BoF Careers

While peers within your industry are an essential pillar to your network, retaining a group that reflects your own mindset and experience will limit the perspectives, support and opportunities to which you are exposed. “Building those networks for people that aren’t just in your discipline is important, because as you progress, you might, for example, go freelance. Having a network of freelancers who aren’t necessarily in your discipline can become really powerful in terms of swapping client leads,” says Pip Jamieson, founder of The Dots, an online networking hub for creatives with a community of nearly 1 million. “Professions aren’t so siloed anymore,” she adds. “We’re all collaborating with each other on different executions of what we’re doing,” citing the growing presence of technology in fashion and textile production, and the need to borrow from expertise outside of fashion’s traditional skill sets to better understand the world of 3D design, augmented reality or Web3. Read the full article, How to Network as a Fashion Professional, on BoF. #networking #howtonetwork #fashionnetworking #fashioncareers

As a philosophy graduate from the University of Lagos, the self-taught photographer Stephen Tayo built up an understanding of the fashion industry — and how to navigate it — as an intern assisting fashion designers and stylists in Nigeria, “paying attention to everything and everybody, to different conversations.” As he developed his craft, his street style shots in Lagos caught the eye of Chioma Nnadi, now British Vogue’s head of editorial content, which Tayo attributes to the launch of a career working with the likes of Apple, Nike and Gucci, the New York Times, Dazed and Vogue. Tayo’s portfolio of work celebrates communities and unique cultures, such as his Ibeji series, featuring identical twins and their significance in Yoruba culture. “There’s nothing like community stories — every community matters, every conversation matters. I think people need to just dare to build on their community and that conversation. More than anything now, fashion is about storytelling and every designer should be able to communicate where they’re coming from and tell those stories.” Dive into the article, How I Became… A Fashion Photographer, to discover Windsor’s advice: https://lnkd.in/eyJzanpC #fashionphotographer #creativefashionjobs #fashionphotographyassistant #fashionassistantroles #juniorfashionjobs #entrylevelfashionjobs

From the latest in luxury’s slowdown to how brands make the most of sample sales, BoF Careers provides essential sector insights to help fashion’s retail professionals decode the industry’s commercial landscape. #fashionretailworker #fashionstoremanager #boutiquestoremanager #clientelingspecialist #fashionstoreassistant

Juniors first need to decide what career they want to pursue before gaining the relevant experience to complement and boost existing expertise. “With your own specific interest and skill sets, what would make the most sense [for you]?” says Betty Wang, former VP of merchandising and omnichannel retail for Saks Fifth Avenue. “If you’re a good salesperson, that’s a transferable skill [for wholesale]. If you are good with logistics, that could be parlayed into something with the supply chain. If you are analytical and want to play with spreadsheets, you could end up in merchandise planning.” “Look for ways that you can create transferable skills,” says Cambridge Dantzler, a strategic, legal and management communications student at Howard University, and former digital merchandising intern at Louis Vuitton. “It’s not always about doing specifically what they require [...] but being able to take skills from one industry to another.” Read the full article, How to Find an Internship in Fashion, on BoF. #fashionjobs #juniorfashionroles #freejobsinfashion #fashioninternships #fashionassistantjobs #fashionintern

Simon Windsor began his career in digital marketing. While working as head of mobile at the creative agency Five by Five, the launch of the iPhone shifted his perception of how content could evolve creatively through technologies. In 2011, Windsor left Five by Five to become director of customer development at String — whose clients included Nike, Skechers, and Disney. It was one of the first AR technology platforms for mobile. Windsor went on to co-found mixed reality company Tmrw and then VR and immersive content studio Hammerhead, which became Dimension Studio. He has worked on fashion and entertainment projects including AR holograms for Madonna’s Billboard Music Awards 2019 performance and digital humans in Balenciaga’s Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow, as well as H&M and Simone Rocha’s AR pop-up book. “Those interested in digital fashion and what the future of working in the fashion industry looks like, should look towards technology and what some of the leading fashion companies are starting to do with it. The barriers of entry are going to decrease and I expect more companies will start to adopt augmented reality or virtual reality to create content and stories in new ways.” Dive into the article, How I Became... Managing Director at Dimension Studio, to discover Windsor’s advice: https://lnkd.in/e4P7bHRu

From why the industry is maxing out on minimalism to the top 10 fashion shows from this season, BoF Careers provides essential sector insights to help creative professionals decode the industry’s creative and commercial landscape. #creativeprofessional #fashionstylingassistant #visualmerchandiser #postproductionassistant #creativefashionassistant #artdirector #fashionartdirection

The Outsiders Perspective, a UK-based nonprofit focused on ethnic minorities in fashion, has launched TOP Community, an industry wide alliance connecting people of colour working in the industry. Founded by former Roksanda chief executive Jamie Gill, The Outsiders Perspective is focused on increasing representation among people of colour in the fashion, luxury and beauty industries. It has an incubation programme aimed at helping BIPOC professionals transition into fashion in operational (rather than creative) roles. “[ERGs] are what has been so successful in bigger global corporations around moving change forward,” Gill said. “So if an individual brand is small and they can’t … why don’t we do that on an industry level?” Even at larger organisations with well-run ERGs, many leaders say their workforce sees a larger connection with ethnic minorities at other brands as the “next evolution of that,” he said. Read the full article, The Outsiders Perspective Launches Forum for BIPOC Fashion Talent, on BoF.

A self-prescribed "scrappy street kid" from Brooklyn, philosophy and photography graduate Julie Ragolia began her career in fashion by styling shoots for her roommate at Brooklyn College. She eventually sought agency representation, sharing her portfolio with Streeters agency in New York who suggested she apply for an assistant role at W magazine — which she landed. Ragolia went on to work at the likes of Fader magazine, Man of the World and At Large. The stylist and fashion director has also worked and consulted with brands on advertising campaigns and the red carpet, as well as contributing to several magazines. She styles runways for brands including Theory and Ermenegildo Zegna. “I've had interns and young kids ask me about taking styling classes, but I always advise them to concentrate on other aesthetic fields because you bring so much in from outside. This industry is about understanding how to read what is happening and anticipate what is about to happen.” Dive into the article, How I Became… A Fashion Director and Stylist, to discover Ragolia’s advice: https://lnkd.in/e378Szp8 #fashionstylingassistant #costumedesigner #fashionstylist #stylingassistantjobs #stylingdirector #artdirector #fashiondirector

From how brands tactically use the front row at fashion weeks to market the next “it” item, to how Adidas engineered its comeback, BoF Careers provides essential sector insights to help fashion marketing professionals decode the industry’s creative and commercial landscape. #fashionmarketingjobs #brandmarketingassociate #performancemarketingroles #branddirector #fashionmarketingexecutive

When starting out in fashion, your online profiles, like Instagram or TikTok, can provide recruiters with key insight into your creative aesthetic, personal branding but also personal life — so craft your online presence with care. “You’re going into an industry where creativity, process and branding are important. So make sure you understand that and reflect that in what you’re doing,” says Joy Campbell, brand partnerships director at Graduate Fashion Foundation. “You have to make sure that every single touch point tells the same story about you. That includes Instagram.” You can also treat LinkedIn like a portfolio — “One girl who wanted to go into PR at Boohoo created this beautiful PR pack, took a picture of it and tagged them [on LinkedIn]. It had thousands of likes and the Boohoo team [invited her] for an interview,” says Campbell. “You have to market yourself.” Read the full article, How to Apply for Fashion Internships, on BoF. #landingajobinfashion #breakingintofashion #juniorfashionroles #fashionjobs #entrylevelfashionjobs #fashionassistantjobs #fashionassociatejobs