Fashion Buying and Marketing alumnus Lauren Basey spoke to us about her career as a Buying Assistant with major UK retailer TM Lewin and the impact of De Montfort University’s ‘outstanding reputation in the fashion world’.
Graduating from DMU’s School of Fashion in 2018 after completing her dissertation on ethical fashion policies, Lauren was drawn to apply at TM Lewin due to its prestigious position in the market and sustainable production practices.
Established in London in 1898, the company has expanded to nearly 100 UK stores and plans to expand internationally, it still retains a relatively small staff in its Hatfield Gardens offices.
Lauren said: “I really enjoy working at TM Lewin, the compact teams give lots of opportunities to interact with colleagues from all areas of the business, and even the CEO operates out of the same offices.
“I’d always been interested in marketing and buying, but my course offered so much more than that, I gained experience with design and costing too which have been vital to my current role.
“The opportunity to find out more about careers in the industry whilst I was studying was amazing, we had several guest speakers including Simon Reeves, the head of sourcing for ASOS.”
Discussing her job, Lauren stressed the variety responsibilities involved in the role from sourcing and buying on a global scale to pitching product designs, she is eager to emphasise the importance of ensuring graduates have a broad base of knowledge.
“There’s nothing I’d change about my time at De Montfort, I had a fantastic experience over my years there and I’m proud to tell people I’m a DMU alumnus. I think the university has a great reputation around the UK, and in the fashion sector particularly.”
Posted on Thursday 5 September 2019