PPRD: Current Issues, Celebritie Fashion Ranges

More and more celebrities are using their name to launch their 'own' fashion label which I personally feel like it is making it harder and harder for people who have wanted to be in the fashion industry for all their lives and have trained and studied hard for it.
Here are some links to some celeb lines;

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaticPageDisplay?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&brdcrmb_trail=&identifier=ts2-kate-moss-aw10

http://www.victoriabeckham.com/dresses/

http://www.fredperry.com/women/amy-winehouse-landing/

Of course it is a very clever move by companies, such as Topshop, because young girls look at celebrities and want to wear what they are wearing so get the right celeb and you can make a lot of money. New, upcoming pop star Jessie J has spoken out saying that she wouldn't mind to release a fashion range and she loves fashion.The companies claim they have "full control" but I'm personally not sure about that one, I think it just means that the celeb can add one more thing to their line of 'talents'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/why-the-high-street-is-being-swamped-by-celebrity-clothing-ranges-443467.html

Above is an article from the Independent taken from 2007 talking about the launch of Kate Moss' fashion range and how we could expect more and more celebrities to be doing their own ranges as they become a brand.

I really respect Stella McCartney because she wanted to be a fashion designer and with her dad being the famous Beatles member, Paul McCartney she could of easily launched herself by her dad's name. However, Paul McCartney wanted his children to live normal lives and not live of his fame so Stella worked hard for her dream. She did internships, studied and genuinely worked and it paid of.

I think if more celebrities want to complete 'their lifelong dream' to do a fashion range they need to work hard for it and even study because otherwise the fashion industry will be swamped with celebrities names and not real talent. It's hard work doing fashion, although most people think it's a lot of cutting, sticking and making pretty dresses, and talented people should get the recognition they deserve.

PPRD: My Ideal Job Advert

Assistant Pattern Cutter Required!

Company: Fred Perry/ Adidas (wishful thinking here)
Position: Full time
Salary: £18, 000 - £20,000
Location: London
Experience: 6 months - one year

This company is looking for an enthusiastic pattern cutter to join our established team as soon as possible. You will be working closely with the whole team to meet tight deadlines. They are a fast paced company so knowledge and confidence is essential. As an assistant pattern cutter you'll be learning the robes under our team of pattern cutters and will help translate designs into working patterns and amending the fit.

Manual pattern knowledge is essential and it helps to have some knowledge of computer pattern cutting either using the Lectra or Gerber system.



CAN THIS JOB BE REAL PLEASE!

Professional Project: Styling

For my research into Mods I brought the book I'm One 21st Century Mod by Horst A.Friedrichs (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Im-One-21st-Century-Mods/dp/379134319X) and I have found it really useful. The book is basically all pictures of modern day mods and it's really useful for ideas on styling and make up.

The mod style is really simple and clean cut. They wear minimal accessories apart from a watch and a bag for the women. Men generally wear a slim tie with a shirt.

The make up is very minimal again but with heavy emphasis on the eyes, eyeliner is a must.

PPRD: Companies House & Fashion Index

Companies House http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ What is it promoting? Company information and business help. Summary of content Companies House has over 2.2 million companies registered with them and their job is to relate information to the public. It helps with all aspects of business, from finances to seeing if a company name is available. What issues of fashion does it relate to? Business. How can it help you? Again, like Mintel, this site isn't really useful to be unless I was interested in business. If you were though it's got lots of different information. Fashion Index http://www.fashiondex.com/ What is it promoting? Fashion supplies, contractors, manufactures etc Summary of content Fashion Index is like the Yellow Pages to the fashion industry. If you need to know supplies of buttons Fashion Index will give you names of different companies that supply buttons. What issues of fashion does it relate to? The manufacturing of fashion. How can it help you? This is very handy to find different suppliers of many different things. Personally I will now be using it in my professional project to see if I can find a company that will create a logo badge for me.

PPRD: Fashion Monitor, Mintel & Drapers Record

Fashion Monitor http://www.fashionmonitor.com/ What is it promoting? Up to date fashion news and contacts. Summary of content Fashion Monitor is a website that is full of contacts jobs,, news and events going on in the fashion industry. You can sign up for free or paid which offer different perks. What issues of fashion does it relate to? The promotion of fashion, including news, jobs, events. How can it help you? It has a whole range of fashion contacts, from Giorgio Armani which you need to be a paid subscriber to view, and different job advertisements. "Fashion Monitor is ALWAYS up on my computer. It's perfect for finding out about upcoming events and getting quick contact info when you're on a deadline. It was also a huge help when I was looking for a job - it definitely has the best industry postings available and was a great resource for finding out who represents what, who works there, etc...." Jess Evans, Soap & Glory . Mintel http://www.mintel.com/ What is it promoting? Information and statistics from different business areas, including fashion. Summary of content Mintel is all about market intelligence and delivering critical analysis that will help you stay ahead of the market. What issues of fashion does it relate to? Business. How can it help you? Personally it can't help me I don't think as I'm not really interested in the business side of things however it would be useful if I was after statistics and facts. Drapers Record http://www.drapersonline.com/ What is it promoting? Fashion news, jobs, trends and reports. Summary of content Drapers Record has everything to do with fashion from the latest catwalk trends and news to loads of different job advertisements. You can sign up for newsletter about any different fashion related subject your interested in. What issues of fashion does it relate to? It deals with quite a wide range of issues. How can it help you? Out of all the sites we have had to look at this is the one I knew about and use when looking at jobs. It's a good site to look for jobs and keep up to date on what's going on in fashion.

Inspiration: Fafi

I put this graffiti artist on my last blog but she is still inspiring me so much (she is the talent behind the picture on my blog page)

http://www.fafi.net/

I think her work is incredible! she has worked with Adidas and Mac Cosmetics. I love her style of drawing, her fafinette characters and so strong, powerful, urban yet still womanly.

PPRD: 5 Year Plan!

Arghh this is really scary trying to figure out what you want to be doing with yourself in five years time, all I know is I want to wake up on time tomorrow and watch the first Grand Prix of the Formula One season but here goes;

2011 (age 19-20)

Have my interview for a top up year at Birmingham City Uni. - Done
Enter the final few months of my foundation degree. - In the process of doing
Finish my final project and hopefully get picked to show at our end of year show.
Hopefully get a work placement for part of Summer.
If I don't get a work placement, work back at Early Learning Centre and save up some money to do things like festivals etc.
Hopefully start up learning to drive again.
Come September move to Birmingham and enter the final year of education.
Be a bridesmaid at my Dad's wedding.

2012 (age 20-21)

Graduate from Birmingham City.
At BCU the final project you do is a 'live' project with a company that you would like to work for so hopefully gain some work experience or a job with the company I chose at the end of it.
Maybe move back home for a few month's until finances have settled down then get a place of my own near where I'm working.
Once I've got a place of my own get a doggy!! (Below: My dog, Echo)Celebrate mine and all my mate's 21st birthdays.
Celebrate my Mum's 50th.

2013 (age 21-22)

Spend the year getting settled, maybe I'll be in a serious relationship at this point although I'm not fussed if I'm not.
Aiming to gain more and more experience in pattern cutting.
If I have just been doing work experience up until this point start looking at getting an actual job.
Once I have a steady income look into get my ideal car maybe on finance?
Celebrate my brother's 21st and my Dad's 50th.
Still living at my own place near my work, if it happens to be around London maybe get a season ticket for West Ham?

2014 (age 22-23)

Aiming to be in the job I love and being a lot more settled.

2015 (age 23-24)

Still be in the job I love, earning good money and gaining more experience
Looking to be in the finacally situation where I can help my Mum and Dad out a bit.

I have two companies that I would love to work for Adidas and Fred Perry so throughout education and work experience I will be keeping these companies in mind because ideally one day I would want to be pattern cutting for one of them. One day I would like to be earning enough money to take me and my Dad to the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix as we both love the sport and love that particular race.