Helen Welch - Shrewsbury - 1985 - 1992

Fashion Design

I have been designing clothes for about 10 years. I started working for a Marks and Spencer supplier in mens casualwear. I then moved into Sportswear and Swimwear working in menswear and womenswear. I have worked for Diadora, an Italian sportswear brand, Elle Sport and for Reebok swimwear.

I am now a freelance designer, working for sweatyBetty, a sports boutique and also currently covering a maternity leave post for a supplier to Marks and Spencer.

For anyone considering fashion as a career, I would offer the following advice :

1. Do work experience with a fashion company, you will find there are many jobs in the industry, design, technical, buying, merchandising, marketing and visual.
2. Show an interest in clothes, colour, textiles, trends. Keeping a scrapbook or sketch book to show your influences and interests.
3. There are a number of ways into the industry, either from working in shops to degrees. Investigate which way would suit you best!
4. If you are applying for work experience, ring up and get a person to address your request to and tell them why you want to work for them.
5. If you are called for interview, make sure you have seen their latest collection and what you like about it, and who is your favourite designer and why?
6. Don’t expect it always to be glamorous, you travel a lot for inspiration or factory visits once you are experienced but you can start with cleaning out fabric cupboards and making tea.
7. Learn to take constructive criticism, everyone always has a view on what designs they like and dislike and why!
8. Learn about garment construction, look at your own clothes and work out how they have been sewn together, vital for the budding designer.
9. Look at logos, trims and details. Attention to detail makes designs stand out, but remember less can sometimes be more!
10. Once going for permanent positions you will be asked to take a portfolio of you work. Keep it neat and in order and practise talking through it. Continually update it, like your CV.
11. It’s a small industry, so always be professional!