constant leak: Internship at Leutton Postle SS 2014

- started from the end of July, and finished the week after London fashion week. This is by far, one of the most challenging work I have ever done! I am proud that I completed this mission I gave myself for this summer. Regardless of the miserable times I endeavoured, I learnt loads and made some good friends. Special thanks to Chiahui Liao, who generously lent me her flat that is much closer to the studio, and fed me some comfort food.

In 8 weeks, the whole team includes two designers (as well as the founders of the brand) and 5-8 interns made the whole SS14 collection. I was lucky enough to join the team at the stage of design development. The process is similar to what I have been doing at Uni- you start with a brief, mood board, colour palette, and potential yarns. Sam and Jenny were encouraging in terms of allowing interns to propose samples. Therefore, after a week or two of sampling, one of my knitted samples were selected to be made into a jumper! The great thing about a small studio is that you get to see what's happening in every discipline, such as pattern cutting group, embroidery group, knitting group and some bits of administration work. Soon after design development stage, we went into production stage, when we finalise samples, cut out fabrics, garment construction and finishing. This is the longest and the most tiring process throughout, because there were so many details to be considered. The fact that Leutton Postle is still quite a new brand, there are many technical things that needed to be test out, and at times it is almost impossible to avoid mistakes.

When it was closer and closer to LFW, both of my mental and physical endurance were reaching limit, but now that I look back, I have no regrets what so ever. However, as an intern, I understand that this is the kind of job we do, the experience we need. What's next then? What do we do once we graduate? When we cannot survive without income? How do we cope with the creative process that we love so much within the sick system in fashion industry? Nothing is solved, but something for sure- besides talent, think smart work smart, passion and hardship is what contribute to success.