Katrin park

Fashion School (what to expect)

Everyone wants to go into fashion school these days. Here’s a little summary of my experiences in fashion school, in DESIGN..

#1: It’s not easy: As with most things in life. The workload, the effort, the paranoia.. if you’re a lazy 24/7 party gurl, perhaps you might wanna rethink your life’s choices lol.

#2: Sleep: Ever wanted to watch the sunrise? Ye, you can’t get enough of it. There’s always something to do. Especially from the start, it’s like every 10 things you clear, 12 new ones surface. Photography takes time, conceptualization takes time, experimentations take time, making samples take time.. you don’t have time for anything else really. Especially if you’re just learning it, schools usually do a crash course of everything, giving you even lesser time for the mentioned. Also, everyone differs greatly. It depends how you manage yourself and your work. Some designs take more time to complete, others require certain elements, etc. You have to work smart in this sense. If you’re getting enough sleep, you’re not doing it right.

#3: Originality: Anyone can conceptualise a dress of 10000 dyed ostrich feathers with a brocaded top bustier. It’s hard to stay alive in school if you do what everyone else is doing. Even some of my teachers have orally confessed how they can’t focus on everyone. They focus on the best and just help the others as much as possible. Also, you often find people copying each other, not necessarily always intendedly but also maybe unconsciously. It’s your role to be true to yourself and be conceptually strong enough to not be diluted and devalued.

#4: Sewing isn’t everything: You have to know how to sew and draft of course. But as far as sewing goes, you have to know everything, but you don’t have to do it very well. From experience from my internship and all, in the real world, people outsource. The textile students in the degree programme in my school don’t actually draft or sew. If you had to choose, you’d be better off having conceptual prowess than knowing how to do a perfect roll hem.

#5: Drawing makes a difference: Like sewing really, you don’t have to do it well. But beyond just a skill, drawing gives you an advantage. Being able to visually represent yourself is important. Besides, who doesn’t like a nice drawing. Drawing can be improved. I mean have you actually seen my old drawings..? Ya, what the fuck. In school I feel like visually process is more important than final product. Practice is good, and while you practice drawing, churn out some amazing concepts.

My first fashion illustration for 2014