Week 7

Can't believe I'm basically half way through my placement already!

I have spent the majority of my time recently working within the bridal department which I'm really really enjoying! I love bridal! I'm learning a lot more about order and quality assurance processes which allows me to be far more independent in my work and to use my initiative which is great.

This week I have spent a considerable amount of time working on Willow (pictured below), a bridal dress which has caused the production team rather a few problems. To date, the dress has suffered from faulty zips due the beading sitting too close to the invisible zip, a lack of flowers on the center front motif when compared with the original sample, sequins loosing shape when steamed and an extremely restricting capped sleeve.

Willow Dress

Center Front Motif

Concealed Zip

Yesterday I wore my first bridal dress, the Willow dress. I modelled the dress for a good 30 minutes while several pattern cutters, designers, samplists and people from the production department (I counted up to 8 people at one point!) debated how to resolve the restricting, uncomfortable sleeve which is resulting in a severe lack of sales.

The various faults this dress has suffered from has made me more aware of the consequences of such problems within the production and sales of the dress.

Finally, I took another trip to Harrods this week to pick up a dress to be repaired for a customer.

Jenny Packham in Harrods