This evening, Gok Wan led a panel talk with Richard Danks (Brand Director of Portas), Lynne Mckenna, (Tu at Sainsbury’s Fashion Director), and Davinder Madaher (Senior Print Designer for Tu at Sainsbury’s).
Gok began by stating that “If I had talks like this years ago, I wouldn’t have made so many fuck-ups!” showing the audience just how important these GFW Live! talks are in terms of delivering valuable advice and and insight.
The first advice the speakers gave to the jam-packed room full of buyers, designers, graduates, and current students, was to keep the perfect balance between confidence and character because that is key when working with industry professionals. The best advice the speakers had to offer was to take advantage of work experience, and internships. “You figure out what you want to do, then it just goes from there.” states Lynne McKenna.
As well as work experience in the industry, Richard Danks believes it is important is to have your own personal identity, while simultaneously keeping up with what is trending. While the fashion industry is an ongoing cycle of change, the panel of speakers at our final GFW Live! talk (together with their combined total of 72 years working in the industry!) believe that everyone has potential, so just push yourself to do your best while staying true to your identity.
We would like to say a massive thank you for everyone who came to our GFW Live! talks this year and to our sponsors, and speakers.
Words by Maisie Taylor