Leather and Cake.

It has to be said, at Preen we eat a lot of cake. It always seems to be someones birthday/ last day before their maternity leave starts or other undisclosed celebratory day and although half the studio could be fit models, (Preen's standard woman is 5'10''and a size 8) we all seem to be constantly nibbling on chocolate and treats!
The hierarchy at Preen is an interesting one: Justin and Thea are the big dogs, the founders and designers/creators of the entire Preen fashion brand. Next there is Julie, she is head designer for Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. This is the main and first fashion line and is shown at London Fashion Week every season. Next there is Justyna who fronts Preen Line, a diffusion brand that's slightly more edgy than the main line with more punky, youthful elements. She is lovely! In addition, on a good day there are nine of us interns, two seamstresses and one pattern cutter who work upstairs and the entire production/sales team who sit downstairs. Quite a full house!

I haven't worked much with leather in the past but this week I was asked by Justyna to do some sampling for the new collection - I created various tessellating shapes in different patches.  It was really good to work with something slightly different, I think the most difficult part was getting the stitching perfect the first time around as when you sew leather it permanently punctures the hide and there is no way to undo it! I finished the edges with glue, I thought it sounded crazy when I was told to do it but it actually gives a really successful finish.
I also helped organise the Preen archive - we packed away lots of the old collections for storage, such a mammoth task considering Preen's incredible history but it was amazing to go through the garments and see where the brand came from. It was a really good week.

Starting at Preen

After taking a few days to breathe after the Simone Rocha show I made my way across town all the way West to start work with Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. The Preen story is one of my favourites: Justin and Thea met when they were 18 and came together as a design team and a couple a few years later. They then went on to create Preen Line and also Mini Preen; every fashion designer needs a off-shoot line to dress their kids in, right?

I found out at my interview that 80% or more of Preen's manufacturing happens in house. I was really pleased as it would mean I would get to practice completely different skills to those I had at Simone Rocha.
In this first week I was amazed at how much I had already learnt/ brushed up on. I was taught about correct cutting techniques for different fabrics and how to cut fine fabrics through paper; the interns must cut out all the fabrics for final garments, ready for the in-house seamstresses to sew them together. It's the small things that make such a big difference and I really felt myself improve as the week came to a close.
I was also asked to toile a bomber jacket for one of the head designers and it was nice to be complimented by her and one of the other seamstresses when I'd finished. In addition to toiling, pattern cutting is another main task area the interns at Preen focus on. By the end of my internship I imagine I'm going to be great at making and tracing patterns!

Working seven day weeks is killing me but I am thoroughly enjoying doing something technical and improving on skill sets which will be invaluable when undertaking my final collection.

 

Simone Rocha Show

It seems like forever ago that LFW took place but I was thinking about what a great experience doing the Simone Rocha show was and wanted to share some moments and pictures:

With the show being on the last day of fashion week, we were working some pretty late nights in the run up. Sustenance was key and the sushi and pizza was shipped in by the truck load. Not to mention the countless cookies and packets of popcorn and jelly sweets... and they say fashion don't eat!

Backstage at the show the energy was electric. I remember we were constantly on our knees, frantically straightening seams of stockings! Luckily there weren't many changes and everything went ahead without fault. We were even blessed with a special visit from Anna Wintour herself who congratulated Simone on her work. The hair also has to be mentioned - beautiful tousled cascading plaits, haphazardly intertwining. It was romantic but strong.

    

 Overall I am really grateful for the opportunity to work with the Simone Rocha team. I had an amazing time and I will take a great deal away from it. The highlights for me were being given the responsibility of creating the headbands for the show and also learning to crochet, two fabulous experiences amongst many more which I will not forget.
Next stop: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

New Places I like.

I've was out and about a fair bit last week for Simone Rocha; working every day is definitely not something I'd want to do forever but being this busy has allowed me to learn and discover so many new things in a short space of time, this week was no exception.

When you're interning a main part of your responsibilities is to carry out errands for everyone who is higher than you. Unfortunately this is normally everybody. Errands can range from an emergency carton of Vita Coco to the fabric for next season and then, every now and again you get sent somewhere wonderful you have never been before but certainly will frequent again. Mine was Loop, a knitting shop in Angel. There's a bell that rings as you enter, comfy kitsch sofas and poofs upstairs and yarn in every colour imaginable from floor to ceiling. They also apparently do knitting classes, if anyone's check them out here http://www.loopknitting.com/

My second discovery was Inamo in Soho. After a long day at work, refueling is always necessary. So why not do it with good friends, ordering great oriental food from an interactive menu on the table?

 Another newbie for me was the Laduree tearooms in Covent Garden. Marie Antoinette eat your heart out. Seriously. Everyone needs to go at least once to sit in the tasselled, mint green love seats, sample the macarons and drink Caramel tea out of fine bone china. We then ended up at the Box- It was a unique choice of pre-drink and will most certainly be returning.
 http://www.laduree.com/fr_fr/

Lastly on no sleep I dragged myself to the Tate Late at the Tate Britain. Although the Tate is definitely not new to me I have never managed to get myself to one of their events until now. I felt that an appearance was necessary as a talented DJ friend of mine (https://www.facebook.com/alfmusicuk) had created the music which was playing in the '1840's GIF Party' room. Digital artists and members of the public alike where invited to submit GIFs or moving images of paintings from that room. Really great night. http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/film/late-tate-britain-february-2014

Crochet and Chinchillas

Something I always enjoy doing is learning something new, especially when it comes to internships. Working for free is a tuff'un but if you are constantly learning on the job, whether that be directly from a colleague or challenging your eyes to wander and absorb every morsel of information you see, it is definitely worth it in the long run. And this week I learnt to crochet. Although I have experimented with hand knit from an early age by way of Grandma Margaret, and had a project on embellishment and machine knit last year at uni, my knowledge of crochet was, well if I'm honest, zero.
Again I am unable to disclose anything noteworthy but lets just say you can learn A LOT in a day or two. By the end of the week it was joked I had passed "Crochet Level 1" and "Crochet Level 2" and was working on embellishments for the collection. Fun fun fun



A cute thing: one of the textile girls brought her pet chinchilla in for a couple of days, everyone was obsessed so she has to write a note on her cage saying "Don't move her. She is Sleeping"



There is also definitely a slight food war going on. Tesco meal deals are a thing of the past, cast out by novelties such as Marks and Spencer chunky soups and olive bread, Asian noodle soups with dumplings and fish balls or homemade roast Mediterranean vegetables, halloumi and couscous. The omnipresent phrases around the lunch table are "Mmm...What you eating?" and "That looks good...Can I try some?"

I made this!

Although everyone still remains cheerful and bubbly this week at the studio, a slight stirring of the stomachs and quickening of feet inside the signature perspex heeled brogues has occurred: Fashion Week looms ever closer.

Simone Rocha

SO recently I started an internship at Simone Rocha. Seeing last seasons show up on style.com last LFW I have been keeping myself updated with the brand and eventually decided I wanted to spend some time working with the design team and really find out what was going on behind the scenes.
Luckily they said Yes.

S/S 14
Credit: simonerocha.com 

A/W 13
Credit: simonerocha.com

As we are currently prepping the new collection for Fashion Week, I can't post photos of anything important what so ever, especially things we are working on but EVERYONE should be excited. I've been doing loads of ******* and some *********. I'm super looking forward to the ***** ******** and hopefully we will be finished with that soon. Definitely a lot of **** ******* involved but it will look stunning once we've got it all done.

JUST THOUGHT I'D TEASE YOU ALL ROTTEN.

The team are all great as well, really nice girls and because there aren't many of us interns I have the opportunity to work with textiles (even though I am officially design) which is something I am very interested in at the moment. Don't worry, I'm not thinking career path change but definitely a small sideways avenue off the main road might be necessary!

I will keep updating (or not updating) you with any funnies and points of interest I collect on the way -- for example I have to mention how lovely Simone is, really chilled out and friendly. I keep bumping into her in the kitchen when we're packing up, she told me the other day she was off home to cook dinner for all her friends, top lady. 

Ming Pin Tien

Recently I interned for a brilliant designer called Ming. I applied over summer as although I had a job I wanted to gain some experience working in a design studio. The team was small and this was ideal for me as I wanted to have a hands on role, learning as much as I could by actually doing.
Ming went to LCF completing his womenswear MA in 2012, he then went on to set up his own label. My main role was pattern cutting - I traced off, altered and finished patterns as well as toiling some of the designs for his most recent collection entitled: "I will Follow You into the Dark".
I learnt a lot being a part of the friendly hardworking atmosphere of Ming's studio, it was a great experience and I am excited to start another placement as part of my course, starting in January - I will keep you all updated.

Check out Ming here:
http://www.mingpintien.com/
https://twitter.com/MingPinTien
http://instagram.com/mingpintien/

And a few photos from the lookbook shoot...