Fashion Inside Out: Five Minutes with Caroline Ash Production Director at Fashion Enter

Q What time does your alarm go off? 

C: 5.45am eek!

Q What’s a typical day like for you? 

C: No two days seem to be the same – which is one of the things I love about my job. I might be meeting new clients and showing them around – which I always enjoy, I might be teaching or costing new styles for our customers.

Q Tell us about your career route, where did it all start for you? 

C: It began when I was a lowly showroom assistant, where I was filing, selling stock and cleaning the kitchen and toilet! Although it was very unglamorous I got the “fashion bug” from there.

Q And did you spend any time completing work placements / experience? 

C: None, as they were not so readily available when I was starting out, so all my experience was gained “on the job”.

Q What key skills / attributes would you say are essential for this role? 

C: Tenacity is an essential quality needed, there are always problems that need solving quickly in my type of job.

Q What is your most memorable work moment?

C: Getting my first directorship when I was 26-years-old, from a company where I started as a temp.

Q What is the worst part of the job? 

C: The fact you are always up against deadlines, although it does feel very good that we are exemplary on time delivery record.

Q Best piece of advice you have been given? 

C: Never send an email when you are angry about something, always give it time for the dust to settle and then you will be thinking more rationally.

Q Is there anyone in the fashion sector that you think is inspirational? 

C: Not exactly the fashion industry but Anita Roddick founder of the Body Shop was ahead of the curve with her cruelty free products and promoting fair trade.

Q After work you like to… 

C: Go to the gym or just relax in the week and at weekends have dinner parties or go out to a bar. I also love cooking and always make homemade Christmas presents, usually its chutneys and chilli jam but this year it’s going to be Kimchi.

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