Fashion Designer All Over the Workplace

We push our rookies hard. They see the good...

How cool is this?

..the bad... Ew!

..and the downright astonishing.

We give them glamour...

..show them excitement,

get their hands dirty, put them under pressure...

Oh, no.

..make them laugh.

All because they want to experience their dream jobs.

Today's rookies have got their sights set on becoming

iconic fashion designers.

But have they got what it takes to be top trendsetters?

Let's find out, as we go...

All Over The Workplace!

Alex, pay attention, work the camera!

I am working it.

Pull on your pumps, slip on a sarong and settle back,

as we enter the super glamorous universe of fashion design.

First onto the runway is...

Yellow is my favourite colour.

As you can see, my hair band and my top.

I wear lots and lots of yellow.

I think I will make a good fashion designer, because I do cope well

under pressure, and I do take in other people's ideas

and I take in constructive criticism well.

Next up is...

I think the great thing about fashion design

is that you will design clothes which no-one will have,

they will be unique to your style.

I get the inspiration from the world around me, ever since I read

this quote from Coco Chanel that fashion isn't just in

dresses and T-shirts, it is in the sky and the world around you.

Dylan and Izzy have been whisked to London,

capital of the British fashion industry,

and starting point for many budding fashion designers.

Wow, look at that view!

Welcome to London, one of the fashion capitals of the world.

So, Dylan, why do you want to be a fashion designer?

Once I was watching Strictly Come Dancing,

and Julien Macdonald was there, so I thought I'd give it a try.

And, Izzy, why do you want to be a fashion designer?

It's because it is quite a nice industry where you can be creative.

And have you done any of your own fashion designs?

I do them for my dog.

For your dog? Yeah. So you want to be a dog fashion designer?

Or women's as well, a mixture.

Dylan, do you do your own designs?

I usually match my outfits a lot.

I will come downstairs and my mum will be like, "Ooh!"

This is what your mum and dad think.

I think Izzy is very creative.

So I think she, she has got a good eye for...

She's very good at drawing, very meticulous,

she is good at putting colours together.

I think she's very good at fine detail.

I think Izzy may struggle with sizing up the dog's type clothes

to work for an adult.

I do try and offer fashion advice,

but he has his own fashion and he has his own style,

so he doesn't necessarily take it or accept it.

Which can cause a few arguments.

Izzy, your parents think you might

struggle to do designs for human beings

as opposed to dogs.

Well, I think I can adapt.

Remember, people have two legs and two arms, not four legs, like a dog.

Just keep that in mind. And, Dylan, you like giving out criticism,

but you don't like taking it.

This is a creative business, you're going to get criticism.

How you going to cope with that?

I have millions of ideas,

so I could change it to make it adapt to what people like.

In the punk era, zips, safety pins and ripped jeans

exploded onto the fashion scene,

when designers like Vivienne Westwood

broke all the rules.

Fashion has come full circle, as ripped jeans are back in vogue.

Back in the 1860s,

dresses were so wide that women often got stuck in doorways.

Too bad if there was a queue for the toilet.

Ever wondered why men have buttons sewn on their jacket sleeves?

Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor and part-time fashion designer,

decided to order buttons to be sewn onto soldiers' sleeves to stop them

wiping their snotty noses onto them.

NOSE BLOWS Blurgh!

OK, rookies, we are here at the London College of Fashion,

where you're going to be set your first assignment.

Have you got your best catwalk walk ready?

Yeah. OK, go for it!

Based in Central London,

the London College of Fashion has a reputation for producing top

designers. Today, the rookies are here to meet...

She is an expert in pattern cutting and technical innovation,

and has worked with some of the biggest brands in the business,

including Levi, Puma, and Berghaus.

Claudine, what would your three top tips be

for someone who wants to become a fashion designer?

I would suggest, number one is to be curious, because it is all about you

expressing your vision and your take on it,

not somebody else's.

Secondly, I would say you need to be kind.

The industry is all about working with people.

On a day-to-day basis, you are relying on people working with you,

and you need to be a really good communicator,

and also be kind to the environment.

Because as designers of the future,

you're going to be thinking about what resources are available to you,

and also what message you are going to get across.

And finally I would suggest you need to be brave.

Be brave to try out new ideas.

Make mistakes, and if it fails, it fails,

but you will have learnt so much from that lesson.

Claudine's top tips are...

OK, Claudine, can you tell us

what our rookies' assignment is going to be?

You are going to experience the design process from idea to make, so

that your garments will be showcased at Oxford Fashion Week on a catwalk.

THEY GASP Wow! How do you feel?

It's just amazing. I'm gobsmacked!

My three top tips would be firstly, do your own designs,

don't copy anybody else.

The whole point of it is that you have something to say in the way you

design dresses and garments, so it is really,

really important that your personality comes through.

The next thing would be you have to work really, really hard.

It is not glamorous, and it is not full of celebrities. Bits of it are,

but not very much.

And you have to work really, really, really hard.

The third thing is you have to enjoy it,

because it is the most brilliant thing to do.

If you're passionate about clothes, just enjoy them.

So, the rookies have just found out that they have got to design an

outfit to be showcased on the actual catwalk at Oxford Fashion Week.

They'd better get to work!

Right, what's first?

Research. One of the important pages for you to develop is a mood board.

What that does is put together all of your sources of inspiration.

You are going to be looking at some books and maybe look at different

shapes. You might start doing some drawings of different things

that you like, and together,

that gives you an overall look to communicate your idea.

You have got to think about, this is going to be on a catwalk.

We're not going down the shops,

you have got to create your bold statement.

OK? So, what would you say your bold statement is?

Safari!

Safari?

Wow, safari.

And neon colours and bows.

Neon colours and bows?

I love that!

Look at this page of bows.

Oh, wow.

I think we need to put a marker on that.

I like this coat.

I think it matches really nicely with the khaki.

Yeah, there's all leopard spots on there.

But there are other patterns as well.

After a brilliant session looking for inspiration,

Izzy and Dylan are about to search through some garments to upcycle as

part of their own designs.

Whoa! Hey! Whoa!

This is like the best time ever.

Tropical scarf!

I love yellow!

I think that's pretty, like a neon, who has got the neon theme?

Sharing is caring, remember the top three?

Be kind. OK, so now you've selected your fabrics and garments,

we can look at how that will work in

with your themes from your mood board,

OK? So we will take that over,

and from that, we can start doing some drawings,

thinking about the balance of colours you want,

and then we're going to start working on the stand

and really thinking about the shapes you want to create.

Is this, like, a totally different way

of doing it than you would normally at home?

Yeah, cos I usually will go out into, like, town with my mum,

and I will see something that will inspire me.

But with the mood board and all the magazines, it's different.

Yeah, the same, I normally just look around and see what inspires me.

I don't usually make a mood board.

Does it help? Yeah.

It does, yeah.

That looks great. Thank you.

You've really captured all the colours from your theme.

Dylan?

Tell you what's really nice is how you have gone to different shapes.

Yours is going to be big and flowing,

and yours is going to be short with a long coat.

After creating their mood boards, choosing fabrics,

and finally drawing their designs, it is time to bring them to life.

Fashion students Cherise and Dominic are here to lend a hand.

Maybe that needs to be shorter?

Cos that's good there.

Yeah, you like this sort of length.

But then it needs to go a bit higher. OK.

Why don't we create some skweggings?

OK, cos obviously you like the idea of the leggings, and the skirt,

so we're going to combine them, half and half?

Yeah. The...skweggings!

We can turn this into like a sleeve, and it's like a sleeve on one side.

Yeah, that would look nice as well.

Shall we focus on the skweggings first?

It is coming together.

Yeah, so now we need to make it a bit more shaped.

What did you study at school to get here?

For my GCSEs I did art, and then for A-levels, I did textiles. Hmm!

And it wasn't very popular at my school,

but where I always knew I wanted to be a fashion designer,

I kept pursuing that career.

The sleeve is working really well, it is cool how the...

You have got the lace in the sleeve, and on the ruffle matching.

It's nice.

This has gone in a creative direction,

how does it relate to your design idea, though?

You're coming up with loads of exciting ideas,

but it is always good to keep a focus.

Yeah. So, yeah, the sleeve is on.

How do you think that we have developed

from your original designs?

It looks practically the same...

Nice. We just haven't put the ribbons on yet.

There's quite a bit of work left to do,

do you think you're going to have enough time to pull it all together

in time for the fashion show?

We probably will.

Probably. A lot of work, hard work.

It is hard work.

I never thought, at my age,

to have a piece of my own work on a fashion show.

Having my outfit modelled at Oxford Fashion Week

is going to be amazing.

I am pleased where I am at the minute,

and am looking forward to adding the final pieces.

Izzy, you've translated your ideas really well with how you selected

the fabrics, you really stuck to your team.

Dylan, on paper, you had a really clear idea set out,

you had a lovely silhouette,

really good mix of textures and colours,

but then you started to lose focus and started to want everything.

To be a good designer, you really need to really maintain that focus

to stick to your original idea.

Giles Deacon is an accomplished designer who presented his first

collection in 2004.

The same year, he was named best new designer.

He has since won many more awards, and has a big celebrity following,

including Lily Allen, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett.

Giles, what would your three top tips be

for somebody who wants to become a fashion designer like you?

I think you have to have your own vision,

very distinctive vision and ideas.

Be nice to people and work hard.

Giles's top tips for fashion design are, firstly, have your own vision,

make it a very distinctive vision and idea.

Like Claudine, Giles thinks it's important to be nice to people.

And lastly, you have to work hard!

Izzy and Dylan are eager to show their design ideas to Giles

and they are thirsty to hear his advice on where to go from here.

I think you could do with a lot more volume in the skirt.

Obviously we have got loads of work to do,

so what's the next step?

The next step is to start making these pieces real,

and to start pattern cutting and to keep the day really, really focused,

cos we have got a short amount of time to make these pieces

as fantastic as possible for the runway show tomorrow.

Right, let's get cracking!

The rookies now pin and cut the fabric into the pieces that will be

stitched up to make their garments.

It is not always the most exciting part of fashion design, this,

I will admit, but it is an important one.

You have cut a few things before for your dog, haven't you?

What sort of dog have you got?

A Pomeranian. Do you know what? I'd love a Pomeranian!

What colour is it? White.

You are spoiled!

Look at that, you're a natural.

Dylan and Izzy carefully oversee the stitching of their designs.

Now things are literally coming together.

How fast can the sewing machine go?

It can go as fast as you want them to go,

so it all depends on the balance that you want have got on the pedal.

It's a bit like a car - when you accelerate it goes faster.

So, that's the shoulder piece. Step number one done.

That looks nice!

Izzy and Dylan are now busy putting the finishing touches to their

creations, like buttons and ribbons,

and it is not long before they will be ready for the runway.

You can do all the hard work, I'll just put the pins in the cushion.

Yeah, I've noticed that. It's just there is not much pinning going on.

There is like a lace area under the neck, and I plan to put three bows,

like, vertically down.

I think something quite nice and subtle like this would work.

Yeah. Let's pin him on.

How's about that?

Yeah. This is quite nice, actually, isn't it?

How it dangles down.

It's great if you've been eating soup as well

cos you could go like that. Yeah. Cracking.

My plan was to have it like that so it looks a bit like a zebra.

You wanted it that way around?

See, this is all good to know.

It could be next to it or overlapping it like that.

Overlapping sounds quite good.

Hi, we're Confetti Crowd! Here are our top three tips on designing.

Make sure you do lots and lots of research

before you actually get to the designing process.

You can flick through old magazines and newspapers,

you can cut things out,

and then you can put them all into your mood boards and create

a visual display of all that is going on inside your head.

Never limit your creativity.

Use new fabrics and materials and try out new things.

You can stand out from the crowd and be unique.

Print out the outline of a body, which you can find online,

and draw your design ideas over it.

Try out one design or print it in lots of different ways,

and remember to have fun with fashion.

OK, rookies, this is the moment of truth.

This is the first time you're going to see your creations

on actual human, living models.

First we have Anya.

Wow! Mmm!

Andrea here.

How are you feeling?

Excited? It's really good.

Yeah. It looks super, super gorgeous.

I think you've done incredibly well.

I think the proportions work well with the jacket and the skeggings.

We weren't sure what that was going to look like.

But it works well. And that yellow shirt with the pocket,

where has the pocket gone? There it is! Look at that!

And I think the most important thing is it has come across all the way

through that you've been working really hard, but you've been

having loads of fun with it.

Develop your own ideas, your own vision, but have some fun.

Meeting Giles Deacon was really cool,

because he is, like, a big fashion icon.

Giles inspired me to go big, like, not to hide.

Try and make new ideas, even if it doesn't look the greatest,

just try everything out.

My favourite part about today was probably seeing the jacket

when it was finished - it looks really good.

I'm really excited to see my outfit on a runway,

as it's never happened before, and it's your design, so,

it's not anyone else's, it's yours.

Dylan, you're quite brilliant, you got loads and loads of ideas.

I think if I had one criticism

it would be for you to focus a little bit more.

After about five pins,

you had gone on to something else and left other people to do it.

Izzy, I thought you were lovely.

You've got a really beautiful, calm personality.

That really came across in your designs.

It could be seen on a runway in London, no problem.

It is very, very sensitive and very mature for a girl of your age.

The short hop from London to Oxford takes us to Oxford Fashion Week,

one of the most prestigious fashion events of the year.

Designers, models, agents, fashion writers and Izzy and Dylan,

are all here to experience the latest must-have designs,

showing to an excited public.

Adam Gibbs is a model,

and he has worked in fashion shows all over the world.

He has vast experience of what it takes to put a runway event

like this together - just the man to show Izzy and Dylan the ropes.

Here are his top tips for a successful first-time fashion show.

With your designs today, you want to have a really clear brand.

Work out what your kind of unique thing is,

so the audience knows that's your design,

they know how to recognise your design.

It is also really important to be very organised.

That is top tip number two,

cover every possibility, have the spare tape,

the scissors, the thread.

And tip number three is networking. Talk to people,

be proud of it and make sure you let people know that's your design.

Adam's top tips are...

Have a clear brand, work out your unique look

so the audience recognise your design.

Be organised. Be ready for absolutely anything.

Network, talk to people, be proud

and let people know that's your design.

That's great, so what's the next thing we need to do?

So, we're going to get going, it's time for hair and make-up.

Are you ready? Let's roll.

The rookies are lucky to have the services

of make-up artist Emily Bliss.

Izzy, what are you thinking for your make-up?

Well, because I've got yellow on my top, I'm thinking,

maybe on the eyes there could be a bit of yellow.

Perfect, that will tie in the whole look together.

On my mood board, I had a similar thing,

the eyes with the yellow.

So it is exactly what you wanted?

Yeah. Fantastic.

Could it be, like, a tiny bit brighter?

Yeah, of course it can.

So, Izzy, what do you think?

It's really good. Is it what you wanted? Yeah.

Emily's creating a unique bow

in model Andrea's hair from Izzy's vision.

This is a new one, even for Emily.

How's that? It's just what I wanted.

Brilliant. Is that what you pictured?

Yeah. Fantastic.

Now, Dylan supervises model Anya's make-up.

For her make-up, we could have, like a black strip across her eyes.

And do you want it going all across the eyes,

so there's no gap in the middle?

Yeah. Yeah? From there to there.

How does that work into your design?

It's sort of like a zebra stripe.

Do you want me to get you a paintbrush?

Going to be a while, aren't you, with that one?

Dylan, what do you think?

I think it looks really good. Is it what you pictured?

Yeah. And it's unique as well.

It's very different, we don't usually see this, that's good.

Hello, my name is Anna Robbins, and I'm a costume designer.

I would say, for all the aspiring costume designers out there,

my three top tips are...

Work hard. You get out what you put in,

and it is a very rewarding profession,

if you just have a very strong work ethic to take you through.

Number two, have a positive attitude.

You have to work with all sorts of people under quite difficult

circumstances, and a positive attitude means you go home

with a smile on your face at the end of the day.

Number three, immerse yourself

in all the things that you find inspiring,

because that is what informs your designs

and makes you a better designer,

more rounded, more sophisticated.

Stress levels rise as the start draws near.

Dylan, Izzy and other designers and models are busy with finishing

touches, as the public fill the seats, ready for showtime.

The top is not straight!

It needs to be straight!

And then we need the coat on.

That looks good. So, when she's posing, she will pull it off,

turn around like that, and then you walk off.

Good with that? Of course.

When you get to the top, maybe twirl a bit to show the...

Yeah. Sure.

Have you noticed, with your hair band and dress,

you've tied in perfectly with the design? Yeah.

So when you walk out at the end,

you're going to match what you've made. Yeah.

A very critical audience are poised for the designs to appear.

You designed that? Yeah.

Well done. Thank you.

Izzy takes Adam's advice and does a spot of networking.

Your design is going to be going down the catwalk in a little while.

How are you feeling at the moment?

I'm actually feeling quite scared.

Because I don't know what's going to happen.

Are you friends?

This is the designer of this outfit.

Famous designer.

And what about the bit where you have to go out on stage,

how are you feeling about that?

Actually quite excited.

Excited, nervous, how are you feeling?

A bit nervous, but I'm trying

to distract myself by talking to everyone.

You've been talking to everyone!

It's getting quiet now, exciting.

It's time. Oxford Fashion Week runway show begins.

The rookies' models aren't the only ones with interesting make-up.

Hey! Exciting!

This is the moment of truth, isn't it?

You look magnificent. How's my lipstick?

You've got plenty on, I think, you'll be all right.

You look superb.

This is fantastic, are you excited? Yeah.

Yes, come on, enjoy yourself out there.

I'm going to wait here.

OK, are you ready?

Dylan's design going down well,

and now it is time for him to reveal

it was designed by a very young designer.

Next up on the catwalk, Izzy's design.

Ready?

Izzy's design is delivered, too.

Now she can relax and take her bow.

So, how was that, guys?

You've just been out in front of all those people,

they've seen your designs.

It was amazing!

You got the loudest applause out of anyone.

The loudest applause. They loved it.

High-five, everyone.

I think Dylan and Izzy's designs were absolutely exceptional.

As a designer, I knew when I was their age,

I never thought of actually making a garment, a real garment,

and the way Izzy and Dylan conceived the garments, it was awesome.

I think they were amazing.

That was just out of this world.

To hear everyone cheering for my design, it was amazing!

I felt really, really good.

When everyone was cheering, I felt like really proud,

really happy and excited.

I am so proud of myself.

I feel really, like, amazing.

Slightly, like...

A bit shell-shocked.

I didn't realise it actually happened until now.

Dylan, you did amazing, you should be really proud.

You've got the absolute makings of a fashion designer.

Right now, you've got really good, unique concepts,

and the difficulty is finding one that you like the most

and honing in on that idea.

Izzy, today I saw you really kind of come out of your shell a bit.

In the morning we had this quiet, shy girl who came along.

By the evening, you were buzzing, you were excited.

You've got a really good eye for fashion,

and don't ever doubt yourself.

Make sure you've got that confidence.

The rookies have had an incredible fashion experience,

creating their look, designing actual garments,

and working with experts to bring them to reality.

But do the mentors think they have

what it takes to make it as designers?

Izzy, you most definitely can become a fashion designer.

Izzy, you can definitely make it as a fashion designer.

Remember, be brave, be confident.

I think you would do really well working in the fashion industry.

You have all the right skills to be a creative, considered,

passionate designer.

I think your taste is quite exceptional.

Dylan, I think you could make it in the fashion industry,

but I think of you more as a stylist than a designer.

I think you've got a great career ahead of you, with your enthusiasm,

and I think you will do really well.

You most definitely have the talent,

and I think you most definitely have the ambition, so there is a very,

very high chance, with some luck, and working hard,

and being nice to people,

that you're going to get a career in fashion.

Dylan, you have what you need to be a fashion designer.

You're going to make it really, really far, just hone in

on one idea, really work on that, and it is quick to be amazing.

Dylan, do you still want to be a fashion designer?

I want to go for it, because I really like fashion,

and I think going down the runway today was a really good feeling.

OK, Izzy, do you still want to be a fashion designer?

Yes. Are you sure?

100%. Absolutely?

Yes. I think you could be fashion designers,

but what you need to do is menswear.

And if you do, I could be your model, watch this!

No, I'll do it again, hang on!

Hey, hang on! Izzy, Dylan?

I haven't done it yet, I can do it much better, honestly.

I'll do a spin!