Week 3 - Half Week

I'm treated to a half week this week as Thursday and Friday are induction days at uni - meaning we'll be reminded about all the work we have this term! :-0

Had a bit of a commuting nightmare on Monday evening. Unfortunately not knowing where I was or where I was going and the fact it was dark and wet made it all a bit daunting - not my idea of fun! Thankfully I got home safely all be it 2 hours late.
My half weeks been full of ups and downs again. Monday was the first day without Anke (she's on holiday) and unfortunately there weren't many jobs going so I was filing all day. :-( Tuesday was much more exciting as I was asked to source ribbon in and around Oxford Street! As I was saying, ups and downs!
I looked around McCullock and Wallis, Kleins, John Lewis and VV Rouleaux for 12m of red velvet ribbon, 36mm wide - in other words as similar to the sample I had as I could get! Harder said than done - many were too dark, too light, too thin or too thick. Eventually I found two possibles in VV Rouleaux. I got samples and once I had approval from my mentors I ordered one which I have been to collect today, along with dropping a repaired dress to Harrods!

VV Rouleaux, Marylebone Lane

Inside VV Rouleaux

Up's and Down's...

So I'm at the end of my second week and again it really has gone very quickly. Generally/emotionally I'm very up and down about the whole London/work placement thing. I feel far more settled both at work and at home but inevitably I miss my real home very much - home being Devon, the complete opposite to London! At work it's a lot easier when I'm kept busy - even though some of the jobs I do are rather repetitive and tedious. I understand and appreciate that these jobs need doing and will be a contrast to other jobs I do which are far more exciting!

It's all about give and take, ups and downs, highs and lows!

Week 2

I'm settling in at Jenny Packham more everyday and beginning to understand and anticipate the jobs I'm given. I've been working on Micra again, this time attaching garment photos to the corresponding garments and style codes. I've also been working on quality control, examining bridal motifs for any imperfections such as loose beads or broken stones. The most exciting job has been helping the samplists finish garments which were about to be sent to an agent at Milan Fashion Week. OK I was only sewing on the Jenny Packham labels but it's still very exciting to be a part of it and to contribute to such beautiful fashion!

My First Week at Jenny Packham

Well my first week is already over. It's gone pretty quick! I'm just about beginning to recognise people and put faces to names - takes a while! I have to admit it hasn't been the easiest of weeks purely as I've been settling into such new and different surroundings both at work and at home, these things take time. All in all I have very much enjoyed my first week in the successful, fashionable and high profile design house that is Jenny Packham!

Below I have list a number of the jobs I have been doing this week.

• Filing dry cleaning samples - I decided which dry cleaning technique (P or F) had passed or failed.


• I've packed customer orders and dresses to be sent to factories.

• I compiled a folder of colour swatches to be sent to factories as colour references.


• I've been introduced to 'Micra', a software program which forms a database of garment information. I attached specification sheets, photos and bead/component information to the corresponding garments.

Jenny Packham at New York Fashion Week

It's proved to be a great and exciting time to start my placement as Jenny Packham have just shown their Spring/Summer 2012 collection at London Fashion Week therefore I am able to witness all the hard work that goes into a collection being shown in all it's glory. To a complete novice/amateur such as myself, seeing the dresses in the studio and being shown in such high-profile shows is very surreal and exciting. The press coverage for Jenny Packham has been extensive. I have included a couple of links below to articles, reviews and a video for the S/S12 collection.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2012/ready-to-wear/jenny-packham

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2036526/Kate-Middletons-spring-wardrobe-Jenny-Packhams-gowns-fit-Duchess-Cambridge.html

Jenny Packham. Spring/Summer 2012. Ready-to-Wear.

The collection is made up of lacey, layered, feminine dresses with exquisite bead work. The colour palette is more vibrant than previous collections with limes, lemons and cherry reds. 

First Day of Work Experience at Jenny Packham

My first day! Unsurprising I was pretty nervous and anxious but thankfully, as a result of my interviews, I knew where to go which was the first hurdle crossed. I met with my mentors, Anke and Nigel, and filled out the necessary forms etc before Anke gave me a more detailed tour around the office/studio and introduced me to a n

umber of her colleagues. Although a bit daunting and nerve wracking, I enjoyed the day and was kept busy with a variety of jobs. I examined and organised a selection of dresses into factory groups, organised and bagged a number of dresses a few seasons old to be sent into the sale and began inputting shipping data into Microsoft Excel. All very exciting to be handling such exquisite, expensive and surprisingly heavy dresses!

Jenny Packham, Spectrum House, Kentish Town. 

About Jenny Packham

Luxury design house, Jenny Packham, is known primarily for bridal gowns and ready-to-wear collections. Their customer is glamorous, stylish and feminine and to compliment this their bridal gowns and ready-to-wear evening dresses boast an abundance of exquisite beading and sequin embellishment amongst layers of floating tulle, chiffon and silk. With stores in London's Mayfair and Belgravia, Paris and New York, Packham’s retail portfolio, celebrity clientele and international appeal is growing significantly. Packham has fast become one of the UK’s most regarded designers not only with regards to creative talent, but commercial success.

Kate Middleton - One of Packham's most high-profile, celebrated clients. 

Term 1: Work Placement

Having decided to undertake a work placement for the first term of my final year, I have spent time over the summer trying to secure a placement of at least 3 months.
I wasn't particularly choosy about the type of placement I was searching for however I felt I wanted to steer towards the promotion/production side of fashion rather than the design. In an ideal world I hoped to have a general overview of a successful, contemporary fashion brand. In addition to this, I hoped to be able to find a placement based in London to give me a better feel for how I cope with and enjoy London life.
The first position I became aware of which I was particularly inspired by was an internship at Jenny Packham within their Accessories department. When researching the company I was really inspired by their designs and brand image. Unfortunately, after an interview in their very impressive/slightly overwhelming office, I was informed they'd given the position to a graduate.
At this stage I looked in more detail at websites such as fashionworkie.com to search for any opportunities I was inspired by. I began correspondence with Oasis who were offering a placement within their PR department however this is an area I have never really considered and know very little about.
Fortunately, out of the blue, I came across a second internship opportunity with Jenny Packham, this time within their Evening and Lingerie Production department. This position was equally, if not more, inspiring as it was working with actual garments and after explaining my situation I was invited for another interview. Thankfully, this time I was successful so I am officially upping sticks and starting an internship at Jenny Packham a week today! eeeeee