As the fashion industry or should I say the apparel industry is widely seen as being at the forefront of the globalisation spear. Why is it that this ‘beast’ know as economic migration cannot nurture its young? There are now more fashion photography students studying within the UK than is actually needed throughout the entire EU.

Fashion related courses are seeing numbers increase year on year, like a giant waiting pool, before theses fashion flounder fish go into the murky shark invested waters of ‘FASHION’!!!

The skills for business organisation Skillfast- UK aims to lobby MP’s “to make them put pressure on universities to act on employer skills requirements” one of many targets that Skillfasts-UK are aiming for.

Are universities spoon feeding or should I say bucket feeding under grads ‘hope’? Hope that there is work out there, when there is simply not with the skill they posses.

I constantly meet designers and garment techs, who say “all of these graduates don’t know how to pattern cut”!

I set out to find out what university lecturers feel about this apparent slander on their teaching. I approached several lecturers from the big three universities in Manchester, but before I could draw breathe for my first question the iron shutter fell.  I could only get one teacher to spill the academic beans on this issue.

Roy Chilvers of Salford University head of Future Designs explains “Industry professionals should be able to give students the opportunities to gain the necessary experience. We can never know exactly what is required in the industry.”

At the other end of the spectrum employers had much to say on the issue

“Universities aren’t equipping students with the right techniques; often we find students are coming in with stupid techniques, ways they have been taught to cut corners instead of doing it properly to produce quality garments.”

Hannah Percy, Rags to Bitches

Yet in reality it takes great talent and good deal of hard work to succeed.  That’s why so many graduates end up sourcing textiles and making basic lines for huge corporate brands.

William Hayward, All Saints

Is this just another excuse for people to slate students and keep them in university for another year. Although some companies invest in students such as River Island, who have recently take on two under graduates to design a Spring/Summer range. The truth is in the majority, employers goals post do change seven years ago when I was at University, they wanted students to know all about Gerber and CAD, now some companies want pattern cutting, but is that not what happens, the industry changes and students should move with it.

When Alexa Chung was unveiled as the face of high street retailer, New Look’s SS09 campaign, I was, admittedly, a bit saddened and shocked.
Existing as actually quite funny and intelligent in comparison to her ‘it’ girl counterparts – note, no flighty marriage, fruit or fairy inspired name, or (publicised) drug scandal – Chung has not only racked up a rather impressive CV of late (with her secured slot as the fourth anchor on T4, co-hosting Frock Me with Henry Holland, and landing the role of roving reporter for Gok’s Fashion Fix to name but a few) but she has also established herself as a firm favourite in the fashion stakes.
The epitome of British Dressing – if its not brogues its ankle boots teamed with gangly legs, or long pendants and quirky dresses – Chung herself is a must-have in the fashion world. So why then sign a deal with New Look?
Money may have something to do with it, but I always thought if Chung was going to front a campaign for a high street retailer, it would be Toppers through and through. Not following in the footsteps of Lilly Allen.
Indeed, Miss Allen emerged from her collaboration with New Look not only unscathed, but admittedly, a bit better for it. But this was down to the fact that the campaign launched when Lilly was still all that is gold and trainers, before she went on to fashion show front row. But the niggling point is that Chung is already there, which begs the question, is this fashion progression or regression for Alexa Chung?

After reading Roger Wades, founder of Boxfresh column in last week Drapers, I wanted to pose a question. But first let me round up his points, Roger explained that we are seeing the “shrinking of the independent market”. Something that will come as no surprise to any of you, however Roger then goes on to explain how this is due to increased competition in the form of high street retailer such as Topshop. And finally the Drapers columnist divulges that independents are stocking too much of the same product as bigger retailers and that “indies must be brave and stock exciting lines”
Whilst I don’t disagree that by their very nature independents should be a hub for all things new, innovative and up most exclusive, times are changing! In my eyes the larger retailers have always been there to compete with, it has been down to the ‘indie’ to buy in the more exclusive product lines to maintain the competitive edge. However my question is, as socio- political times change and we come to see a more economically driven fashion culture, do we even need independents are they just taking up space in the valuable cool areas of town, where we could stick a boutique coffee shop? What’s wrong with shopping in Primark?

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