ASBCI 'Careers in Fashion' Conference

Today I attended the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) conference. The theme for the conference was 'Careers in Fashion'. The conference was an insight to the various careers available to people wanting to work within the fashion industry.

The conference was held at the University of Leeds. I love being able to attend events like this were I get to have an insight into the industry I'm so passionate about and learn from experts in various fields. With members of the Association including Asos.com, Next, Burberry, George and many many more I feel privileged to be able to have the opportunity to attend. 

This was my second ASBCI conference I have attended with my first being held at my own university. The University of Huddersfield. That was an amazing event and I knew that this one wouldn't disappoint. 

With pages and pages of notes typed up as the talks were going on I knew that these would be invaluable things to be noting and learning. I've learnt about the process's involved during design and garment manufacture, the risks, how to find the roles your looking for, about various roles in the industry and much more! 

Each delegate also got a pack! We all love freebies right? The pack contained the agenda for the day, the speakers profiles, hand outs from Planet Personnel about CV's, a ASBCI branded note pad and USB, a 'Caring For Your Clothes' technical booklet which is available to buy from their website and the ASBCI 2015 Year Book, which is £25 where sold but free for members! This book talks us through the major points in the year for the Association. It shows what work the Association undertakes and what their next steps are to continue making their members happy. 

After feeling inspired now to make my impact on the fashion industry I better get to that sewing machine! 

ASBCI Website: www.asbci.co.uk 

A Whole New Look

           

Hello!

New Look is British fashion brand that is known for its affordability and great women's wear. However, did you know that they also have menswear too? No? not surprising as this isn't a well known fact but that is about to change!

On a recent visit to a New Look store in Meadowhall in Sheffield I was shown around the new men's range and their new approach to men's fashion. The brand is predominantly a women's fashion retailer with a huge shoe range. I mean, its epic. After going around the range, learning and loving, it shocked me why people aren't aware of this and why it isn't as popular as I think it should be. Then I started to think back to when I used to visit New Look when I was around 13 and I can remember the range of men's fashion available being very mix matched. The yester year of fashion for the brand is gone now with a full on amazing collection of amazing fashion.

I was amazed be the growth of the men's department and I was so excited to see that the store has looked and dedicated time to the range. A real passion came through as we chatted about everything from the past, how men shop, my thoughts and their plans for the future. The thought of shop by trend and I love that each trend has a different guy name. Such as Alex for the Vinyl "fashion forward" trend, Jack for the Sports trend and Tom for Geek Chic. After plenty of notes being made it was time for the really fun bit! The try on! I asked Alex, the Men's wear Expert at New Look Meadowhall, to choose some pieces from the range that he liked and thought would look good together and I would then try them on and we could take some photos.

The rail of clothes emerged and it looked fab from the get go. We took the rail to the dressing room and the clothes really started to show themselves off. The quality and the fit of these clothes has really sky rocketed from my experience in the past. In a matter of fact I was originally wearing black super skinny jeans anyway that day and Alex had picked a pair out for me to try on and they fitted even better than mine did! Not to mention the stunning fit of everything else on that rail! I bought he two scarfs you see in the photo's. Worn them every day since!

I think I've covered the fantastic quality, fit and range that the store offers but what I would also like to day is the amazing, un-beatable customer service I was given during my visit. With big smiles, warm welcomes and a "nothing is too  much trouble" approach, the team made me feel so welcome and even part of the New Look family. All of them were also very stylish too. After being treated like a king for a good few hours and having a great chat with everyone I can see amazing things happening with the New Look men's range. I know where I'm going when pay day comes! Not to mention Christmas!

Here's the photos from the day. Check out the Meadowhall Sheffield store today! I can guarantee you'll be very happy you did. Remember, to "Always Be Classic".

#NewLook #Meadowhall #Sheffield

See you next time!

Mission Accepted

Recently I've experience having lots of focus and determination to get practising and get uni work done. Loving it. After not knowing what to expect from my first year at uni, looking back I know I could've done a few things better and I given the chance again I would approach them and complete them in very different ways.

This year, my second year, will be very different. I will look back at the projects given and be able to say "I did really well"  or "I'm proud of that". Work as hard as I can. Even in my spare time ill be practising designing, embroidery and sewing. Alexander McQueen didn't just float through. Chanel didn't say "oh we" when something didn't go her way. Thi isn't just a week long thing. It's a life long mission to be the best I can be. To make people proud. I want people to see my collection in the Graduate Fashion Show and think "he did it", "he proved us wrong". 

Let the fight to reach the top begin...

Pyjama Party!

After my menswear t-shirt success last week I decided that I wanted to continue practising with my sewing machines by making other mens garments. I have all week at home so that means I have nearly all day everyday this week to be sewing. Creating garments isn't my strongest point so I wanted my little 'projects' as I'm calling them, to be simple meaning that I could get better at the basics of sewing then develop further into the more intricate techniques later on. This resulted in me deciding to make mens pyjama pants! 

I looked in my collection of sewing books that I have stacked in my bedroom and tried to find out as much as I can about simple sewing clothing projects and found that in The Great British Sewing Bee book (that I forgot I own) there is a pair of mens pyjama pants with step by step instructions on how to make them. The next day I decided to go to the town market to buy three different fabrics so that I could make a mini collection of pyjama bottoms! I wanted cotton fabrics that had a beach vibe and a warm look to them. I purchased two gingham fabrics, 1 red and black and the other navy blue and dark green. The third is a very deep blue and black dog tooth print fabric. Each very soft and easy to work with. Easily my favourite fabric I've ever used. 

Before making the pyjamas I washed each fabric individually to make sure that when the finished garments are washed in the future that no colour will run and it also ensures that when the garments are washed in the future that the fabrics won't loose any shape. These have been my favourite mini project ever. Simple and I've ended up with something that I can actually wear afterwards! I think menswear may be the way forward for me! 

Ta Da! I present the Ryan Pilkington Sleep Tight range!