Last time, I wrote about the beginnings of how I came to love sewing, learning from my mum and creating my own clothes. It became part of my identity and I wanted to learn everything I could about sewing. So I went to college. While I was at school I learned about a fashion course. Despite not having the right exam entry requirements I managed to secure a place by showing my work. I spent 4 years at college learning fashion design and pattern cutting.
Breaking into the fashion industry
When I graduated age 21 I found it difficult to get a job. Breaking into the fashion industry has never been easy, but it was what I loved and I really wanted to fulfil my dream. All employers were looking for candidates that were already skilled and up to speed in what was becoming a much faster paced industry. I couldn’t get the experience needed as I wasn’t able to get my foot in the door. It became a vicious circle.
Entrepreneur by necessity
Eventually after lots of interviews in London, Birmingham and Derbyshire my mum came up with another idea. Alterations and sewing for other people, something I could do between interviews. She put the word out at the hospital where she worked and soon my first business was born. I altered, repaired and made clothes for lots of people.
I started making wedding dresses, special occasion wear and outfits for ascot, before I knew it I was working full time and five years flew past.
My big break into the fashion industry!
Much as I loved what I was doing I really wanted to work in the industry I had spent so long training for. A trip to the job centre set me up with an interview at a local factory. Arnold Wills was a local belt manufacturer and I became a designer of belts.
A couple of years in with the world of designing belts and I missed textiles and fabrics. I eventually secured my first job in the fashion industry as a design assistant in Leicester. My job was cutting sample garments, grading production patterns, running errands and generally assisting the very busy designer!
Fast forward 10 years and I was a senior designer working in the industry with plenty of experience of working at high speed. I had worked as a pattern cutter, a designer and account manager, mostly all within the same job role.
Aligning work in fashion with my own beliefs
The reality of working in the industry meant there was a deadline around the corner every day. Price points were too high all the time, cutting corners and negotiating were important factors to my job. The non-ethical side of the industry was apparent, I started to worry about my reality. I had loved sewing and fashion all my life, this was my dream job….but it wasn’t!
I wasn’t really sure what to do next, so I decided to save my holiday allowance up and go on a big holiday to visit my Uncle and Aunt in South Africa. What happened there was going to completely change everything and prove to be one of the most inspirational experiences of my life.
