Textiles students win work experience with local fashion designer

Date published: 06 March 2012

Congratulations to Natalie Philips and Karen Plummer, second year Bury College BTEC Extended Diploma Art and Design students, who have won work experience placements at local fashion designer and manufacturers Vicky Martin. Natalie, age 17 from Bury, and Karen, age 19 from Radcliffe, created fashion accessories around the ‘Showgirl’ theme.

Vicky was invited to work with Bury College because her company and its expertise can offer students an understanding of the fashion and textile industry, developing their employability skills for the future.

All second year BTEC Extended Diploma Art and Design students who are studying the Fashion and Textiles option at Bury College were given the unique opportunity of creating work for the brief as part of their course. Vicky, Executive Director and founder of Vicky Martin designs, came into Bury College to judge the work.

Vicky chose the designs by Natalie and Karen as the winners because their work showed lots of creativity and they had really developed their ideas in line with the ‘Showgirl’ theme. Vicky said, “The standard of work by the students here has been really high and shows tremendous creativity.”

Natalie, a former pupil of Heywood Community High School, created a Native American themed headdress and bralette for the competition. She said, “I am looking forward to the work experience at Vicky Martin because it will give me the chance to work with a role model from my chosen career. Bury College has inspired me to want to work in fashion and this experience will be a great opportunity.”

Karen, a former pupil of Radcliffe Riverside School, created a Basque as part of her winning design. She said, “It has been exciting to work with a fashion designer and get an insight into the fashion industry. I’d like to work in fashion design and this project has helped me improve and use new techniques, gain more ideas to use within my course and become aware of the job opportunities available.”

Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles at Bury College Joan Fitzsimmons said, “This competition gives the students an exciting opportunity to gain work experience and an insight into the fashion design industry.”