Yes, it’s that time of year again when the imaginative and motivated graduates from the nations fashion institution’s are preparing to piece together their portfolios and begin searching for that elusive break into the fashion industry.  For us at Rag Trade it’s an exciting time of year and a chance to meet the fresh talent emerging in the industry, providing advice and career information while viewing some stunning portfolios and admiring the range and diversity resulting from many years spent in tertiary study.

For the optimists among us, the fashion industry is a place of endless opportunity and constant intrigue, with the success stories out-shadowing any tales of toil or regret.

It’s an ambivalent time for graduates, trying to make sense of their own dreams and aspirations, while confronted with the realities of an industry that is not always what they may have imagined it to be.  For the optimists among us, the fashion industry is a place of endless opportunity and constant intrigue, with the success stories out-shadowing any tales of toil or regret.  

Thankfully many of the graduates we interview have done their research and come to us with the knowledge that this goal comes only after hard work, and that success begins at the first of many rungs on the fashion industry ladder.  With a large pool of fresh graduates seeking employment at around the same, it gives employers an opportunity to secure a candidate who is a good fit, both with the company culture and from a skill set perspective.

Two important ways to spot a valuable Grad:

Enthusiasm:

This is an easy one to spot and perhaps one of the most valuable; just look out for the jubilant expression and the extensive dialogue on clothing, garments, accessories and style.  When someone brings out the well worn assonants “fashion is my passion”, you know they mean it if their eyes light up at the mention of princess lines and appliqués.  These grads are highly committed to the industry and refuse to be held back by small hurdles such as lack of experience and rejection from employers.  Look out for them in the senior roles over the next decade, as they speed up the ranks fuelled by their genuine love for the industry. 

Talent:

Pure, raw talent is the kind that gives you goose bumps as it momentarily mesmerizes you and helps remind you why you began working in the fashion industry in the first place.  These rare gems have a special gift, with portfolio’s that are overflowing with a unique charm and insight that cannot be gained through education or experience.  These are the candidates that will be setting the trends and defining the future direction of our fashion industry through their innovative and revolutionary approach.  

Talent when combined with enthusiasm are the beginnings of a fabulous career in the fashion industry and we look forward to meeting these graduates over the next few months and into early 2006.  Graduates are our future and now that the education system has begun to come into line with industry needs, we are seeing some excellent results.  

We would like to thank everyone on behalf of the industry who have worked hard in conjunction with the education sector to align it with the apparel and fashions industries.  We look forward to continuing to provide our valued clients with candidate’s who fit the above criteria, as we work together to foster the talents of the new generation of graduates from 2005.