International Fashion Promotion benefits from industry links

STUDENTS at Hollings will benefit from the faculty’s close ties with industry after it was announced they could win a competition to bag an internship at one of the country’s top fashion brands.

Students on the University’s new International Fashion Promotion degree, which was developed in collaboration with industry partners, could win an internship at Boohoo.com, one of the most successful online retailers in the country.

Carly Wraeg, Programme Leader for International Fashion Promotion, said: “During the process of developing BA (Hons) International Fashion Promotion, our relationship with Boohoo was further enhanced.

“The company already accepts a large number of Department of Apparel students onto their placement programme and an innovative idea was generated to allow students on the course to ‘win’ a placement.”

Creative and business flair

Carly continued: “This four stage competition, incorporating portfolios, film, assessment centre and photo shoot will allow the students to demonstrate their creative flair and business acumen. It is hoped that more initiatives such as this can be developed with our other industry partners in the future.”

The course has been designed in four different streams to ensure balance between business and creativity – theory, industry, the creative and practical aspects and academic and professional practice.

The approach has been praised by people working in the fashion industry, who have been particularly impressed by the focus on digital and multi-channel promotion, and the international approach taken.

And it has been a huge success – the course received more than 400 applications for just under 150 available places, and other industry partners are clamouring to get involved in live projects, workshops and talks.