This month we’re excited to welcome Ila into our team. She’s a full time degree student from Manchester Metropolitan University studying Fashion design and Technology (Menswear).
Ila is going to be writing blogs and creating content for our social media alongside her final year studies.
Ila’s background
‘I have been studying fashion and design for the last three years. I focus on menswear but used the opportunity of my placement year in industry to get wider experience. I spent 2019-20 working at Margaret Howell ,a high end men’s and women’s wear designer. A great time to be there as it was her celebratory year. The 50 year anniversary of the brand.‘
‘As part of the Margaret Howell team I was the Production and Pattern Room Assistant. I worked in Quality Control and with the head pattern cutter on their London based shirt line.’
‘In September I will be returning to Manchester to complete my final year in men’s wear design.’
My interest in tailoring
‘I love fashion and making clothes. The reason I work in menswear is because I can design and make objectively. I became aware of Fielding and Nicholson when we were set a ‘live brief’ for a suit from them in our second year at university. I was very fortunate to get an interview with Ian and his team for my project. Originally this would have meant shadowing Ian and his team at Fielding and Nicholson for two weeks, but due to the current circumstances we had to move it online like many businesses in this situation. Instead I wrote blogs and content for their social media.’
‘My suit project was based on ‘The new classic British suit’. It looked at traditional fabrics and added modern elements. I used herringbone tweed and included pink taped seams on the inside inspired by the colours of the Scottish highlands.’
Where I want to go
‘I want to work in pattern cutting, I enjoy the maths and precision. When I finish my degree I would love to work in this area whether it’s with a high street brand or a high end tailors. They all need a pattern cutter.’
See my LinkedIn
