I thought today, I might take a minute to explain why I have started this blog and some of my aims - both long and short term. My plan is to set up my own independent company making lingerie. Companies of this nature are springing into existence in various places around the world and I can't wait to be part of this exciting movement. I want to do this for several reasons. The first is that I love to be creative and keep myself challenged. The second is that I feel it is important to have and to support small businesses and the individuals behind them rather than buying from the corporate giants (whilst trying not to sound too much like a hippy). Finally, I cannot stress enough how important I think it is for there to be individuals out there who possess knowledge in every aspect of their business. Too much focus is put on profit margins rather than people and this leaves everyone detached from the final product and the range of processes involved.
In the short term, I am looking to start up my company. To do this I need to gain as much relevant knowledge and experience as possible. However, I am currently facing several hurdles in doing so. The first is the lack of practical training available to fashion students. Whilst design and context are seen as hugely important to the big fashion schools, actually being able to make the products which you conceive is lower on the agenda than you would ever imagine. Now I realise that the majority of people who study fashion will not necessarily end up making their designs reality on a day to day basis, but without a knowledge of construction many ideas would be impractical as actual garments. In my chosen field - which is obviously lingerie - it is possible to do a degree at two universities in the UK: London College of Fashion and De Montfort in Leicester. Unfortunately, because of the recent exorbitant fee rises and the fact that I already have a degree in criminology, it would be impossible for me to fund such a course. The only alternative to these extortionate three year courses is to take various (also extortionate) intensive courses which usually only last about a week. Of course I am doing as many of these short courses as possible and hoping to pick up as much practical and theoretical knowledge as possible, but there is not much I can do without spending a good solid amount of time just practicing sewing to get it perfect -ideally working with a similarly minded independent lingerie brand.
In the long term, I know that I will be able to set up my company and produce garments to a high enough standard for the luxury lingerie market. I want my label to be young, fun and a perfect mix of practical and desirable. I want to make an adequate living and enjoy what I do and maybe even employ other people eventually. But first I have to overcome the experience hurdle without a fashion degree whilst still paying the rent...
