First up is Kirsty Evans, a fashion student facing her 4th year at university. As the prospect of finishing school and going out into the 'big world' looms, I ask her how she came to be involved in fashion and what her hopes are for the future!
The course I am studying is Fashion Technology at Heriot Watt in the Scottish Borders. I’m just about to go into fourth year, which is a little bit scary!
What parts of your course do you find interesting and why?
I honestly think I made the best decision in going with Fashion Technology instead of some of the other courses available at my university, for me personally. It has given me an insight into so many different areas of the fashion industry that I didn’t think was possible in the little time that I’ve been there. The design element within my modules has always been my favourite if I’m entirely honest. It’s strange, because the things I imagined I would love haven’t been my most favourite to study. For example, I’ve always been a bit of a computer geek that loved a fiddle with photoshop. But at university, I think computer aided design is one of my least favourite after a 9 hour day in the computer labs – although I still enjoy it!
What made you choose this particular course?
It was a throw up between this particular course and Fashion Communications when I was applying to the university. Although I was keen to do both, I think the Fashion Technology course tipped it because there was a lot more versatility within the course. Either that or because I wasn’t successful with my interview for Fashion Coms – it was fate!
Is there any areas that your course doesn't cover? Or any ways in which you feel your course isn't entirely relevant to what you want to do?
I really wish there was an element of photography in this course, because it is something I have always been interested in. I have just been sure to keep it up as a hobby throughout my course and who knows, it may be something I go into later. Just because I haven’t studied it in depth doesn’t mean I can’t pursue it I guess. I guess the only other thing I wish I could have got more involved in was fashion journalism, but I guess that’s why I have such a love for fashion blogs – photography & journalism in one! I think there are many days in our course where every single person in the lecture theatre is sitting there thinking ‘why is this relevant?!’, but we wouldn’t be taught it if it wasn’t in some shape or form.
What made you want to get into Fashion? Was there a specific moment when you fell in love with it all?
I was that little girl that was obsessed with dressing up. I know most girls were, but I took it to another level with my Mum’s clothes & lipsticks. I think I just grew up appreciating it. When I was younger drawing at my friends house, I used to draw dresses when everyone else was drawing houses, weird. I remember reading some book series when I was about 12 that was about a group of friends & one of them (I swear her name was Izzy) used to make her own clothes & I was like, oh I wanna do that! Why do I remember these things?
Did you take any specific classes or do any internships to help you gain experience and get into university?
I didn’t. I think this is one of my biggest regrets before going into university. A lot of people on the course went to college for a year and learned about the trade before delving into the whole dressmaking world and I think I’ve suffered a little from that. But at the same time, I think it’s helped me to grow as a person & a student because I’ve had to learn a lot quicker.
What does a typical day in your university class involve?
I commute to university, so it always begins with an early rise and trip down to Galashiels! But it then depends on what modules I have for the day. If it’s a lecture day, it’ll be spent with a strong coffee in hand taking notes during the lecture, and then some time at the library after. Before hand ins, it’s a full day in the library! If it’s a workshop day, the class would start at 9 and end at 5. So depending upon the time of year and how far into the module we are, it could be an entire day of pattern cutting, construction or toiling, or final garment production. Towards the end, I can remember being there with the girls until 8/9 at night still staring at a sewing machine. The days are really long, because it’s not just like a course where its an hour lecture & you’re left to your own means. The people I go to university with are amazing though, & I usually spend the majority of the day rolling around the floor laughing.
Can you think of any classes or extra curricular activities you done at high school that have aided the work you do at uni or helped you understand some of you lectures a little better?
The only subject I took at school which relates is Art. At school, I was a music kid and everyone presumed that’s something I would go on to do. I was involved in all the musical productions etc though including the styling and getting together costumes, so I guess that was something? I was quite unlucky at school because they didn’t offer fashion or photography as a subject. Just your standard subjects really. Taking art definitely helped though, even though it was standard art and we couldn’t branch out into fashion too much! I worked in a few different fashion retailers which I think gave me an eye a little. Seeing new collections, how different people wore them etc. Something so silly as a part time job has helped me a little.
Do you see your blog as a means of showing your passion for your subject?
I do. I’ve read blogs for years, and always been inspired by all the girls I’ve read and subscribed to. They’re the people I look up to and gain my knowledge from in fashion rather than what I’m told to like in the magazines. I’ve always found street style so much more interesting and real. I always wanted to express my love for all things fashion and beauty, but I guess I was too scared and believed no-one would read it so what was the point? But yeah, I’m really glad I did because I feel I’ve learned a lot from it in the short time already. Whether a million people read it or one person does, who cares. I’m doing it to learn than to please anyone else really.
Do you feel that a blog is a helpful tool in pursuing a career after university?
I honestly do because it’s real and not something you were assigned to do in the classroom. I think it’s good to future employers within the industry because it shows your drive and initiative to make something of yourself within the fashion world as well.
What do you plan on doing after university?
To be honest, I have no idea. I graduate next Summer and the thought terrifies me. All I know is that this time next year I’ll be moving to
You can find Kirsty's blog at http://www.krstyvns.blogspot.co.uk/
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