I've always wanted to be a journalist, in particular a fashion journalist, which led me to pursuing English Lit. first time round at uni. But it's funny how something as small as having a change of lecturer can make you really re-think the career choices you might have. I'm not say I don't want to do journalism, but rather, I realise that there are other things within the fashion industry that I might equally enjoy. Hopefully my work experience at The Trend Boutique will really help me get a grasp on some of the other roles I could do.
With this is mind, I've been building my portfolio up gradually. I've found it just as fun designing the layout of an article, and choosing/taking/illustrating a picture to go with it, as actually writing the words!
Alongside this I have started thinking about how I can integrate my interests in with all the design work briefs and manufacturing work we've been given this semester. For example, with the Brigden's brief I am going to interview the finalists and winner and write a review of the project that could be used for promotional material for Brigdens, or maybe even send it into the Derby Telegraph as a press pack.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Global vs. Ethical - Part 1. - Introduction
Wednesday, 24th of November, raining and cold, and I was on my way to Nottingham with my fashion friends on a Red Arrow coach. We were headed for The Trend Boutique's annual student conference - this time focusing the the global and ethical issues surrounding the fashion industry. There could not have been a better venue - the Broadway cinema in Nottingham - it was cosy, warm, and most importantly had a bar... While waiting for the first talk to begin, I spied Sally Denton, head of The Trend Boutique - she gave me a wave - what a V.I.P!
Each 'lecture' was held in one of the cinema screen, with the screen used for visuals, and plush cinema seats for our bottoms...
Sally Denton
Sally introduced the event with a brief history of the 10 years she has been running these conferences. The story began at the turn of the millennium - times were tough for fashion and textiles graduates, and there was a need for focus, inspiration and networking with amazing speakers. So The Trend Boutique's student conferences were born.
With the economic climate looking cloudy again, a decade later, there is still this need for events such as this, as, as Sally explained, there are still "real opportunities".
So, why Global vs. Ethical? As mentioned, despite the recession, fashion is still a strong business, and the idea of being 'eco-friendly' and 'ethical' is still "high on everyone's agenda" according to Sally. There have been so many new developments within the field of 'Ethical Fashion' it has to be showcased to potential graduates, but also to 'reconnect' with the modern consumer.
Sally described this time to be the "end of 'masstige'" (mass-consumption of high priced goods) and more the "age of austerity", when people don't mind spending money, but they don't want to spend it all the time, so the product must be of excellent quality, ethically sound, and be long wearing. The Eco-Luxury market is growing all the time. To sell to the west - where how many green points you have on your clubcard adds to social status - design must be exceptional, and it is no longer good enough to do a bit of recycling here or there, or to have a 'bag-for-life' on hand for supermarket dashes. With the amount of celebrities "giving back more than they take", consumers demand more from brands.
How far have we come? Sally points out that 5, 10 years ago it would have been unthinkable for a luxury automobile brand to 'go green' in a holistic way, rather than just cutting CO2 emissions, but Lotus has with their Eco Elise - made largely out of hemp. Similarly, as the recycling/upcycling movement, organic products, zero waste and 'slow' production continue to "gain momentum", Sally goes on to explain that "there [is also] a growth in the number of collaborations between sustainable designers and the high-street", for example, Tesco.
However, while this is all well and good, new trends always bring with them their own dilemmas. With all our modern technology, we can produce products at super-fast speed, and make our own synthetic high-tech. materials. But which is best? This, or the slower/organic/recycled solutions? Should we consume less, or just actually consume more of what we produce, so that there is minimal waste?
Hopefully, these questions will be answered by some of the many speakers at the conference.
To finish, in true Trend Boutique style, Sally allowed us to see the current trend in this eco-fashion-market:
The new THROW AWAY is products made of degradable materials may only last a few weeks, but they are truly disposable, they really decompose and return to the earth - unlike those fast fashion Primark shoes you have at the back of the wardrobe, that were in fashion for all of 5 minutes.
NATURE'S HARVEST focuses on organic design, perhaps made with real vegetation. For example, chairs grown into shape, and rings with grass growing from them. These are real thing when it comes to feeling organic!
RURBAN CONTINUED has edgy, austere codes mixed in with the rural. For example, the ring mentioned above, or plastic melted with wood to create a new material.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's more to come from CSR Manager at Asda, Catherine Watkins, designer Feng Ho and ethical consultant Elizabeth Laskar.
Each 'lecture' was held in one of the cinema screen, with the screen used for visuals, and plush cinema seats for our bottoms...
Sally Denton
Sally introduced the event with a brief history of the 10 years she has been running these conferences. The story began at the turn of the millennium - times were tough for fashion and textiles graduates, and there was a need for focus, inspiration and networking with amazing speakers. So The Trend Boutique's student conferences were born.
With the economic climate looking cloudy again, a decade later, there is still this need for events such as this, as, as Sally explained, there are still "real opportunities".
So, why Global vs. Ethical? As mentioned, despite the recession, fashion is still a strong business, and the idea of being 'eco-friendly' and 'ethical' is still "high on everyone's agenda" according to Sally. There have been so many new developments within the field of 'Ethical Fashion' it has to be showcased to potential graduates, but also to 'reconnect' with the modern consumer.
Sally described this time to be the "end of 'masstige'" (mass-consumption of high priced goods) and more the "age of austerity", when people don't mind spending money, but they don't want to spend it all the time, so the product must be of excellent quality, ethically sound, and be long wearing. The Eco-Luxury market is growing all the time. To sell to the west - where how many green points you have on your clubcard adds to social status - design must be exceptional, and it is no longer good enough to do a bit of recycling here or there, or to have a 'bag-for-life' on hand for supermarket dashes. With the amount of celebrities "giving back more than they take", consumers demand more from brands.
How far have we come? Sally points out that 5, 10 years ago it would have been unthinkable for a luxury automobile brand to 'go green' in a holistic way, rather than just cutting CO2 emissions, but Lotus has with their Eco Elise - made largely out of hemp. Similarly, as the recycling/upcycling movement, organic products, zero waste and 'slow' production continue to "gain momentum", Sally goes on to explain that "there [is also] a growth in the number of collaborations between sustainable designers and the high-street", for example, Tesco.
However, while this is all well and good, new trends always bring with them their own dilemmas. With all our modern technology, we can produce products at super-fast speed, and make our own synthetic high-tech. materials. But which is best? This, or the slower/organic/recycled solutions? Should we consume less, or just actually consume more of what we produce, so that there is minimal waste?
Hopefully, these questions will be answered by some of the many speakers at the conference.
To finish, in true Trend Boutique style, Sally allowed us to see the current trend in this eco-fashion-market:
The new THROW AWAY is products made of degradable materials may only last a few weeks, but they are truly disposable, they really decompose and return to the earth - unlike those fast fashion Primark shoes you have at the back of the wardrobe, that were in fashion for all of 5 minutes.
NATURE'S HARVEST focuses on organic design, perhaps made with real vegetation. For example, chairs grown into shape, and rings with grass growing from them. These are real thing when it comes to feeling organic!
RURBAN CONTINUED has edgy, austere codes mixed in with the rural. For example, the ring mentioned above, or plastic melted with wood to create a new material.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's more to come from CSR Manager at Asda, Catherine Watkins, designer Feng Ho and ethical consultant Elizabeth Laskar.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Work experience research...
1. VOGUE
Of course, number one on my list of places I'd LOVE to work has gotta be Vogue Magazine, or even Vogue.com, which might infact be more suited to my skill set as it stands. Competition is obviously fierce for this position, but there's something to be said for, try, try again...
Of course, number one on my list of places I'd LOVE to work has gotta be Vogue Magazine, or even Vogue.com, which might infact be more suited to my skill set as it stands. Competition is obviously fierce for this position, but there's something to be said for, try, try again...
INTERN / WORK EXPERIENCE APPLICATIONS:
DIGITAL INTERN AT VOGUE.COM
All online intern vacancies are now full until the end of January 2011.
If you would like to apply for a position in 2011 please do so in writing from January 4 2011 onwards, by sending a covering letter and CV to:
Em Zaidi, Vogue House, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JU
Please note the position is for 6 months full time and we do not accept applications by email.
WORK EXPERIENCE AT VOGUE MAGAZINE
To apply for work experience at Vogue Magazine, please send your covering letter, with a CV, to:
Frances Bentley, Managing Editor, Vogue Magazine, Vogue House, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JU
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT WORK EXPERIENCE APPLICANTS OF UNIVERSITY AGE OR ABOVE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Japan
Keeping much along the same theme, Vogue Japan would be simply an amazing experience for me. I love the Japanese language and culture, and, in fact, studied it for a year at degree level. Although it might be difficult to go about getting work experience for Vogue Japan, I am going to explore other publications that I like the look of.
When considering work placements abroad, there's plenty to think about, such as where you will stay, how long you will be there, if you need a work visa etc. Luckily, I have many friends in Japan who I can no doubt call in favours to!
The only information I could find on the Vogue Nippon website was as follows:
Keeping much along the same theme, Vogue Japan would be simply an amazing experience for me. I love the Japanese language and culture, and, in fact, studied it for a year at degree level. Although it might be difficult to go about getting work experience for Vogue Japan, I am going to explore other publications that I like the look of.
When considering work placements abroad, there's plenty to think about, such as where you will stay, how long you will be there, if you need a work visa etc. Luckily, I have many friends in Japan who I can no doubt call in favours to!
The only information I could find on the Vogue Nippon website was as follows:
【 VOGUE NIPPON (雑誌) 】
－ 現在募集はしておりません。
【 VOGUE.COM (ウェブ) 】
－ 現在募集はしておりません。
【 新規学卒者採用 】
－ 現在、弊社では新卒の方を対象とした定期募集は行っておりませんWhich, from what I can work out, means that there are NO positions at the current time. Further translation and research is needed!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Conde Nast
The publishing company that actually produces Vogue (amongst others) naturally has it's own website and advises people looking to work for specific magazines not to limit themselves, and rather directly apply to the Conde Nast head office, which I plan to do!
The publishing company that actually produces Vogue (amongst others) naturally has it's own website and advises people looking to work for specific magazines not to limit themselves, and rather directly apply to the Conde Nast head office, which I plan to do!
Please send a covering letter and CV to:
HR/Personnel Department
The Condé Nast Publications Ltd
Vogue House
Hanover Square
London,W1S 1JU
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Harper's Bazaar
I tried really hard to find information about getting work experience at this magazine, and found NatMags.co.uk that lists contacts for various magazines published by the Hearst Publishing group.
I tried really hard to find information about getting work experience at this magazine, and found NatMags.co.uk that lists contacts for various magazines published by the Hearst Publishing group.
How to apply for work experience
We regularly have opportunities for work experience placements, however demand always outstrips available places, so you are advised to get in contact with your magazine of choice as far as possible in advance of your preferred dates to maximise your chances of securing a place.
We will only consider requests for work experience placements from those over the age of 18. To register your interest, you should contact the PA to the Editor of your chosen magazine:
Company: Editor, Victoria White, PA: vicky.trott@natmags.co.uk
Cosmopolitan: Editorial business manager: rebecca.stening@natmags.co.uk
Cosmopolitan Bride: Editor Miranda Eason
Harper's Bazaar: Fashion Dept - Julia Brenard: julia.brenard@natmags.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. WEXO
While serching for Harper's Bazaar placements I came across a blog post on an internship and work experience networking site, called WEXO. The site looks quite interesting, but there's a £10 sign-up fee, so I'm going to look into it further.
While serching for Harper's Bazaar placements I came across a blog post on an internship and work experience networking site, called WEXO. The site looks quite interesting, but there's a £10 sign-up fee, so I'm going to look into it further.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. www.sheerluxe.com
Searching wexo.com I found an advert for a placement at online boutique I've seen advertised in Harper's before.
Searching wexo.com I found an advert for a placement at online boutique I've seen advertised in Harper's before.
Description of role:
SheerLuxe.com is the definitive guide to online shopping.
Candidates should be hardworking, efficient, creative, and most of all, passionate about the luxury sector and online shopping! Basic computing skills are also a must. The internship is a fantastic opportunity to add to your CV and gain experience in lifestyle journalism.
Responsibilities:
Your responsibilities range from helping the editorial team, to liaising with PRs, assisting with the general running of the site, and more. As part of a small team, your role will be really hands on. You’ll also get the opportunity to write articles on fashion, beauty, home and more.
You will receive £5 a day.
Although I couldn't see the full details as I haven't joined the site, I went to their website and will definintely be applying as the description looks perfect!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. The Times
I recently joined a journalism website where they post various jobs and advertise placements. One of the forums is for fashion journalism, and recently there was this:
I recently joined a journalism website where they post various jobs and advertise placements. One of the forums is for fashion journalism, and recently there was this:
We are looking for hard-working interns for placements of one week, for our busy fashion department. The candidates should be enthusiastic and organised, with a keen interest in fashion.
Responsibilities will include: managing the fashion cupboard, in particular doing fashion returns, keeping it organised and efficient, answering the phone, calling in clothes for various editors, merchandising items and assisting on shoots. You will experience the running of a busy editorial department on a national weekly supplement.
Previous experience is preferred but not essential. These are full-time 1 week positions commencing as soon as possible.
Please email a CV and covering letter to charlie.lambros@thetimes.co.uk
Although not strictly journalism, I'd love to get this position!! I also want to apply to The Sunday Times Style Magazine and just the plain old Times.
I luckily have a contact from last year who did work experience at The Times, so will be contacting her ASAP.
I luckily have a contact from last year who did work experience at The Times, so will be contacting her ASAP.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
