Say hello to Rosie Woodlock, 20-year-old Fashion Textile Merchandising student from Kangan, who loves the industry she has picked to study after a long search through different career paths. She has a passion for trend forecasting and colour contrasting. Rosie tells all about her current fashion journey and what she loves most studying FTM!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in fashion?
Since I was 16, I had always known that Fashion has been my biggest area of interest. From a young age, I developed my sense of style and always wanted to do things a little differently than my friends and everyone else. I had researched so many career paths from commerce to interior design and event planning until I found fashion textile merchandising and realised this is where I wanted to be the most.
What made you signed up for the FTM course?
This course has the best of both worlds. It's not 100% hands on all the time, but it still allows for creativity and design, as well as being enabled to learn more about the industry and where people can go within fashion.
Since studying, what have you learnt at Kangan?
I've learnt about the different fashion industry associates and what their role involves and how they all interconnect. We've learnt how an idea is developed into a product and have an understanding of how the fashion retail industry evolves. We've are learnt how to communicate with manufacturers, how to assess quality, along with learning about fibres and textiles. We also are doing subjects such as graphic design and purchasing which is more specific for becoming a fashion buyer.
In your own words, what is FTM?
The most basic way to describe it is the full process of presenting, producing and organising the sale of a fashion product, within a brand, as a person or in a general sense.
Most exciting part of studying FTM?
Meeting all these interesting people, their own personal experiences and interacting with industry professionals.
It is also really fun coming up with design concepts and themes with projects that a brand may use in their product development.
How do you keep motivated to complete assignments, we know how hard it is to go off track, what are some main points you focus on to complete your tasks?
I sucked in High School, but I think doing something you're passionate about makes such a difference. To keep myself motivated I use my technology to my advantage; IPhone calendar/reminders to schedule homework time and when things are due, in which automatically syncs with my laptop. Also to prioritise, and to communicate when you have trouble.
It really depends on how bad you want it, and you have to have confidence in yourself at all times!
Have you completed any internship? If so tell us your experience.
Not yet, but I've been dreaming of an Internship with Nasty Gal in LA, for as long as I can remember. I also recommend you read her book #GirlBoss
What exactly do you want to get into within the fashion industry?
Trend Forecasting, Buying or Product Development.
Advice to anyone else who wants to study FTM?
Commit and surround yourself with inspiration. Hang out in a fashionable environment, connect with brands and bloggers through social media and stay up to date with trends.
Quick foxy five
I’m currently insta-stalking……..
benbiayenda - sickest art and style
If I could go on a holiday I’d go to…….
Feeling Venice- Italy right now
I never leave the home without my…..
A different pair of sunglasses every day. It's a bit ridiculous but it's my "thing" lol
My first pet…
A little blue Russian kitten who I named Pearl (my best friend)
Favourite brand?
At the moment... Gucci and Vetements!