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“Like many new graduates, my career has been in my comfort zone for over 20 years so true steep learning curve”
I could have told my high school peer group for the first time that I wanted to work in fashion. Feeling A common eye roll. It felt akin to saying I wanted to be a fairy princess or a brat doll when I grew up, an unfounded childhood fantasy created by a girl who read a schoolgirl version. Teen Vogue one time. I understand.
In creative industries – especially fashion – the whole process of ‘getting there’ (to a profitable destination) can be difficult. It’s rarely linear and often involves endless periods of stress, because being an advocate for your own professional livelihood can sometimes be downright embarrassing.
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Now I really do do I work in a fashion editorial, and I can say that the awkward moments I’ve had – and those yet to come – have been worth it. Like many new graduates, my 20-something years were a plateau of comfort before I tried my hand at it. so true Steep learning curve. I don’t claim to know it all by any means (I really do know very little, especially when I’m hungry) but I can share my journey of becoming. Fashion JournalEditorial Assistant.
The beginning of the blog
For most writers, the journey of self-discovery begins with a journal. After years of writing trashy diaries in the back of my school notebooks, I decided to bless the internet with some profound words. My first post was about how I wrapped toilet paper around my feet to keep the Wii Fit board from sweating.
Before I knew it, Australia was on the precipice of a blogging boom (think Fashion bloggers era of the TV show). After that amazing debut, I found my niche writing about fashion. I opened my website Current views (Don’t judge, I picked the name when I was 12), at a surprisingly convenient time.
With Tavi Gevinson as my idol, I was consistent with my writing – even when no one was reading it. While blogging is still not my thing (and Instagram and TikTok have eclipsed the industry), it has allowed me to exercise my writing muscles, given me over a decade of experience, and my offline career has been really helpful. in addition, Current views It later serves as a valuable archive and digital portfolio of my work.
Student years
I moved from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to inner-city Melbourne when I was 18. After applying to local universities, I clicked on the RMIT website and got an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising. It was the fashion/business hybrid course I was looking for. I applied, I was accepted and it’s complete could not They chose a gap year because they have the capacity to move cities.
I approach every subject in my mind, learning as much as I can in my classes. The fashion umbrella is undeniably huge, and while I knew writing was a passion, I wasn’t sure where to fit myself into the industry. I was excited by an internship opportunity, so I slapped the third year of my degree and switched to a Bachelor of Fashion specializing in Merchandise Management.
My first fashion internship taught me industry sectors I wasn’t interested in, which was important. I dedicated all my tasks with enthusiasm, worked in different areas of the business (purchasing, quality control, visual merchandising, etc.) and gained an understanding of how a brand works. From there, I came to the conclusion that I needed a job that would allow me to write.
Post-grad blues
For me, the first year after graduation was tough. For the first six months, every time I applied for a job, I felt an increasing sense of imposter syndrome. My plight was glaringly obvious (subtlety has never been my forte) and one of my best friends helped me out by landing an internship at a Melbourne-based fashion brand, Collective Wardrobe. The founders, Fatuma and Laurinda, were incredibly welcoming and helped me build my confidence as a Shakey post-grad (real life angels).
After completing that second internship, Common Closets offered me the job of helping on their social media, and I happily started. Although I immediately CCed everyone on the brand’s distribution list to a business-only email (rookie mistake), I persevered and ended up working for Fatuma and Laurinda for over three years.
During that time, I floated around in different areas of the business, trying my hand at marketing, retail, social media and recording. I also took any freelance opportunities that came my way, saying yes to anything. During this time, I was constantly taking on a lot of work – I worked two jobs, I was freelance and I started my masters degree in writing and publishing.
The next steps
With everything already on my plate, I applied to the Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF) writer program, a program designed to nurture emerging writers at the start of their careers. For internship Fashion Journal. My (very) in-depth cover letter and work with Collective Closets helped me find both, which is authentic. Looking back, I think it was proactive thinking that helped me the most. Despite feeling a bit awkward at times, I went to talks, applied for positions and participated in MFF Secretary Program Advisory meetings (led by Leaders, Models and Culture Secretary Sabina McKenna) with a willing and open attitude.
I never (and still don’t) put myself above the opportunity to learn. The first months in Fashion Journal It taught me that constructive criticism is not a personal attack, but an attempt to help you improve. Kate, our digital editor, has patiently helped me hone my skills, and made me a more refined writer. I began to develop my attention to detail, tone of voice and people skills, all of which I have not stopped working on.
My parting art? Be kind to everyone you meet, listen to those who are willing to share, and show enthusiasm even if it’s a little embarrassing. It’s not that deep.
For more on getting started in the fashion industry, go here.
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