Ruthi Orlin – Delivery Day Summary

My name is Ruthi Orlin; I am originally from South Africa. I have both a Bachelor’s and a Masters degree in fashion and textile design. I studied in South Africa, Holland and Paris. During and after my studies I worked for various designers, one being one of the top 4 Dutch couturiers whom I worked with developing fabrics.

 

 

I noticed that my design work was very intricate and so I decided to try my hand out at jewellery making. I designed my first collection for a Dutch label called Gabler, and a few months later I moved to London.  After working at various free-lance jobs and earning little for my hard work and time, I figured I had nothing to lose by starting out on my own, and so I exhibited my first jewellery collection at the Profile event organized by Jenny Holloway. It was there that I was put in touch with various buyers and websites and have been going strong ever since.  Aside from this I do trend forecasting work for a company in South Africa. Previously I have also had experience in writing and hosting a fashion talk radio show, and have worked at magazines, and as a freelance stylist.

 

 

 

What I discuss in these talks is the journey I have been on to get where I am today, all the ups and down’s along the way.  About following your dreams, being persistent, the impotence of being commercial, thinking, and planning out the collections you make in order to achieve an end product which can be reproduced if need be.  Learning how to find your strengths and handwriting so to speak in order to stand out as a designer and avoid being copied.  I talk about how ones personality, not only marks or degrees is a large factor in getting places, and how if you really put your mind to it you can achieve your goals.  This is about showing student that there is help out there, and that they are not alone, guidance is abundant.

 

Not only are these talks supposed to be motivational, but also allow for a sneak peak into the industry from various different angles, a look at how things are done, how to go about starting your own business, and about giving the students an idea of how to go about pursuing a career in the fashion world.