Getting into the Fashion Industry

A193

Right now, im doing an Art portfolio course as I didn't get into art college last year, but TBH im doubting what im doing. I really want to get into the fashion industry, im not too sure where but it's all i want to do. How in the name of God can you make it happen in Ireland? There is little of NO Fashion Industry here? I'm not too sure if Art college is what I want to do, or fashion Design..what would really get me started in the industry?

Twee.

What kind of work do you want to get into? Like styling, buying, visual merchandising, costume design, make up (screen and stage, or regular artistry), writing? There are many avenues that encompass fashion. I'm not sure on fashion business/styling courses, maybe someone else here could answer that, but one thing you need to get is experience. Magazines like Image take work experience and interns, again they could be only open to someone studying fashion or journalism, you'd need to contact them and plead your case. A pal of mine looking to get into fashion, but not designing, did some work for free for a fashion show coordinator and stylist for two weeks over the summer. She did everything from planning fashion shows and dressing models, to getting coffee and running to get last minute tights. So you could try find some stylists and see if they need a spare set of hands, and fit it around your portfolio course.

A193

Yeah, i would love to work at a magazine, or fashion shows, or shoots, styling.. it'll have to be next Summer unfortunatley though.. i'll more than likely know what I want to do by then..I was thinking of applying to

Retail and Services Management or Retail Management and Marketing in DIT, im not too sure where that would take me though..

Twee.

DIT also offer Visual Merchandising and Display link, it looks more artistic than the retail courses.
I think you'd be best contacting some people in the industry and finding out how they got into the industry. As well as talent, you need to network and make contacts. Generally, you don't just walk into these kinds of jobs. The visual merchandisers in the shop where I work started off as your normal, part time sales assistants, and just worked up the ladder.
If you want to style, maybe you could try hook up with some amateur photographers and ask if you can style a shoot for them.

dreababyluxe

Fashion design can be very technical (see pattern making/drafting) and a pain in the ass - I have plenty of friends studying it and have been to their classes, and spent countless sleepless nights with them working on their assignments and collections. I realised design wasn't what I wanted to do(not right now anyway).

I'm still incredibly passionate about the industry and know it's what I want to work in. I've worked in retail for about 4 years now part time (Newlook, Brown Thomas and management at Penneys) and having run my own moderate sized model management agency I got a taste for different aspects of the industry like shoots. I'm still not sure what exactly I want to do now but I've enrolled myself on a 1 year course in GTI Galway called Fashion Industry Practice. I'm hoping next year to do a degree either in London or Edinburgh Heriot Watt in Fashion Communications which like my current course touches on a bit of everything from styling to buying, from pr and events to journalism, and retail management.

You should consider doing a one year course, such as what I'm doing to give you a better idea of what suits you...? I've found getting work experience difficult but let me know how you get on if you have any luck with it

nikola99

I just finished my Fetac fashion design it was one year, it was a suppose a tasted before starting degree program, in this course we done pattern drafting, constructions, Trend books fashion design, embroidery, communications and work experience... altough now i dont want to be a fashion designer as such ( when working for someone else it certainly isnt what i would want)

i do want to open my own store in about 2 years, Im in complete confusion as what to do...

continue on with course for 2 years or start a buisness course?

any advice

dreababyluxe

Nikola, I'd recommend maybe looking into doing a fashion related business course rather than just any old business course, and I wouldn't think there's much point u continuing on with fashion design if that's not what u want to do either.... Advice I was given myself.

There's numerous courses here in galway, specifically Fashion Business at GTI (www.gti.ie) but I'm sure Dublin also offers specialised courses. Or if you're interested in travelling you'll find plenty in the UK where I hope to take off to next year to further my studies.

Isabelita

Hello,
Continuing with this thread, I have work experience in completely different Industries than Retail (Mfg and Packaging) as a Customer Service Rep and a degree in International Marketing. Currently I do not have savings to start at course like at Portobello (I live in Dublin, so don't think I would move to Galway to attend at GIT)

And even though I apply for jobs, it is quite difficult since I do not have experience in Retail.
Any ideas for Internships or something that would make me get a "foot in the door" into the Industry?
Thanks
Regards
Isa