Get Down And Get With It

What's a fashion recruitment agency? How does it get people design based jobs and what jobs are out there anyway?

For those of you who feel disconnected with fashion because you live in what you consider the middle of nowhere, Emma came from a little town in Tasmania, a small island state of Australia. Emma will explain how her world-renowned international recruitment agency works placing exceptional candidates into great jobs in the fashion industry and how she got to where she is. Emma didn't go to university, she had a tricky time as a teenager but she used her wits to make things happen. Spotted by Vanessa Denza in the early 90s, she went from being an assistant to head honcho. Emma's empathic straight speaking and engaging personality will put you at ease as she takes you through working in the very eye of fashion. So much to learn here from such an exciting area of fashion. @DenzaFashion @TheFashionSchoolUK

Rebeckah Apara is an Embroiderer, Connecter and Entrepreneur. In this episode, she gives us an enlightening story of how we can all mess up but what matters most is what we do next and taking ownership of our mistakes. In 2015 she started her own business, Embellished Talk, which has frank and interesting interviews with other textile designers. She also runs workshops teaching hand embroidery. Rebeckah discovery and love for embroidery has led to her holding fun and exciting workshops in collaboration with brands such as WAH Nails, Second Home, Ace Hotel, London Fashion Week Festival, Palm Vaults, Ganni, Nike and Anthropologie, to name a few. @embellishedtalk @thefashionschooluk

This is such a joy! Nigel Luck is one of the UK’s most revered fashion tutors. His knowledge, expertise and empathic approach have made him a legend in fashion education. Nigel’s taught the greats such as Sarah Burton, Hussein Chalayan, Christopher Bailey, Ashley Williams, Katie Hillier with graduates working at Gucci, Maison Margiela, JW Anderson and Alexander McQueen. He’s going to tell you in much more detail but Nigel negotiated projects between companies such as Fendi and courses he ran whilst at Westminster University, Central St Martin’s and London College of Fashion. Nigel now runs his own freelance design consultancy and offers private fashion design tuition and career advice to grads and postgrads, he’ll explain how that works too. You might be expecting an austere and proud man based on his excellent legacy but you will be drawn in by his caring and open recollection of his own story from school to Royal College of Art and beyond. His advice to all of you comes from the heart as he answers your questions. He’s also very funny, I hope you enjoy your time with Nigel as he enlightens you about his role within fashion. @nigel_luck @thefashionschooluk

What's pattern cutting?

Pattern cutting is a really important part of the manufacturing process of a design.

The role of the pattern cutter is to interpret an idea and draft it onto paper or digitally or to continue the design process as it develops into a garment on the mannequin stand. They're highly respected in the fashion industry as their expertise is a creative and technical skill at the core of fashion. Pattern cutting is part of the creative process and not apart from the creative process.

There are many different approaches to pattern cutting and we're very lucky to speak with Alys Dinsmore who has worked as a successful pattern cutter on a freelance basis for brands such as Alexander McQueen. Alys tells her story, explains what pattern cutting is and how she set up her business after arriving in Sydney a year ago, amongst out of control bushfires and then the global pandemic. @unpicked.studio @thefashionschool-uk

Patrick is making big waves in the future of fashion by reinventing luxury through a sustainable mindset. Today he's here as a passionate advocate of creative education to inspire and inform young creatives. Burberry and Swarovski donated their unused fabrics and crystal to enable Patrick to draw on his Liverpool roots and create his signature future glam designs. Currently collaborating with the Italian brand Pinko to create an exciting collection using the brand's deadstock. Nominated by Anna Wintour for Stella McCartney Today for Tomorrow Award in 2019, and hosting the first-ever London Fashion Week Swap Shop. Patrick believes the best way to create a sustainable, authentic narrative in fashion is through your personal story. Nobody knows that better than you. @patrick__mcdowell @thefashionschooluk

Do you adore beautiful clothes but also really enjoy history and English at school? 

Is writing a natural form of creative expression for you? Rather than designing, do you enjoy the challenge of reporting about the wider-reaching sustainable fashion landscape? Yes? Then get your notebooks out and meet the wonderful Sarah Mower MBE who is a fashion journalist and a critic for US Vogue. Enjoy the podcast as Sarah answers the children's questions.

A little bit more about Sarah and I'm skimming the surface here. Sarah's the British Fashion Council's Ambassador for Emerging Talent and chair of the NEWGEN committee. Look that up if you're not sure. Her visionary support of young creatives is beyond legendary and she is very much part of the rise of a new way forward towards a more inclusive and sustainable fashion future. Not only that, she supports The Fashion School and understood the concept from the start, how fortunate are we? There is something truly magical about watching Sarah playing with deadstock fabric and inspiring our younger students who know her only on the FROW with Anna Wintour. Lastly, Sarah's also a campaigner for much-needed scholarships for those who would otherwise have the talent but not the funds to move forward in these Covid 19 times. Top star! @sarahmower_ @thefashionschooluk

What is Public Relations and why is communicating a fashion story so relevant in fashion today? What’s Sophie’s role within fashion and how do you get into it? If you’ve ever heard of Fashion East, British Fashion Awards and Selfridges (for starters) then Sophie’s involved.  She grew up in a non-fashion environment and attended a school that only valued academia. Sophie reached out and made a lot of her opportunities happen. So can you! @weareraven @thefashionschooluk

Emma and Laura explain in a very honest way how as a duo they built such a culturally rich and sustainable label by honouring Emma’s Bulgarian heritage and Laura’s love of mountain climbing. As worn by Harry Styles in Vogue Dec 20. Graduates from Central St Martins BA/MA programmes, they explain how important grants, awards, bursaries and scholarships were to help finance their journey. @chopovalowena @thefashionschooluk

 @halpernstudio

Think Halpern, think Studio 54 megawatt luxury glamour and sublimely crafted fabrics. Empowering joyful garments that celebrate womanhood.  Jodie Comer, Amal Clooney, Anya Taylor-Joy have worn his show-stopping creations on set and off. Michael tells us his personal story from growing up in the USA, attending college in NYC before Central St Martins MA programme and the importance of a team as he responds to the children’s fashion questions. Michael also gives some caring and frank advice to any child who wants to go forward into fashion. Michael Halpern has also recently won a Community Award at The Fashion Awards 2020, in response to his contribution to the production of PPE for the Royal Brompton Hospital.  @thefashionschooluk

A children’s fashion information podcast using questions asked by passionate young creatives, who want to know more about the fashion industry. You are the future of sustainable fashion and the fashion world wants you to be equipped to make a positive change in the industry.  Caroline Gration from The Fashion School takes your questions directly to industry professionals who tell it like it is. Designers, journalists, PR, fashion mavericks, tailors, etc, who want to enable our young creatives to get down and get with it. Children aged 10 - 16 send your questions to @thefashionschooluk