Please be aware this is not a to do list but suggestions of things you might enjoy to ready yourself for the start of the year.
Immerse yourself in the Industry
To help you prepare for your studies, find inspiration and get up to date with the latest industry news please start by:
Following our Instagram @fashionbuying_ravensbourne and see what our students have been creating this year.
You may also want to follow Life of a Buyer to get an insiders view on the industry and look for other fashion accounts. Buying is not the only pathway we will explore!
Industry Knowledge
Sign up for the daily emails from these free websites and immerse yourself in what is going on in our industry at the moment. Please don’t pay for any websites as we can share free links when you arrive.
Fashion Network
Fashion United
Inspiration
What brands inspire you, who would you dream of working for? Start to build a folder of images you like or that inspire you. Images can be from any source but here are few starting points. Pull images from magazines, Instagram or any sources you like.
Tag Walk
Dezeen
It’s Nice That
Hypebeast
Exhibitions
Visit a fashion exhibition or any other exhibition that interests you. There are lots on this summer, but quite a few finish at the beginning of September. A student Art Pass is only £10 and get's you 50% off entry to some exhibitions. These are just suggestions, entry to most galleries are free but exhibitions can be expensive, go to what you can afford and will inspire you.
Gianni Versace: Retrospective Exhibition, The Arches London Bridge
Dirty Looks, Barbican
Costume Couture - Sixty Years of Cos Prop, Fashion and Textiles Museum
Virtual Beauty, Somerset House
Unpicking Couture, Manchester Art Gallery (free)
Visit Stores
Find out what is new or inspiring in store/window design, what great stores do you have near you? Have a look at the latest concept stores with this article from Insider Trends.
It costs nothing (except tube fare) to look at new stores and be aware of the retail trends.
Kings Road in Chelsea: Nearest tube: Sloane Square. Look at the Look at the Rixo Flagship store, which other store has a bar with palm trees! H and M have a new concept store on this road. Farm Rio - watch this to see behind the scenes for the store's creation.
Covent Garden: Nearest tube: Covent Garden/Leicester Square. Arc'teryx have opened a repair store in Covent Garden and Veja have a new concept with repairs in nearby Seven Dials.
Oxford Street: Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. Pangaia have a flagship store on Carnaby Street and visit Dries Van Noten in Hanover Square
Shoreditch High Street: Nearest tube: Shoreditch High Street. Visit Nudie Jeans Repair Shop.
Dalston: Nearest tube: Dalston Kingsland. LN CC lifestyle have reopened at 18-24 Shacklewell Lane.
Do you have a great Independent store local to you or a lifestyle store? Take some photos, share it with us.
Latest Pop Ups
Dior At Harrods until 27 August
Diptique at St Pancras Station until September
The House By Ro - By Rotation store on Brook St until September
Style of Our Own, 20 Independent Women’s Sports Brands Regent St until 31 October
Click the links for more details
Listen to Podcasts
If you have time on holiday listen to a fashion podcast, really fantastic list here to dip into.
Congratulations, enjoy your summer and come in September with ideas and industry knowledge.
