With high street brands, fashion houses and press attending Graduate
Fashion Week on the look out for fresh talent, FashionUnited has put
together some top tips to help you get your portfolio noticed and to really
make the most of what the exhibition has to offer.
Business Cards
Whether you are showcasing as a graduate, or just attending Graduate
Fashion Week as a student, make sure you carry business cards with you, as
this exhibition is a great place for you to meet industry professionals and
promote your skills and work.
Make sure your business card showcases who you are as a designer, maybe
use a picture of one of your designs to make it memorable. Add your email,
your website and social media links so they can discover more of your work.
Have a Social Media Presence
Having a social media presence is so important as it is a way for you to
showcase more of your portfolio as well as who you are as a designer. With
more than a thousands students and graduates taking part in Graduate
Fashion Week you need to do everything you can to stand out, and social
media is a great way for you to present yourself to a larger audience.
Remember you are looking for employment or to build your own brand, keep
it professional and make your personal account separate from your fashion
design. Not sure what to feature? Start off by utilising your portfolio
photography, maybe showcase a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of
a piece or the original sketches, as well as the inspiration behind your
collection. While at Graduate Fashion Week why not take your social media
audience behind the scenes of your catwalk showcase and show them your
university stand.
Also, don’t forget to include a link to your website, a contact and
utilise relevant fashion and design hashtags to get your feed out to a
larger audience.
Create a Website
As well as social media, prospective employers will want to find out
information about your brand easily, so having an up-to-date website is
hugely important. This is your online portfolio, it showcases your designs
and who you are as a designer, as well as allowing people to contact you
about your work.
Alongside your collection, include information on yourself, your CV, any
awards you have won, as well as contact details.
Know Your Designs
You will get asked a lot about your graduate collection, what was the
inspiration, what fabrics you used, right down to the choice of thread, so
make sure you know every single part of your designs – as at the end of the
day no one should know your work better than you.
Research Who is Showing
Lots of brands are taking part in the four-day event from Ralph Lauren
to George at Asda and John Lewis, as well as Johnstons of Elgin, Tessuti,
Size?, Boohoo, Asos, Bonmarche, Mothercare, Gap, Boux Avenue and YKK, so it
is important to be prepared. Research which brands you are interested in
seeing and finding out more about, and think about how your can tailor your
portfolio to that brand.
For instance Ralph Lauren will have a stand onsite where you will be
able to show your portfolio, as well as obtain advice and insight into what
it takes to run a globally successful designer brand, while Boux Avenue
will be sharing its experience of the lingerie and swimwear industry with
interested graduates.
Check out GFW Live!
Alongside the catwalk shows and university stands is a full schedule of
workshops, demonstrations, and informative talks as part of GFW Live!. This
year offers everything from an inside look at designing for American
heritage brands from Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy to how to land your
dream job at Boohoo, how to be a creative accessories designer and a
fashion roundtable on ‘Are you Represented’ on ethnic representation in the
fashion industry.
There are also a number of interesting ‘In Conversation with’ talks with
Hilary Alexander interviewing Superdry’s head of womenswear Siri MacDonald,
Twiggy, Richard Underwood and
Orla Kiely, while designer Richard Quinn
will be discussing his collaboration with Debenhams, and Mary Portas will
be sharing her life in fashion from starting on the shop floor to rising
through the ranks of John Lewis, Harrods and the Burton Group before being
appointed Creative Director at Harvey Nichols.
Don’t forget you notebook and pen to jot down all the advice and
knowledge that they share.
Network
This is probably one of the most important things to do during Graduate
Fashion Week, network, network, network! Hand out your business card,
collect other people’s business cards, get out there and chat about your
designs and skills to potential employees, and don’t forget to ask advice
from industry professionals as it is a great chance to take away their
insight and knowledge of the fashion industry.
Graduate Fashion Week takes place in London at the Old Truman Brewery
from June 3-6.
Images: courtesy of Graduate Fashion Week by Rory James