I am currently a first year student at Nottingham Trent University studying towards a BA in Fahion Design. I am looking for a work experience placement within a fashion design led company for the easter period. I am _base_d in either Nottingham or Leeds and so a company located within these areas would be ideal, although i could easily commute to London on a daily basis. I am looking to specialise in menswear design, and so a placement within this discipline would be benificial. I am 23 year old male and my previous work experience includes 3 years training as a design draughtsman and 1 year as a naval architect. Although not fashion led, this carear required me to work in a profesional design led environment. Thanks for reading this, Matt

I have included a copy of an earlier reply with the addition that you may find similar opportunities local to you. You may also consider that if employment in fashion is your aim and you found getting employment took such a time that you needed to be employed, would you consider self employment? Drawing in on the skills and ambitions of others to set yourself up in the fashion business?

Your time may be put to advantage if you researched this as an option to working for other people, the experience you get in exchange for working for others may be less benificial than the learning experience of setting yourself up in business. And you may learn that this may be for you the prefered option.

The path to full time employment in fashion is highly competitive, and the more options you give yourself the better.

Some time ago I was in Knightsbridge, and I passed a shop one of the many small couture shops in Beacham Place, and saw a notice in the window for a freelance window dresser. After chatting to these people I discovered that they and many others like them are almost always looking for students and graduates to work for them for "pocket money"
I would suggest that if you are looking for this kind of experience take a trip to knightsbridge and have a chat with the owners of the type of shop you fancy.
My preference would be to write to Harrods and John Lewis in the first instance and then pop in to the shops and speak to the managers of the department and ask if they can help you. johnlove@lovefashionclub.com
www.lovefashionclub.com employed