LANDING PLACEMENT AT GUCCI

WORDS BY NFC STUDENT LUKE GRAHAM

The immediate period of time following the end of high school is often characterised by a sense of uncertainty and trepidation, an experience that was especially intense for that of my fellow 2021 graduates and I; major life decisions compounded with the perils of home learning as a result of Covid, I found myself dreading conversations regarding my future and could not envisage the pathway to the career I desired.

I knew that I worked to my best within an open, collaborative environment and craved the face-to-face contact that the pandemic mitigated. Some individuals thrive in this sort of climate and thats okay; I am not one of those people and quite frankly, the idea of another year of Zoom classrooms and online group assignments terrified me.

I wish I could claim to have come across the National Fashion College on my own accord: that honour is instead bestowed upon my friend, Yasmine. Tasked with providing emotional support whilst she attended Open Day, I too became entranced with the idea of studying fashion at NFC.

We spoke with Bryce, who warmly explained the plethora of opportunities available for students as well as potential employment outcomes and incredible experiences offered within the course. As I sat on the colleges pink lounge and absorbed the information being shared, I felt something click; I took in the building, the exciting space, the friendly faces of Bryce and April, and the passionate students engaged in their class projects, I knew that enrolling was the right decision, and found myself actually excited to begin my journey.

An intrinsic aspect of studying at NFC is the participation in internships. I’d always been interested in working in PR but did not have any indication of where to begin; under Bryce’s guidance, he simplified the process and worked with me to ensure my placement was suited to my aptitudes and that I would experience a role that could further build my skills within the industry.

I am exceedingly grateful for Bryce’s knowledge and foresight, and would not be where I am today without his direction.

Working alongside the Known Agency, a world I could not previously break into began to open up. I loved the team and built a strong network of likeminded individuals and industry professionals that I still rely on at present. A highlight of my time with the agency is assisting designers such as Wynn Hamlyn, Acler and Maggie Marilyn with their shows at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.

The passion I saw in those working around me ignited my own motivation to pursue a career in PR.

With my first Fashion Week experience under the belt, I then embarlked upon an internship with the Electric Collective; hugely rewarding, whilst there I further developed skills in event production, loan management and the coordination of the logistics involved with representing a global designer brand, working in tandem with brands such as Adidas, Song for the Mute, KITX and Jac + Jack.

This brings me to today; as I write this, I am currently on the train back from my internship at Gucci. Walking in, I had to restrain myself from pinching my arm and pulling myself out of a dream I’d never thought could be possible at the beginning of the year. It's fast paced, intense and comes with a level of responsibility I have not been afforded until now, but NFC has helped me to understand that I am capable and has allowed me to develop the skills I need to work in the fashion industry. I am now excited and feel prepared to begin my career; the dream has only just begun.