In June, our 21 Fashion Futures finalists took part in an intensive Summer School at the University of East London. With only 5 days to produce their final garments for London Fashion Week, the pressure was on.
The week had its highs and lows, with days filled with excitement, stress and a good few learning curves! The challenge was tough, but with plenty of help on hand from FAD volunteers and each other, the finalists perfected their pattern-cutting skills and learnt to sew on industrial machines. They painted, beaded, quilted, laced, fringed and embroidered until their garments were complete, ready to be showcased at Fashion Scout on Monday 19th September.
We caught up with finalist Emily Khor about her Fashion Futures experience so far.
Why did you apply for Fashion Futures?
“I applied for Fashion Futures because my school introduced it to me as a great opportunity, so I decided to go for it.”
Tell us about your design and how it was inspired by the brief.
“I was quite inspired by architecture and the patterns I saw at the V&A. I’m making quite a loose fitted dress with a pleat down the back and a zip on the front.”
How has your week been at our Summer School at UEL?
“My week’s been quite stressful and there have been quite a lot of problems, but we’ve figured everything out so it’s good.”
What has Fashion Futures taught you so far?
“Fashion Futures has taught me that the fashion industry is a lot more complex than I first thought, but it’s really enjoyable. I’ve learnt about pattern-cutting, alterations and how to use the industry sewing machines. I’ve learnt to make lists and tick things off which is really helpful for staying organised.”
What challenges do you think young people face when trying to get jobs in the fashion industry?
“Lack of experience is the biggest obstacle young people face, because there aren’t that many opportunities within school so it might be quite hard to find experience.”
Fashion Futures would not be possible without our sponsors at Natwest and George at Asda.
