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Our Guide to Placements & Internships in Fashion (pick a different industry…)

A Background to Fashion

Fashion Illustration.

Fashion Industry ZoneThe fashion industry is a weird and wonderful world. Most people associate it with the glossy mags, the celebrity stylists and the people walking around kissing the air smiling and saying “daaalink vat aaah you vearing… it’s simply divine!” Maybe that is the case in some areas of the fashion industry but when you really get to know it, there’s a lot more to it than you think!

First of all the industry itself can be split into three ways: stores (the customer facing shops where the fashion is sold), head office (where all the fashion items are developed and where many of the decisions of what to put in the stores are made) and suppliers (where the products are developed and made).

Then the industry can be categorised further. It can be split by size from small (such as boutiques and Haute couture), to medium (maybe a .com business, or a family run firm), to big (the factories, the multi-national companies, and the big high street brands).

After that there is the high end and the low end, but don’t let the terms fool you…

The ‘end’ refers to the market and the target customer. The high end tends to focus on smaller and more niche markets. Here you’ll find your Gucci, D&G, Prada etc. and the smaller independent boutiques.

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Placement Opportunities in Fashion

Just a few of our Featured Placements & InternshipsCompany
Student Placement Opportunities

Working in fashion design...

Our Industry Insiders: Latest From the Blog | Published September 2009

Katie Leamon, a recent graduate from Loughborough University, tells us about her experiences in landing her dream job in fashion design...

Annie Greenabelle logo"Looking back, I think you might have to call it luck, but landing myself a job in fashion design so soon after completing my degree at Loughborough University was a dream come true! Even with a good degree behind me, a flair for design and a lot of determination I knew it was going to be tough, but I’m now 2 years on and working for a successful, albeit small, ethical womenswear brand called Annie Greenabelle.

As an overview my role is to design seasonal collections, based on trend predictions, which we then tailor and develop throughout a season based on consumer reaction. Our market is young, fashion-conscious females and our designs are currently stocked in a number of boutiques across the country, as well as our most prominent stockist; retail giant Topshop. Needless to say keeping up with them can have its challenges!

Annie GreenabelleWithin our modest team we see a garment through its entire cycle; from fabric dying to industrial production - which in today’s market is something we are really proud of. With just two of us in the design team, keeping up with fashion is an everyday challenge but we pride ourselves on the fact that we provide organic, Fairtrade certified fashion without compromising on style. Hemp sack dresses have had their day!

Between us we specialised in fashion and textiles at degree level, so the combined knowledge of fabric components and garment structure has proved a success as our designs have continued to develop.

Working for a small company works for me: Between the two of us, we are creating every aspect of the design and seeing it go from a simple sketch through to the shelves. It has also given me a huge insight into the business side of fashion, and what goes on behind the clothes. I can vouch that there’s a whole lot more to the fashion than air kisses and ugly betty! I get to be involved in the wholesale of the garments, press coverage and consumer response, which is invaluable experience, and something I had not banked on learning.

With a combination of hard work, determination and maybe a pinch of luck, I was able to find a role that satisfied my creative flair while also teaching me a great deal about the complexities of the fashion industry. A lot of what I am learning along the way can also be translated into other industries, so I don’t ever limit my horizons. Key is to be determined, work hard, aim high, and you can reach you goals!"

Thanks again to Katie for her thoughts. To find out more about Annie Greenabelle, click here.

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