Miho Ara

The Course 

I studied BA (Hons) Fashion and it was at the start of second year that my tutors suggested I study menswear, which was the best decision for me and incredibly valuable for me to start my career in fashion. Throughout our course I gained useful skills to be able to perform quickly in the industry and to keep calm when under a lot of pressure. I think the fast paced nature of the course meant that in industry I was already used to that way of working.

Industry Placement/Internship

I was given the opportunity to work and study in China during the second year, this not only provided me with the research to complete my final project but also taught me to adapt to new work environments and become more independent. There were ten of us that travelled from my course and we all studied at the Ningbo Fashion University then split off to do different work internships. It definitely helped me secure my first job and I would encourage other students to do an internship too.

Study Support

The support on my course was really good, during my final year my tutor really understood my strengths and weaknesses and pushed me to work harder every week. It was great to work with someone currently working in the industry and learn from them where I wanted my career to go after university.

After Graduation

During my final year we were encouraged to enter many competitions and scholarships and it was through these I secured my first job interning at Topman with their design team. On graduation I became a Junior Designer there working predominantly on the leisurewear department. It’s fast paced and can be very challenging at times but I work with an amazing team who I am learning from everyday. They give me a lot of responsibility in my role, which is great for my development and career progression.

Advice for Future Fashion Graduates

The main advice I would give current students is to just try and experience as much as possible, whether it be entering competitions, internships or learning new skills with the facilities at university. This will really set you apart from other candidates!

Miho Ara is now working as a Junior Designer at Topman, Asos.