Reiss Workshop at Eastbury Comprehensive School

 

On Wednesday 10^th October students at Eastbury Comprehensive School in Barking were introduced to world of the fashion industry by three guest speakers from top retailer Reiss; Sid Choudury, Technical Manager, Holly Hilton, Garment Technologist and Charlene Parks, Administrator.

 

 

                        

 

 

The fashion industry is one of the biggest employers in this country but it is very easy to assume that jobs in fashion are either design, modelling or working for a fashion magazine. Reiss were there to show the students that this was not the case and to explain the many different areas and jobs available. They even set a competition for the students to design their own school uniform.

 

 

                      

 

 

 

{mosimage}Holly Hilton, garment technologist for Reiss began the workshop by giving a brief overview of Reiss’s background and the person behind the multi million pound company. She explained how Reiss is a British Design and retail company based in London. It is owned and run by David Reiss who is originally from East London and who built up the company over 30 years ago from one shop to 65 this year including shops in America, Europe and Dubai. Last year his company had a turnover of over 56 million pounds.

 

 

The students then watched a 10 minute DVD of Reiss’s A/W07 fashion show and were also shown the look books which Holly explained are sent out to fashion editors at the start of each season. So far the students had only been introduced to a very small aspect of the industry and as Holly said would be forgiven for thinking it was all design and modelling, but she went on to explain that the industry has huge employment possibilities with many varied jobs and skills required for al types of people.

 

 

                             

 

 

She demonstrated this fact using the example of a coat and explaining its journey from design to the shop floor.  Holly went through the process with the students showing them how each person’s individual job was vital in producing the garment and getting it prepared to be sold to the customer.  This was an excellent example which taught the students that there was so much more to the industry than fashion design itself; there were sewing machinists, accountants, the IT department, the press team, the shop assistants, the warehouse staff and even the truck drivers who all play a significant role.  

 

 

                             

 

 

It was important for the students to realise that all people employed in the industry have very different jobs and backgrounds and different types of experiences.  As Reiss’s technical manager Sid Choudury’s job was explained to the students and more importantly where he started out and how he progressed to his position today. Also Holly shared her background and experiences with the students and although she has a very similar job to Sid had a very different background and Charlene Parks, Administrator who did a degree that was nothing related to fashion at all explained her journey into working for Reiss.

 

 

                               

 

 

These three very different examples of three diverse people showed the students that working in the fashion industry can be approached from all kinds of routes and that to get a good job is not always about further education (although it can help) but enthusiasm and eagerness to learn are just as important.

 

 

 

                                 

 

 

The presentation ended with a proposal of a design competition to the students. They have been asked to redesign either a school skirt or trouser in the style of Reiss. The winner will receive two tickets to the Reiss S/S08 fashion show in November and the opportunity to see their design made up by the Reiss fashion team. This really is a wonderful opportunity for the students at Eastbury Comprehensive School.

 

 

Good luck to everyone who enters!