill

I found this very controversial shoot in Italian Vogue today. There was a lot of uproar about them making money from such a terrible disaster, and the photos are quite graphic considering. But everything is art these days. It would have been nice if they donated a portion of the profit to the cause. I do like them though. What do you think?

Ethereal Fashion

I realised today that I haven't really included anything about my Ethereal Fashion mini business. Over the summer following my work placement I decided to start making and selling garments. I made a page on facebook and have 140 people who 'like' it. And even more people who view it on a regular basis. It's been on hold whilst I've been back at uni but it's almost time for me to start it up again which I'm really excited about. Before I just made really simple summer dresses. But this time round I'm going to take an American Apparel approach to it. Keep it simple, like hoodies and oversized t shirts but have everything in loads of colour options and do some real photo shoots for them. If you want to check it out it's Ethereal Fashion.

Dior Sacks Galliano

Well apparently my previous blog about Galliano is completely wrong. It was said that last year he did the same thing to other people in the same bar. But these people recorded him doing it.

My Ideal First Job

Assistant Sample Machinist

Employer            The Higher End of Fashion
Posted                  08 Mar 2011 
Location              South West
Position Type      Permanent
Job Function      Technical - Sample Machinist
Sector                  Womanswear
Position               Sample Machinist
Salary                  £15 - 20 000


The company is an established ethical ladies fashion retailer. We make the samples for many high end retailers including Burberry and Lanvin. But also create our own garments to sell in smaller boutiques, including wedding gowns.

Your Role will be to sew together the pieces once our flawless pattern cutter has cut them out. You will need to advise the pattern cutter of any problems whilst making. Also need to make alterations to the garments and finishing methods. And work closely with the garment technologist and designer to ensure all the garments needs are being met.

You need to have experience in sewing and be confident to make up the first sample. Basic knowledge of materials would be beneficial but will be provided in on the job training. Good communication skills are essential. Must be familiar with industrial sewing machines, overlockers and heat press. The main qualities we need are passion and enthusiasm as there will be someone to help you should you get stuck. We want someone to become our protege to train up and turn into the next Temperly.

Useful fashion sites

Fashion Monitor:

It provides contacts, news and events in fashion and beauty. I would say it focuses towards PR and marketing. It can mainly keep you up to date with the world of fashion including jobs.

Mintel:

Is a research site. It conveys statistics and all sorts of information. This information is aimed to be used to form intelligent decisions within the industry to ensure you are making the right decisions at the right time. It is great for putting real evidence into research.

Companies House:

Is all about companies, starting or closing your own and general help. It also keeps a record of all companies and makes the information accessible to the public. This is useful if you want to research a particular company or start up your own.

Drapers Record:

Is a weekly magazine with all of the gossip from the fashion world. It’s like a who’s in who’s out, who’s making profit who’s not. It includes a good jobs section and is well worth the weekly read to really keep you in the know.

Fashion career websites and agencies can also be used to find jobs. The difference between the two is that agencies are someone you approach to find you a job. You would give them a CV and they would actively seek out a job for you. Whereas a fashion career website would enable you to scroll through job advertisements from employers and possibly upload your CV for potential employers to look at.

Wedding Fair

Today I went to a wedding fair at the Cumberland hotel. I wanted to go for my essay and to get a better idea of the wedding scene. It was no BBEH (British Bridal Exhibition Harrogate) but was still quite good. There wasn't as many bridal gowns as I had hoped for, only 2 stalls. But I got to eat cake and got some fliers for other bridal stuff which may come in handy.

Prague

Yesterday I got back from Prague. It was a great trip. It was so beautiful and detailed right down to the lamp posts. Everything thing had been thought about individually and so much care and attention to detail had been placed in everything.
A very quick summary of my time there:
<3 Tour of Prague
<3 Went out for James' birthday
<3 Market
<3 The best zoo known to man
<3 Prague's fashion uni
<3 All you can drink bar crawl, which in retrospect was probably a bad idea.