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!

Julien Macdonald

Matalan have teamed up with British fashion designer Julian Macdonald to launch a new formal line! W10 shows us classic tailoring in greys and blacks. Each piece a classic. Now for me the items that stood out for me was the shoe range!

I love a good pair of shoes (my shoe rack proves this!) and I have to say that you cant beat a good pair of classic formal shoes. I am quite particular with this however but the footwear that Julian and Matalan have created is great! Matte, Gloss, pointed and brogue styles all available! My favourite was the glossy pair you see here. Pair these with a classic tailored black suit for a dinner and you'll be the man who's on everyone's mind!

Moulage & Betty Jackson!

One of my latest creations came in form of a university project. This was Moulage. The idea of this is to work directly on the stand with the fabric instead of creating paper patterns at the beginning. This was exciting. Prior to this I have never worked in this way. We had a session on the basics and then we ran with it. The garment that I created was the product of a few weeks practise and some quick designing. 



I finished the garment 3 week prior to the deadline so needless to say I was very happy. I had found the best way for me to make garments. I was quick and easily motivated by this process, more hands on to start with instead of taking endless measurements. This meant I could add finishing touches and details to the garment. This soon became my best garment to date in my opinion. Still is.

The best part of this project was that we had a visit form Betty Jackson! yes the Betty Jackson! After being nervous all day I tried to keep my cool as she walked through the room. Trying to make myself look busy with my garment when she stopped right next to me! "This is nice how are you going to do this?" that's when I realised she was talking to me! I answered her with how I would attach the details. My tutor was also there with her and she began explaining that I had found Moulage easy and I had found my feet with the process to which Betty Jackson said she also liked to work this way. "You know the first garment I made I completely forgot someone had to get their head into it, don't tell anyone that" she laughed smiled and walked off. Wow. A designer had praised my dress.

My week was complete with that. Here is the garment made out of white felt and paper nylon.

My Favourite Collection

Recently I had a project at university set for me called Whimsical Wings. This project was based around the theme of anything that flies, from man made machines to natural animals. Although this project at first presented a challenge with design, I have to say that its my favourite collection I've ever designed for a project!


The original idea was to have the collection based on the theme of Leonardo Da Vinci. One of the most influential men of science in history. Artist, inventor mathematician and scientist this man was a master of all trades. However I wanted to make this project more quirky and fun. I instantly thought of one thing I was addicted to as a child. Dinosaurs! Feathered dinosaurs to be exact to be specific. this was the starting point.


I looked at colour, shape and species for my collection. After researching various species I finally chose the "missing link" in evolution. The Archaeopteryx. After extensive research I looked at WGSN for S/S 15 predicted trends and after drafting out designs my collection was born.


This is my Spring and Summer 2015 Collection: Archaeopteryx.   

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! 

The Return

It's been a while since I have updated my blog but I'm back! University has been really busy as always and I'm very happy with the progress I've made on my course. I'm in my second term of Fashion with Textiles at Huddersfield and now that I've had a mini break in Centre Parcs I've rediscovered my love for fashion and I returned to uni with vengeance and focus.

First of all we have worked on a mini glove project for a national competition. The aim was to choose a brand and design a set of three gloves for the brand. Our tutor then chose the gloves that would be sent off to the competition board to be judged. I chose the queen of quirky fashion Cath Kidston for my brand and 2 out of my 3 gloves were sent off to the national board! Very pleased. The first prize being £400! 2nd is £200. There is also an award that you can win including a trophy, £500 and a fashion lunch in London! Fingers crossed I win!

My latest project that we have been given is a menswear Ted Baker project. This is my first time at doing menswear but I'm very excited as it's something that I've always wanted to try out. If this project goes well and if I enjoy designing menswear then I may choose to do menswear in my next year at university. Menswear is a growing market and new designers are always needed for fresh ideas and views on mens style. Will I be one of the new menswear designers?

Keep checking back for updates! I will be posting a dress I have designed for a previous university project called Minimised Aesthetic which was inspired by nature and butterflies. I will be making the dress this week so stay tuned for the final outcome! I will be able to use my new industrial sewing machine and my new overlocker to create it too! Very exciting.

I'm very happy that I've found my passion for fashion and design again. After having doubts about my course and whether fashion was right for me I finally realised why I love fashion and why I chose to do this in the first place. In ten years you will see Ryan Pilkington over the top of stores and stands selling stunning fashion. But will it be menswear or womenswear?