Business of Fall Fashion 2015

MONEY MATTERS
LIFE AFTER
DESIGN
SCHOOL
Written by Caity Shreve | Photographs by Robert Silver
“What am I going to do when I graduate?”
This is one of the main concerns
facing graduates in today’s
increasingly challenging job market.
What was once a simple college-tocareer
transition has become filled
with obstacles in recent years. From a
reduction in the number of new jobs
available to a decrease in the growth
of certain industries—there’s a great
deal of strategy required in order
to find, and retain, a worthwhile
position today.
This is why Fashion Xchange Magazine was
especially thrilled to sit down with designer,
mentor, and Fashion Incubator SF Executive
Director, Jeanne Allen. Not only does she have
a background in design and the valuable
experience of having launched her own
business to bring to our readers, but as a
member of the CFDA and an author, she’s taken
her vast expertise and learned how to convey
those lessons to a rapt audience.
Coming out of an undergraduate program or
an arts school and looking toward a future
in the fashion industry can be a daunting
54 | Business of Fall Fashion Issue | Fashion Xchange Magazine
prospect. How can you make yourself stand out
to potential employers? How can you gain the
experiences that you need to succeed? What
types of classes and extracurricular activities can
help you meet those goals?
Allen suggests a three-pronged approach to not
only get the most of your time in school, but
to ensure that you’re creating a diverse resume
and getting the necessary experiences in order
to prepare yourself.
First, she suggests that you “take every
opportunity to get exposure to different
aspects of the fashion industry. Seek out varied
internships, volunteer opportunities, check all
the fashion school message boards, reach out
and express your willingness to volunteer with
specific fashion organizations (like FiSF), then
show up on time and do a good job. You don’t
really know what area of fashion is most suitable
until you have tested the waters.”
Her second recommendation is that you
spend time working retail; it’s essential to
understanding and respecting your customers.
That kind of on-the-ground experience is
invaluable if you plan to create your own
designs or launch a business, as you must
understand who you’re creating products for