Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) is a hive of creativity, innovation, and future fashion figures. As a first-year BA (Hons) Fashion student at AUB, I had the opportunity to work as a member of the catwalk production team for the week. This was an incredibly exciting and invaluable learning experience.
My role involved setting up exhibition spaces under the direction of Luka Dijan, our team leader, with one other team member. My tasks included dressing mannequins, managing garment storage and supporting Luka in the catwalk hall – resetting the space between shows and assisting with seating arrangements. At the end of the event, we repacked all the garments in an organised manner.
During GFW, I was exposed to a variety of different pieces from a range of students and universities. The extreme contrast between the designs was incredibly interesting, and I found the level of skill and effort that had gone into each piece very inspiring.
Luka helped us through the busy and high-pressure environment and his expertise was extremely helpful and taught me a lot. I worked with other students, those interested in fashion, models, and other professionals, as well as the up-and-coming student designers. This diverse group of people provided a fun, interesting and rich learning environment, with everyone having unique skills and perspectives. Working with such a variety of people allowed me to observe different approaches to problem-solving and teamwork.
The experience at GFW showed me the practical aspects of catwalk production and I developed and improved many key skills:
- Event planning and execution: Through this experience, I gained a lot of knowledge about event planning and the creation of large events and spaces.
- Adaptability: The fast-paced show meant that plans were constantly changing. I learned to think on my feet and adapt to an unpredictable environment, finding quick solutions to unexpected problems.
- Time management: With multiple shows happening back-to-back, managing time efficiently was crucial and this experience taught me how to prioritise tasks and work within tight timeframes.
- Attention to detail: Ensuring every detail of the outfits and their presentation was perfect, meaning I had to notice even the smallest flaws.
- Communication: Clear and effective communication with team members, designers, and models was vital in the exchange of garments for drop-off, collection and taking garments to and from the exhibition spaces for judging. I learned to convey information quickly and clearly, reducing the risk of misunderstandings.
Participating in GFW as a first-year was a fantastic, unforgettable experience that changed my perspective as a Fashion student. It provided a real-world glimpse of the fashion industry, a great source of inspiration, and I feel this experience reinforced my passion for fashion and commitment to pursuing a career in this field. It showed me the hard work and creativity needed to create a successful fashion show, for which I am incredibly grateful.
As I move into my second year, I feel more confident in my abilities and more prepared for the challenges ahead. The experience has also encouraged me to explore other areas of fashion production and design. I am eager to contribute to more fashion events in the future.
