At some point in your career, you’ll want to work for an established brand like QUIZ. With a phenomenal presence as an online retailer for both menswear and womenswear, several stores across the UK and entities in Spain and America, we were welcomed into the office of Emma Kenyon— a leading fashion designer at QUIZ.
If you’re obsessed with the fashion industry, know that we are too. Emma is literally non-fictional version of Miranda Priestly. But nicer of course. So, if you’re studying fashion or want to make waves in the industry, this is the girl boss that you should be looking up to and we have all the deetz you’re dying to know.
When did you start working for QUIZ?
Wow, you’re really testing my memory! I’ve been at QUIZ for around five years now — I guess time flies when you’re having fun. It’s interesting how I got to work here actually, I’ve always respected QUIZ as a brand and how it influenced my fashion choices when I was younger, so I rang up the HQ and told them that I thought I would make a great addition to their team even though there were no positions available, I secured two interviews and done a huge presentation in front of the decision makers!
What do you do when you walk into work in a morning?
Everyone needs a morning brew, right? Once I’ve got that I find out what has been selling well. This is really important from a design perspective, because once we know the type of items of customers want, we can tailor future products to those specifications!
What is the most time-consuming part of your job?
Research, research, and more research! I need to see what customer trends are and what high-end brands are doing. It’s important to strike a balance between affordability and the latest trends so that our customers can always have an up-to-date wardrobe at a low cost while not compromising on the quality of our garments.
What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer?
I love seeing my designs hit the shop floor, there’s no better feeling. I love scrolling on Instagram and seeing lots of people wearing the occasion dresses or men’s blazers I have designed on their nights out! Believe it or not, Instagram is one of my main sources of inspiration. I absolutely love it! As well as bigger brands and catwalks!
What’s the secret to being a great fashion designer?
You need to have passion. You’ll need a lot of motivation, the ability to pick commercial trends and be able to know your customers like the back of your hand!
Do I need to do well in school?
You should always strive to do well at school. I did GCSEs and A-Levels in Textiles, then moved on to an Art and Design course at college where I specialised in fashion. Then, I went to university for four years and got my fashion design degree!
What do I need to become a fashion designer?
Experience is needed above all else! Before QUIZ, I completed an internship at House of Holland in the lead up to London Fashion Week where I learnt pattern cutting. As well as this, I also worked in John Lewis’ head office as an intern where I learnt CAD design skills. Take as many opportunities as you can — it will look great on your CV!