Having signed off three years at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) by having her designs selected to show in London, Contour Fashion student Laura Taylor is now adjusting to her extraordinary new surroundings having started her new job – in Hong Kong.
After a rollercoaster three years studying on DMU’s world-renowned Contour Fashion course, she has now taken the bravest of steps by leaving the UK behind to begin a new career as a Graduate Product Developer with swimwear company Seafolly. Laura will be splitting her time primarily between their bases in Hong Kong as well as in Sydney.
Laura said: “I am very excited, a bit scared which I am sure is only natural. I have been to Sydney so that is exciting to go back there, however, I have never been to Hong Kong so that is scary, considering how much of a cultural change it is from anywhere I’ve been before.”
Laura wasted no time in jetting off to begin her new career, after being one of just 20 students selected to have their designs strutted down the catwalk by professional models at Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden, London, she left for Hong Kong the following week.
“I’m in Hong Kong now so it was a fast move but I am getting used to it.” Laura added.
“I feel more like a tourist at the moment because there are so many places I want to visit. But so far, so good, I’m sure I’ll love it here.”
The opportunity to rush into a career straight off the back of finishing her studies and before even graduating came around for Laura as a result of a previous work placement she did with Seafolly in Sydney.
“As part of the course you’re pushed into doing summer placements. I did three throughout my course, one being with Seafolly in Sydney.
“After doing a two-month placement with them I then contacted them later in the year enquiring about any job openings when they offered me this in their Hong Kong office, which is newly opened.”
It is the commitment and perseverance required to succeed on the Contour Fashion course that Laura, who was voted by fashion trends forecaster WGSN as one of the top five designers at the London catwalk, and who also appeared in Vogue Online, credits with pushing her take the plunge and move continents.
“It is a hard course and you have to be dedicated and motivated. You learn an incredible amount on this course and come away with so many skills that will set you up for any role in the fashion industry you want to apply for.
“I found I was pushed to achieve my potential, the teachers would always help you grab opportunities and they’re very helpful at promoting you and giving you that helping hand for going on to pursue your career.”
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On the face of it, a move to a new country with an unfamiliar culture is a daunting prospect, but Laura believes her time at DMU has prepared her well for this exciting new challenge.
“I feel like although this is a huge step from Leicester, moving away from home for three years prepares you more than you probably realise. Over the three years even if you don’t feel like it, it makes you so much more independent.
“I don’t think I would have done this before university but now I am more excited than scared.
“I would advise people to take the opportunity should it become available. Whether you do it for a year or more it will make you your own person and I feel like it would build you as an individual.”
Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015