Creative HEAD UK April 2020

#TheItList
THE FASHIONISTA
TOM GILLING
ADAM REED LONDON
Photography by Ki Price
COMBINING SESSION WORK with salon life can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge
that Tom Gilling has risen to, after judges named him The It List Fashionista. Now
juggling life behind the chair in Adam Reed’s new London salon with fashion shows
and TV programmes, Tom shows what’s possible in the hairdressing industry today.
He secured a spot assisting session stylist Samantha Hillerby, whom he worked
with for two years. “I was 23 when I started to assist Samantha. It was my first year in
London as an independent stylist,” says Tom. “I learnt the fundamentals of preparing a
huge kit, and I was looking to learn everything I possibly could to gain an insight for in
the future.” Learning from such a renowned hairdresser was an invaluable experience
for Tom, who found himself tending to the hair of top models. “Samantha taught me
how to build self-discipline as a freelancer,” says Tom. “I was also blessed to be part of
editorials with Jourdan Dunn for Dazed and a Thomas Sabo campaign with Georgia
May Jagger. It was one of the most enjoyable moments of my career and we shot with
Ellen Von Unwerth, who is such a funny and charismatic photographer.”
After assisting Samantha, Tom decided to broaden his horizons and reached out to
other artists including 2019 Most Wanted Session Stylist Anthony Turner, Rudi Lewis,
Yannick D’Is and Shay Ashual. His gamble paid off – Tom found himself assisting
Shay Ashual doing Kendall Jenner’s hair for US Vogue. He was also selected to assist
backstage at Erdem, JW Anderson and Dior Homme. And it’s not just high fashion that
Tom can turn his hand to. When the E4 makeover show My Hotter Half launched, Tom
was asked to become the featured hairstylist. “It was a great overall experience and
working under incredible time pressures to achieve a makeover was definitely a new
way of working.”
His base in East London has enabled him to collaborate with other artists and make
connections that have opened up many opportunities. “I have developed a network of
colleagues and photographers in my spare time,” he says. “I have been able to work
with some cool, down-to-earth artists in music, film and modelling.”
Having first entered The It List eight years ago, it was a huge moment for Tom to
take home an award. “It made everything feel worth it – the months and years of being
broke, working for free or very little just made it all worthwhile. Plus creating my entry
made me reflect on all of the work I’ve been part of. It was a massive confidence boost.”
CREATIVE HEAD
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