UWE's graduates make their mark in the fashion world
As Fashion Week hits the headlines around the world, recent fashion graduates at the University of the West England have been making waves to break into this lucrative yet incredibly competitive industry.
To her followers, Bristol based Frances Poulton (BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles, 2010) is the creator of Fashion Fantasist, a popular blog for fashionistas everywhere to discover up and coming designers, artists and enjoy everyday observations guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. She currently works as a freelance designer and fashion writer.
Joanna Wills hit the headlines in 2008 when she won The Clothes Show – Young Stylist of the year in the final year of her BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile degree. Her prize was to manage a whole photo shoot for Glamour magazine. Now 18 months later Joanna is pursuing her dream job as a part-time stylist in London where she has assisted on shoots for magazines: Another Magazine, i-D, Italian Vogue and Undercurrent and E-bay and Levis advert campaigns. Joanna is also really interested in window and display styling and last summer did a placement with the creative team at Liberty's. In the last few months, she has been concentrating on building contacts by doing test shoots to complete her portfolio to send to the fashion industry.
Frances who graduated in July last year recently completed a three month internship with French Connection in Camden and a placement at Bristol based designer, Puckoo couture, credits these opportunities to the time that she has spent networking and developing her blog.
She says, “As any fashion designer will tell you, it's a real challenge to get that first break in the fashion industry. I set up Fashion Fantasist and also a Twitter account as a way of building contacts and to look for work after finishing my degree. One day whilst talking to a friend on Twitter, I was tipped off about a possible internship at French Connection to help get their AW11 collection ready for the buyers. They saw my CV and blog and a couple of days later without an interview asked me when I could start? I then had an evening to get myself set up in London. It was a great opportunity to get real life experience of the fashion world.
“I've been approached by Young British Designers and Guide 2 Bristol to attend fashion events and write for them. I'm also working on my own print work collection.”
Frances is also joining current UWE creative students in helping to promote this year's Fairwear Fashion Show organised by the Bristol Fairtrade Network on Saturday 5 March at The Mall, Broadmead. The event is a partnership venture between the University, Bristol Fairtrade Network and the Soil Association. Fashion students are designing and will be modelling their own Fairtrade range. The theme for this year's show is Show Off Your Label.
If you'd like to share your career success with us, please get in touch; we would love to hear from you!
Page last updated 1 February 2013