Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Business module over!
Today we had our final presentation for enterprise and innovation, and I am relieved that is now over. I was interested in the content of this module; it just dragged on for such a long time that it made me resent it slightly.
I think though that my groups presentation went really well. It was all visuals for our slides, so I think this made people listen to what we were going to say. Well at least I hope so. We got some really good feedback after we had finished, so this is a good start and hopefully we will all end up with a good mark for it.
I think the good visuals in our presentation really demonstrated our business well, and gave a true idea and representation of what our business involves and how it would happen.
For the first time I think this was the closest time to the deadline that I have actually completed a piece of work! Usually I’m finished a week before, but literally we were running through it an hour before we had to do it.
I thought the presentations were going to be more formal, but they were quite relaxed and I think that this made the group feel relaxed so the presentation came across clear and there weren’t many mistakes.
I think that this module has helped in getting to know what it would involve if you wanted to start up your own business or company. I think it informs you of how many things there are to consider and how a good idea isn’t enough sometimes.
Below are some of my personal reflections that I wrote whilst completing this module.
I have always thought from when I started becoming interested in fashion that I wanted to start up my own business and run things the way that I wanted to. Looking at large fashion brands and high street fashion shops now I have always felt that I wanted to do things differently. However after Completing the Enterprise and Innovation lecture and seminar course I am not so sure that I want to, or would be able to set up my own business by myself.
After seeing statistics about how so many companies fail within the first year, and then how after 3 years 8/10 companies shut down, it does scare me a bit. I never like to fail at anything, so with the odds so highly stacked against you in the first place it does give you a fear of even starting in the first place.
I have realised that you have to have such an innovative idea now to be able to succeed, designing and selling clothes isn’t enough anymore. There needs to be an edge, something that people desire or need.
There were so many things that I didn’t realise came along with starting your own business, and so many different choices and decisions to make. Such as deciding on the legal status of your company, and this decision leads to so many other rules and regulations that have to be taken into account.
Also the amount of money that would be needed to start a company is great, and then it is not guaranteed that you are going to make your money back, and you could be left in a situation with ridiculous amounts of debt and you are no better off.
I think that If I was to start my own company I would want to do it with someone else as well, so that I wouldn’t have to have so much pressure on just myself and you have someone to discuss ideas and choices with.
I am thinking now that I would like to work first for quite a while so I have some experience of how a company works and to learn the best way to start my own business. I would think about starting my own company whilst I was still in work to try and get the best of both worlds, whilst having the security to do so.
Second set:
After nearly completing this module, I am still in two minds about what I would want to start working as, whether just to bite the bullet and go for it and try to become a freelance designer/ or PR or to start working for a company and move my way up to a higher post. There is a different sense of achievement that comes with both, and I still find it hard to choose between. As I am so independent and innovative in the way that I think, I sometimes feel that I would work better for myself, and that I could do things in the way that I wanted. I feel that if I worked for a large company I would find it hard not to say when I think they are making a mistake or going about things in the wrong way. But then on the other side, starting your own business needs a lot of hard work and motivation, and when I have just finished university I don’t know how much self motivation I will have left and would it be enough to succeed in a business that is falling as it is.
I think that I will only know what I really want to do, when I’m there doing it, I am really indecisive as it is, so choosing what you really want to do with your life is not the easiest of choices. I will always worry that I have made the wrong decision, so I think for now I am just going to wait until the time comes, there is nothing much else that I can really do.
I think though that my groups presentation went really well. It was all visuals for our slides, so I think this made people listen to what we were going to say. Well at least I hope so. We got some really good feedback after we had finished, so this is a good start and hopefully we will all end up with a good mark for it.
I think the good visuals in our presentation really demonstrated our business well, and gave a true idea and representation of what our business involves and how it would happen.
For the first time I think this was the closest time to the deadline that I have actually completed a piece of work! Usually I’m finished a week before, but literally we were running through it an hour before we had to do it.
I thought the presentations were going to be more formal, but they were quite relaxed and I think that this made the group feel relaxed so the presentation came across clear and there weren’t many mistakes.
I think that this module has helped in getting to know what it would involve if you wanted to start up your own business or company. I think it informs you of how many things there are to consider and how a good idea isn’t enough sometimes.
Below are some of my personal reflections that I wrote whilst completing this module.
I have always thought from when I started becoming interested in fashion that I wanted to start up my own business and run things the way that I wanted to. Looking at large fashion brands and high street fashion shops now I have always felt that I wanted to do things differently. However after Completing the Enterprise and Innovation lecture and seminar course I am not so sure that I want to, or would be able to set up my own business by myself.
After seeing statistics about how so many companies fail within the first year, and then how after 3 years 8/10 companies shut down, it does scare me a bit. I never like to fail at anything, so with the odds so highly stacked against you in the first place it does give you a fear of even starting in the first place.
I have realised that you have to have such an innovative idea now to be able to succeed, designing and selling clothes isn’t enough anymore. There needs to be an edge, something that people desire or need.
There were so many things that I didn’t realise came along with starting your own business, and so many different choices and decisions to make. Such as deciding on the legal status of your company, and this decision leads to so many other rules and regulations that have to be taken into account.
Also the amount of money that would be needed to start a company is great, and then it is not guaranteed that you are going to make your money back, and you could be left in a situation with ridiculous amounts of debt and you are no better off.
I think that If I was to start my own company I would want to do it with someone else as well, so that I wouldn’t have to have so much pressure on just myself and you have someone to discuss ideas and choices with.
I am thinking now that I would like to work first for quite a while so I have some experience of how a company works and to learn the best way to start my own business. I would think about starting my own company whilst I was still in work to try and get the best of both worlds, whilst having the security to do so.
Second set:
After nearly completing this module, I am still in two minds about what I would want to start working as, whether just to bite the bullet and go for it and try to become a freelance designer/ or PR or to start working for a company and move my way up to a higher post. There is a different sense of achievement that comes with both, and I still find it hard to choose between. As I am so independent and innovative in the way that I think, I sometimes feel that I would work better for myself, and that I could do things in the way that I wanted. I feel that if I worked for a large company I would find it hard not to say when I think they are making a mistake or going about things in the wrong way. But then on the other side, starting your own business needs a lot of hard work and motivation, and when I have just finished university I don’t know how much self motivation I will have left and would it be enough to succeed in a business that is falling as it is.
I think that I will only know what I really want to do, when I’m there doing it, I am really indecisive as it is, so choosing what you really want to do with your life is not the easiest of choices. I will always worry that I have made the wrong decision, so I think for now I am just going to wait until the time comes, there is nothing much else that I can really do.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Work experience evaluation
Work Placement
Work Placement Contact Details
Company Name Arcadia – Dorothy Perkins
Type of Company Design (retail chain)
The work placement itself•
Briefly describe your role within the placement, the duration of your placement and a short evaluation of what you have learnt through the experience?
• What do you feel you have gained on a practical, personal and professional level?
My placement was for 3 weeks, within the Design department of Dorothy Perkins, whilst I was there my role was such of a design assistant. I did numerous different tasks whilst I was there:
• Colour sourcing
• Fabric sourcing
• Trend boards and Ideas
• Sewing garments and embellishing (ready for press day)
• Photographing garments to send out to press
• Designing
• Embellishment designs
• Preparing design packs (photocopying boards, gathering fabric swatches)
• Sitting in on supply meetings
• Preparing outfits for press day
I have learnt from my experience, how a brand works towards a market level and how the designers know what works and what doesn’t work for their customer for example – when designing jackets they tend not to design them with zips down the front because they don’t sell well in store. There are quite a lot of restrictions for the designers to deal with such as: budget, time, market level, trends and does it fit in with the rest of the collection, this makes it quite a tense atmosphere as they have to consider what everyone else is doing as well. The designs go back to a more basic level, with a lot of emphasis put on print and embellishment rather than cut and shape of the garments. The basic garments are developed and improved upon for each season. I did find it exciting knowing what the new trends for this Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer of next year were going to be, its good knowledge to have to understand and know what you’re going to do next.
I have also gained from my experience that most designers tend not to stay in a job role for a long period of time, this was clear from the high turnover of staff that they had and also that many of the team had said that 3 -4 years was the longest that they had stayed in any job – I think that this is down to the restrictions they have when designing, so it becomes quite repetitive after a while.
I definitely now have more of an understanding of how the industry works, and can see how the buyers, merchandisers and designers all have to work together to produce the best thing for their market and for the season.
Conversations and visits
Briefly describe any visits you made, conversations with practitioners and organisations or any other contact with the creative industries you have made before and since your work placement.
Before my placement, the conversations that I had with the creative industries where via email and when I received news that I had got my placement at Arcadia it was via a telephone call. I did not make any visits and I did not have an interview for the placement.
Whilst I was on my placement I had contact with several different areas within the industry – the press – magazines such as ‘heat’ and ‘Ok’ organising booking garments for photo shoots, Contact with suppliers – chasing up when garment samples were going to ready and with the creative director talking about what work I have been doing and what would be ready for the press day.
Other Research
What other research have you undertaken into the creative industries? List the websites you have visited, journals read and any other information you have gathered. What have you gained from this?
The research that I have done into the creative industries was mostly through researching on the internet and looking in journals for personal reviews and reflections.
Whilst I was on my placement I spoke to all of the design team, asking them about their personal experience and the job roles that they have encountered, this gave me a real insight to what different job roles actually include and the type of hours, pay and work that is required of you.
Websites visited:
www.drapersonline.com
www.fashioncapital.com
www.fashionunited.co.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fashiondes/
www.career-descriptions.co.uk/fashion-buyer-career
Portfolio/work
What comments have been made about your work/portfolio during discussions with people in creative industries? What was the feedback and how are you going to act on it? At this point what do you feel you are missing from your portfolio in order to secure future jobs or post-graduate places?
As I did not have an interview for my placement, I didn’t get the chance to show them my portfolio, So the only feedback that I have had on my work s from my tutors.
Before I show my portfolio I would like to get the opinions of my tutors and fellow students to see what they think works well and what doesn’t. Before I applied to any post-graduate jobs I would like to take some time preparing my portfolio so it showed the best of my work and made sure that I was going in the right direction. I was always have someone else look over my work before showing it so I know what their reaction was so that I knew what to expect.
Comparisons•
Make comparisons between your experiences and other peoples. What does this tell you about your expectations of the industry as a whole, what are they looking for in a graduate student?
• Try to take a broader approach than your own to understanding the creative industries; your work placement is only one element of a very diverse industry, listen to other peoples experiences and compare them to your own.
From working at my placement, I talked to quite a lot of the younger people that were working there and asked them about their experiences of work; It seemed quite clear that some major high end companies exploit their workers, I heard about two different people that were working for Alexander McQueen and the hours they were expected to work were ridiculous, from eight in the morning until ten at night, even later if they had to. They were expected to do all the running around and jobs that people didn’t want to do, and as one person named it ‘slave labour’. I know that I wouldn’t be able to cope in an industry that works like that, I’d feel very undervalued and it would definitely be something destructive.
I think if I had to chose I would rather work for a place that wasn’t so high end and treated there staff with value and respect than work for somewhere just because of the name. I would want to be in an encouraging environment not somewhere that dictates orders and direction.
Career Plan
What sort of job are you looking for and where are you intending to live when you finish the course? List the actually companies/organisations that maybe potential employers. Which of these companies are you interested in and why?
I think once I finish university, I would like to work as part of a design team, I always thought that design wasn’t the area that I wanted to work in, but after my placement, I have a completely different view. I would like to do some different experience within the fashion photography and marketing side of things to get an understanding of what that part of the industry is like and then hopefully decide from there. Obviously I would have to start as a design assistant/Junior designer if I was to work as part of a design team, but I think that is the best way to gain experience.
I think my long term goal would to be to run my own business or have my own line of products in a store somewhere, I think that is where my true passion lies and I think that is the best way to really express your personal creativity.
After working at Arcadia I would most definitely consider working there, even if it was for a short period of time, or even if it was to clarify exactly what I wanted to do.
But I think that I would like to work for a large scale company in whatever area I chose to go into.
• Arcadia – Lipsy – Debenhams – Firetrap – Oasis - River island
I will move back home for a while once I have finished University which is close to London, depending on the job that I get, I may move further into London for a few years until I am settled in a job that I like.
Action Plan
What are the gaps in your knowledge, experience and understanding of working in the fashion industry or applying for post-graduate study? What do you need to learn while still at college and how are you going to go about doing that?
I think that I need to try and do some more work experience in different areas so I have a clear view of what different jobs would consist of and what I would need to do to be able to get a job working in that specific area.
I think that all the contacts that you meet you need to stay in touch with as I think that this is the quickest way to progress within the industry. I think I need to learn whilst still at college the best way to present my portfolio so that I have the best chance at any interviews that I do manage to get, I also think that I need to know the best way to get a start in the business. I am going to try and do this by talking to some of the third year students and see how any of them are making their way into the industry and what their plans are for the future.
I am going to try to make as many contacts as possible over the next coming year so that it gives me the best start when I come to getting a job. I am in no rush though, I would rather find a job that I am going to enjoy not just take one for the sake of having a job when it’s not really something that you want to do.
Work Placement Contact Details
Company Name Arcadia – Dorothy Perkins
Type of Company Design (retail chain)
The work placement itself•
Briefly describe your role within the placement, the duration of your placement and a short evaluation of what you have learnt through the experience?
• What do you feel you have gained on a practical, personal and professional level?
My placement was for 3 weeks, within the Design department of Dorothy Perkins, whilst I was there my role was such of a design assistant. I did numerous different tasks whilst I was there:
• Colour sourcing
• Fabric sourcing
• Trend boards and Ideas
• Sewing garments and embellishing (ready for press day)
• Photographing garments to send out to press
• Designing
• Embellishment designs
• Preparing design packs (photocopying boards, gathering fabric swatches)
• Sitting in on supply meetings
• Preparing outfits for press day
I have learnt from my experience, how a brand works towards a market level and how the designers know what works and what doesn’t work for their customer for example – when designing jackets they tend not to design them with zips down the front because they don’t sell well in store. There are quite a lot of restrictions for the designers to deal with such as: budget, time, market level, trends and does it fit in with the rest of the collection, this makes it quite a tense atmosphere as they have to consider what everyone else is doing as well. The designs go back to a more basic level, with a lot of emphasis put on print and embellishment rather than cut and shape of the garments. The basic garments are developed and improved upon for each season. I did find it exciting knowing what the new trends for this Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer of next year were going to be, its good knowledge to have to understand and know what you’re going to do next.
I have also gained from my experience that most designers tend not to stay in a job role for a long period of time, this was clear from the high turnover of staff that they had and also that many of the team had said that 3 -4 years was the longest that they had stayed in any job – I think that this is down to the restrictions they have when designing, so it becomes quite repetitive after a while.
I definitely now have more of an understanding of how the industry works, and can see how the buyers, merchandisers and designers all have to work together to produce the best thing for their market and for the season.
Conversations and visits
Briefly describe any visits you made, conversations with practitioners and organisations or any other contact with the creative industries you have made before and since your work placement.
Before my placement, the conversations that I had with the creative industries where via email and when I received news that I had got my placement at Arcadia it was via a telephone call. I did not make any visits and I did not have an interview for the placement.
Whilst I was on my placement I had contact with several different areas within the industry – the press – magazines such as ‘heat’ and ‘Ok’ organising booking garments for photo shoots, Contact with suppliers – chasing up when garment samples were going to ready and with the creative director talking about what work I have been doing and what would be ready for the press day.
Other Research
What other research have you undertaken into the creative industries? List the websites you have visited, journals read and any other information you have gathered. What have you gained from this?
The research that I have done into the creative industries was mostly through researching on the internet and looking in journals for personal reviews and reflections.
Whilst I was on my placement I spoke to all of the design team, asking them about their personal experience and the job roles that they have encountered, this gave me a real insight to what different job roles actually include and the type of hours, pay and work that is required of you.
Websites visited:
www.drapersonline.com
www.fashioncapital.com
www.fashionunited.co.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fashiondes/
www.career-descriptions.co.uk/fashion-buyer-career
Portfolio/work
What comments have been made about your work/portfolio during discussions with people in creative industries? What was the feedback and how are you going to act on it? At this point what do you feel you are missing from your portfolio in order to secure future jobs or post-graduate places?
As I did not have an interview for my placement, I didn’t get the chance to show them my portfolio, So the only feedback that I have had on my work s from my tutors.
Before I show my portfolio I would like to get the opinions of my tutors and fellow students to see what they think works well and what doesn’t. Before I applied to any post-graduate jobs I would like to take some time preparing my portfolio so it showed the best of my work and made sure that I was going in the right direction. I was always have someone else look over my work before showing it so I know what their reaction was so that I knew what to expect.
Comparisons•
Make comparisons between your experiences and other peoples. What does this tell you about your expectations of the industry as a whole, what are they looking for in a graduate student?
• Try to take a broader approach than your own to understanding the creative industries; your work placement is only one element of a very diverse industry, listen to other peoples experiences and compare them to your own.
From working at my placement, I talked to quite a lot of the younger people that were working there and asked them about their experiences of work; It seemed quite clear that some major high end companies exploit their workers, I heard about two different people that were working for Alexander McQueen and the hours they were expected to work were ridiculous, from eight in the morning until ten at night, even later if they had to. They were expected to do all the running around and jobs that people didn’t want to do, and as one person named it ‘slave labour’. I know that I wouldn’t be able to cope in an industry that works like that, I’d feel very undervalued and it would definitely be something destructive.
I think if I had to chose I would rather work for a place that wasn’t so high end and treated there staff with value and respect than work for somewhere just because of the name. I would want to be in an encouraging environment not somewhere that dictates orders and direction.
Career Plan
What sort of job are you looking for and where are you intending to live when you finish the course? List the actually companies/organisations that maybe potential employers. Which of these companies are you interested in and why?
I think once I finish university, I would like to work as part of a design team, I always thought that design wasn’t the area that I wanted to work in, but after my placement, I have a completely different view. I would like to do some different experience within the fashion photography and marketing side of things to get an understanding of what that part of the industry is like and then hopefully decide from there. Obviously I would have to start as a design assistant/Junior designer if I was to work as part of a design team, but I think that is the best way to gain experience.
I think my long term goal would to be to run my own business or have my own line of products in a store somewhere, I think that is where my true passion lies and I think that is the best way to really express your personal creativity.
After working at Arcadia I would most definitely consider working there, even if it was for a short period of time, or even if it was to clarify exactly what I wanted to do.
But I think that I would like to work for a large scale company in whatever area I chose to go into.
• Arcadia – Lipsy – Debenhams – Firetrap – Oasis - River island
I will move back home for a while once I have finished University which is close to London, depending on the job that I get, I may move further into London for a few years until I am settled in a job that I like.
Action Plan
What are the gaps in your knowledge, experience and understanding of working in the fashion industry or applying for post-graduate study? What do you need to learn while still at college and how are you going to go about doing that?
I think that I need to try and do some more work experience in different areas so I have a clear view of what different jobs would consist of and what I would need to do to be able to get a job working in that specific area.
I think that all the contacts that you meet you need to stay in touch with as I think that this is the quickest way to progress within the industry. I think I need to learn whilst still at college the best way to present my portfolio so that I have the best chance at any interviews that I do manage to get, I also think that I need to know the best way to get a start in the business. I am going to try and do this by talking to some of the third year students and see how any of them are making their way into the industry and what their plans are for the future.
I am going to try to make as many contacts as possible over the next coming year so that it gives me the best start when I come to getting a job. I am in no rush though, I would rather find a job that I am going to enjoy not just take one for the sake of having a job when it’s not really something that you want to do.
Friday, 16 April 2010
End of Easter break... and I feel totally unrested!
Work experience over
Today I finished my work experience, in some ways it’s a relief but in other ways I feel quite sad. I am happy that I don’t need to do all the travelling and the boring jobs that I sometimes had to do, but then yesterday and today there was a completely different atmosphere in the office. It was really busy and vibrant, which is what I like, it made the place seem more alive and definitely more of a creative buzz. The press day is next week, which is a shame that I am missing out on that, after all the work that I’ve done for it.
It was really nice today that all the girls in the office got me a card and we had cakes a nibbles before I left. I thought that was really generous and nice of them to do that, especially when they are so busy preparing for everything.
This weekend it’s time to get ready to go back to uni, I’m not sure how I feel about that at the moment, where I have been working I haven’t really thought about it much, I would like a few days of rest but that never happens.
On a good note though, today at work there was a sample sale and a chuck out, so I have basically kitted out my wardrobe for the next month, I got some really great stuff, and I think that’s defiantly a good incentive to work there and also it keeps the staff happy.
All the girls working there have given me some contacts and advice if I wanted to do more work experience in the future, they all mentioned about working for a supplier, which is something I never really thought of doing but it maybe something that I look into.
Whilst working at Arcadia I have started to think about my own future, and I think that I have decided that I want to work for myself. I think after I leave uni I will travel for a little while, for inspiration and just to relax and get away, and then start working for a company so I have so income coming in, whilst writing a business plan and starting to create a company. I figured if it doesn’t work out, I can always do something else!
Today I finished my work experience, in some ways it’s a relief but in other ways I feel quite sad. I am happy that I don’t need to do all the travelling and the boring jobs that I sometimes had to do, but then yesterday and today there was a completely different atmosphere in the office. It was really busy and vibrant, which is what I like, it made the place seem more alive and definitely more of a creative buzz. The press day is next week, which is a shame that I am missing out on that, after all the work that I’ve done for it.
It was really nice today that all the girls in the office got me a card and we had cakes a nibbles before I left. I thought that was really generous and nice of them to do that, especially when they are so busy preparing for everything.
This weekend it’s time to get ready to go back to uni, I’m not sure how I feel about that at the moment, where I have been working I haven’t really thought about it much, I would like a few days of rest but that never happens.
On a good note though, today at work there was a sample sale and a chuck out, so I have basically kitted out my wardrobe for the next month, I got some really great stuff, and I think that’s defiantly a good incentive to work there and also it keeps the staff happy.
All the girls working there have given me some contacts and advice if I wanted to do more work experience in the future, they all mentioned about working for a supplier, which is something I never really thought of doing but it maybe something that I look into.
Whilst working at Arcadia I have started to think about my own future, and I think that I have decided that I want to work for myself. I think after I leave uni I will travel for a little while, for inspiration and just to relax and get away, and then start working for a company so I have so income coming in, whilst writing a business plan and starting to create a company. I figured if it doesn’t work out, I can always do something else!
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Work experience at Arcadia - Dorothy Perkins department
At home for Easter – Starting Work Experience
Well I am officially now 1 week through my work experience at Arcadia, and to be honest it was completely different to how I am imagined it to be. The layout of the offices are so restricted and if you walked in not knowing where you were you would think that they were just a standard office – not somewhere that was design based or creative.
On the first day I was really nervous, sitting on the train on the way up there, I had that horrible feeling, slightly sick, nervous but excited at the same time.
When I turned up, everyone was really nice, and there is also another girl there doing work experience, so at least I am not by myself and have someone to talk to and to do tasks with.
So far I have actually been involved in quite a lot of exciting things there, Fabric sourcing, designing, trend spotting, decided themes and ideas for the spring/summer collection 2010/11. So It’s not like I am just doing the photocopying or anything, but saying that I have had to do some, but I don’t mind because I have been able to get involved with so much else.
The environment is quite relaxed, everyone pretty much wears what they want, so It’s quite comfortable and easy going.
I was quite shocked by the restrictions within the office though, and I’m sure if health and safety were to pay them an unexpected visit they would have something to say too.
The design team are literally bunched onto small desks, along with computers, folders and files, where they then have to design their collections on a tiny piece of table. They have boxes of fabrics and hundreds of theme boards floating about all over the place. You always have to move something to get to something else, which is pretty annoying, because where you moved something earlier is always where you want to get to later.
I think the designers have quite a hard job to do, they don’t just have to design the collections, they have to work with the buyers, consider the market level, consider the budget they have, whether another part of Arcadia is using the same theme, whether the print or art work has been seen before, organising sample meetings.
It seems really a strange situation with the samples, they take 4-8 weeks to get back to the office and they cost roughly about £300 to have done- which is strange because then the garment goes onto be sold at roughly £20 to £30.
So far I am enjoying It, I don’t particularly enjoy the travelling up there though, although most of the time I do get a seat on the tube, which is always a plus! I am excited to see what the next two weeks bring, hopefully it will be exciting and there will be more things that I can learn.
Well I am officially now 1 week through my work experience at Arcadia, and to be honest it was completely different to how I am imagined it to be. The layout of the offices are so restricted and if you walked in not knowing where you were you would think that they were just a standard office – not somewhere that was design based or creative.
On the first day I was really nervous, sitting on the train on the way up there, I had that horrible feeling, slightly sick, nervous but excited at the same time.
When I turned up, everyone was really nice, and there is also another girl there doing work experience, so at least I am not by myself and have someone to talk to and to do tasks with.
So far I have actually been involved in quite a lot of exciting things there, Fabric sourcing, designing, trend spotting, decided themes and ideas for the spring/summer collection 2010/11. So It’s not like I am just doing the photocopying or anything, but saying that I have had to do some, but I don’t mind because I have been able to get involved with so much else.
The environment is quite relaxed, everyone pretty much wears what they want, so It’s quite comfortable and easy going.
I was quite shocked by the restrictions within the office though, and I’m sure if health and safety were to pay them an unexpected visit they would have something to say too.
The design team are literally bunched onto small desks, along with computers, folders and files, where they then have to design their collections on a tiny piece of table. They have boxes of fabrics and hundreds of theme boards floating about all over the place. You always have to move something to get to something else, which is pretty annoying, because where you moved something earlier is always where you want to get to later.
I think the designers have quite a hard job to do, they don’t just have to design the collections, they have to work with the buyers, consider the market level, consider the budget they have, whether another part of Arcadia is using the same theme, whether the print or art work has been seen before, organising sample meetings.
It seems really a strange situation with the samples, they take 4-8 weeks to get back to the office and they cost roughly about £300 to have done- which is strange because then the garment goes onto be sold at roughly £20 to £30.
So far I am enjoying It, I don’t particularly enjoy the travelling up there though, although most of the time I do get a seat on the tube, which is always a plus! I am excited to see what the next two weeks bring, hopefully it will be exciting and there will be more things that I can learn.
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