GCU London students experience past, present and future of fashion

Two GCU students have spoken of their delight at getting the chance to gain an insight into the world of British fashion.

Syed Haider and Muhammad Khan both study MSc Sustainable Fashion Business at GCU’s London campus, and recently got the chance to visit four local and international brands in Leicester and London as part of their degree.

Students from MSc Sustainable Fashion Business were also joined by their peers from MSc Fashion and Lifestyle Marketing, with the two groups of students getting to see what happens behind the scenes at NEXT, Fashion Enter and Strong Maker. Each visit focused on the importance of sustainability and modern technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the industry.

Those involved also had the chance to view an immersive exhibition on the history of the fashion runway thanks to Vogue.

We caught up with Syed and Muhammad to hear their thoughts on how the experience has helped benefit them at this stage in their career.

London (Fashion Enter and Vogue)

Vogue

Muhammad: “The Vogue Exhibition was amazing because it basically showed us how fashion has evolved through the years, starting from the 1960s all the way through. It focused on some of the key designers that played a crucial role in making the industry what it is right now. I also particularly enjoyed getting to see what it looks like backstage at one of their fashion shoots on the runway.

“The fashion industry in Pakistan, where I’m from, is very different and more localised in comparison to Europe. We have Eastern Wear, which is a different style of fashion to what we are exposed to here.”

Syed: “The trip to Vogue was basically like a documentary on the fashion industry and how it all started in Europe. It was a fascinating experience overall and I took a lot of information from it.”

Fashion Enter

Syed: “Going to Fashion Enter was a good experience because it allowed us to see that workers are being treated properly, including with the appropriate wages. We were told about certain brands, including Boohoo, which was not paying the minimum wage, so it was nice for us to see the brand treating their staff properly and specialising in sustainability. I think it’s clear that the companies we visited want to be more ethical and transparent.

“Our visit to Fashion Enter was also my first insight into the world of AI, so this will definitely benefit me in future because AI is going to be such an important part of the industry.”

Muhammad: “Fashion Enter are incorporating a lot of new technologies, including AI to provide a visual view of the garment and support sustainability. The company in the initial stages of using AI, but it is going to help save them a lot of time and money. I was working as a designer in Pakistan so had some experience around AI, but it’s definitely more advanced here in the UK.”

Leicester (NEXT and Strong Maker)

NEXT HQ

Syed: “It was the very first time I’ve seen the headquarters of a big international brand like NEXT. I think it was a big moment for me as a student at GCU but also as a professional working within the fashion industry.”

Muhammad: “We went to all the departments within NEXT and got an insight into how everything worked. It was particularly interesting to see the Design and Marketing Department. We also went to a photo shoot – it was great to actually experience seeing the models displaying the different designs.”

Strong Maker

Muhammad: “We spoke to Donovan at Strong Maker and he talked us through the journey of the company and how he evolved into a business owner of a sustainable organisation.

“He also told us about the processes and different legislation that needs to be followed within the UK. I particularly enjoyed this as an international student because I wanted to gain an insight into the market here and how everything operates.”

Impact of the overall experience

Muhammad: “I feel the trips have been hugely beneficial because attending classes is obviously great experience, but getting out and visiting these different employers really helps develop that understanding. It is also very helpful to actually know what is going on in the industry right now and gain knowledge around technological advancements.

“This degree is all about sustainable fashion and I had a perception of what it would be but coming to GCU has allowed me to also see sustainability in different ways, in terms of how people are being treated in the workplace and the impact of carbon emissions.”

Syed: “It’s the first time I’ve had experience of international brands. It’s been beneficial for me to gain an insight into the different safety and production processes in place. I particularly enjoyed being introduced to the world of AI and how it is used within the industry.”

Find out more about GCU London’s MSc in Sustainable Fashion Business here

By Ross Clark      
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter