Who here has worked in the fashion industry?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blue-eyedcalico
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blue-eyedcalico

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Or studied apparel design/merchandising?

Just curious to know...

I was going to say that I haven’t done either. Until I remembered that I had a temporary job at a local apparel manufacturer back in the mid 80s. My job was to make salesman sample books. I sat at a table in the corner of the pattern drafting room. I spent what seemed like hours cutting little one inch squares of fabric with my pinking shears (yes, I supplied my own pinking shears because the ones they provided were stiff and next to impossible to cut with. Even though my shears were easier to use, my wrist and finger muscles were sore for many days afterwards. Putting the fabric samples in the books went pretty fast after that. Odd that I can’t remember the name of the company, but it may have been Sun Sportswear. I do remember that their product line was carried at Nordstrom’s. And when I saw their shirts hanging on the rack, well the fabric just jumped out at me – like seeing a long lost friend. The job only lasted a week, but it certainly was memorable.

carol
 
My degree is in Costume for the Screen and Stage, so technically not fashion - but certainly nearer the notion of couture in many ways! I also briefly flirted with fashion styling, I did a work placement a couple of years back at a magazine over here. Sadly, like so many jobs in these industries, it was unpaid and likely to be so for at LEAST 6 months before I would have the opportunity of an actual job. I just didn't have the savings to be able to work unpaid, 9-6, 5 days a week for so long.

I suppose I've always known I would be working with clothes in some way or another, and I'm loving what I'm doing at the moment. I do hope to move into making my own designs at some point in the future though, when I have the capital and the time :)

:violins:

Liz
 
I thought the very same Liz!

I'm afraid i'm completely self taught, the nearest I've got to the fashion industry is textile projects in A-level art and working in an 'ethnic' clothing shop!! Which doesn't really count, I don't think.. :)
Funnily enough I looked into the various fashion degree courses that are on offer at the local university a few weeks back, with a half mind in enrolling in a year or so (nothing like doing things back to front!) Unfortunately the fashion history content in these particular ones was so minimal I think they would have been great for me when I was younger and had plenty of time. I wish I'd known then what I'd be devoting myself to now!!
I think my next thing is a general business management course, as soon as I can finish my website and regain my evenings...sort of!
 
I too have always wanted to study costume or fashion design and have looked into it on several occasions. When I was younger, I didn't have the confidence in my own creative abilities so never pursued it. Now that I'm older and have more confidence, the timing just isn't right. So I study on my own. And I have to add that I have done plenty of learning right here at the VFG.

Liz, I would love to see your own designs and hope that you will be able to pursue that dream sooner rather than later.

Hariet, I feel like I am self-taught as well. But I always wonder what I've missed out on by not having formal training.

carol
 
I think what I missed out on by not training in a more relative field is a lot of prior knowledge that I'm sure would have sunk in more quickly when I was younger.. and I hadn't filled my head with things that are no use to me now!
But then I may have done terribly and been put off, distracted by other things - at least now I'm older I have more of a steely determination about needing to do things properly and this includes learning!
 
Ooh, I might have some customers before I've even started!! ;) Thanks everyone, you know I'll be sharing with all you all when I finally do it!

(there are some fabulous short courses anyone could go on for a taster - I'm never sure you're THAT much better off with a full degree in fashion or costume - just look at Vivienne Westwood, totally self-taught!!)

Liz
 
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