Jade-Leigh Penny

Jade is currently completing a placement year working as a fashion design intern for Zero Degree Fashion who design and supply clothing for many fast fashion retailers. Here she shares her insight and experience of working in this sector and her achievements to date within the fast fashion industry. She has already been offered part time work when she returns to university in September and secured a full time role on graduation. 

The role

My job role involves trend forecasting using WGSN, CAD design, fabric selection, putting together technical specification packs to send to the factories, attending customer meetings, looking after the sampling system, updating the sample trackers, communicating daily with the buyers of the brands that I am designing for, sending out samples to the customers, occasional measuring of samples against their graded specifications for quality control.

Key responsibilities

Missguided’s brand account is my main focus, which I research trends and put trend packs together for the buyers and then design capsules based on these trend packs. I communicate effectively with several of their departments and put into work any designs that they ask to be sampled, with the factories through putting together specification packs. Through this process I update the sampling system with any new samples as well as marking off the samples that have come into the office and get them packaged and sent to the buyers at Missguided’s headquarters.

Achievements to date

Several of my designs have now been sold online at Missguided, one of which sold out within two weeks of going online; this was potentially my proudest moment during my time on placement. I have also managed to get some of my Missguided designs booked to go online at ASOS and ZALANDO later on this year, as well as some of my designs for Pretty Little Thing and Warehouse which are also set to go online within the coming months.
I have worked on nightwear projects for Missguided for both Christmas 21 and Spring/Summer 22, which I am also proud of. I have digitally drawn and created my own graphics and prints for these, which has developed my CAD skills as well as noticing that nightwear is a newfound interest of mine, which I have never explored before. I am also proud of my woven occasion wear designs; I found that the occasion wear projects that I have worked on are more exciting than the casualwear, jersey design projects. I have identified that occasion wear is what I am best at and what I would like to pursue.

Most challenging part of your role 

For me, the most challenging part of my placement was the limited face-to-face contact with the buyers of the brands that I was working with due to COVID-19. I found it difficult at times to adjust to the pandemic as the majority of communication was through email; I only had the opportunity to attend two meetings, one with Oasis at our office and the other with Missguided at their HQ.

Learnings from your placement
I have been given an insight to what it is like to work within the fast fashion industry; I have learnt that design is definitely the sector of the fashion industry that I want to work in. Whilst on placement I have been exposed to and learnt about the other roles within the industry, including garment technology, buying and merchandising. From this I have learnt the importance of the relationship between the buyers and designers in order to fulfil consumer’s needs.

Advice to future students considering a placement year
Undertaking a work placement is a great opportunity to put your academic learning and skills into practice in a work-based environment. It is a long and stressful journey to find and secure a placement and may seem easy to give up, but it is worth it. Don’t underestimate your abilities and use the skills you have learnt through the Industry/Synergy project during second year and apply these during interviews and applications. Always show positive enthusiasm and passion when talking about / presenting your work and do your research on the brand / company you are applying to and apply to as many as you can. Being on placement gives you fist-hand experience of the industry, and the opportunity to make contacts whilst developing your skills and building confidence. The placement year also gives you a years’ worth of industry experience to add to your CV before graduating, which can improve your chances of securing a job after graduation, either with the company you completed your placement with or elsewhere. The experience from working within the industry adds to the knowledge and skills that are taught in university: combined, both have been vital in my journey as a designer. I believe that this experience has prepared me for my final year of university and for my future career within the fashion industry.

Plans for the future
I will definitely be aiming to continue my career as a womenswear designer and work my way up within fast fashion. I have already been offered part time work with my placement provider alongside my final year of university, as well as full-time employment after graduation.