Freelance Designer!

My university have set up a mentor scheme for the third years - I got a knitwear freelance designer who is helping me get experience in the knitwear industry. She has been knitting swatches for a swatching company and has let me assist by printing onto samples she has knitted on.

This means that they employ some free lance designers and give them a direction they want to go in. Then the designers will knit lots of mini samples of top fronts and sends them to the company. The swatching company then go out and try and sell the designs to companies. When they buy the designs it belongs to them and not the designer any more =[ they can then change anything they like about the design - e.g. the colour. The designer then cant use the images of the designs in any other projects but can keep images for themselves for future reference.

The designer will get paid once for the design and then the company can keep all the profits made when the sample is created into garments.
It's a sad world for designers but great experience for me!
My designers are in London and will go to New York aswell! Great =]

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Marketing Plan

Wahhh! I've been writing this marketing plan for uni for about 9 weeks. We have to make up a business plan (a bit like the apprentice) and type it up as though we were going to hand it into a Bank manager.
I've based mine on up-cycling jumpers and then selling them at an extortionate amount... it's fine as long as you've got the research to back it up and to show people will buy it.
The hand in is in 2 weeks which is a bit scary but I want it finished with now! I love this new project we're doing at the minute - I love my muted/vintage colour palette and the designs I've made.
I wish I could put pictures up but I might get selected :P who knows?

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YE Guild

My buisness card...

I am very happy right now! The Young Embroiderers Guild have increased the membership age from 18 to 24! I can join again for only £10 a year - great news for us students!
I have been asked to give a small interview and will feature on the front cover of their new magazine! Its great to share my knowledge with younger YE members and hopefully I will inspire them to take their hobby and talent further!
Also what's going on with my "career" prospects I have been doing some free lance designing with my mentor at uni. She knits samples (like small jumper fronts) and I print on them. They have just been sent of the London and then hopefully New York. Clients will then by the samples (fingers crossed!) and use it as a basis for the collections.
At the end of March I also will be exhibiting my work in Hawick very scary!!! But exciting as it might get me some connections in the textile industry...

Doing a really amazing project with a company called "Tiger Print" (they design cards etc for M&S) we have to design wrapping paper and gift bags - and we can choose whatever we like! I'm doing a lace/wedding theme.

Picture of the archive lace we have at uni

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