WORDS BY NFC STUDENT, RUBY MACKENZIE

As a student of National Fashion College, I was given the opportunity to attend an exclusive tour of MCMPR’s headquarters. As someone considering a career in public relations, this was something I couldn’t miss out on.

Greeted by the lovely Brydie and Monte, I was so excited to see how one of Australia’s leading Fashion PR companies runs. First, we were taken on a tour through MCMPR’s inviting, open-floor showroom and office, given the chance to look at fresh-off-the-runway looks and soon to launch designer collections.

MCMPR works with a range of beauty, lifestyle and fashion brands for a variety of events, activations, talent partnerships, and showroom opportunities. Some of their recent brand collaborations include; Anna Quan, Tod’s, July Luggage, Eres and Zimmerman. We were granted the privilege to have a first look at Tod’s debut women’s collection under the brand’s new creative director, Matteo Tamburini. As well as this, we got a close look at Anna Quan’s Resort Collection which showed at Australian Fashion Week, set to be released to the public in October 2024, and one of Zimmerman’s latest collections which just featured on the runway at Paris Fashion Week in June 2024.

While the clothes themselves were exciting, the space itself made the sight even more beautiful. The windows were particularly eye-catching, with chic MCMPR logos stretching across vast, arched panes, allowing natural lighting to warm the space. Reflecting off golden-framed mirrors, rainbows were fluttering across clothing samples and display products throughout the room. Even in its ‘undone’ and ‘unexciting’ plain state, according to Brydie and Monte, the MCMPR showroom was especially beautiful and captivating.

After a mini tour, we were given the opportunity to learn about Brydie and Monte’s personal careers and their journey to MCMPR. “I did lots of summer internships at magazines. First Russh, then with Vogue.” Brydie explained. Monte said she followed a different path, starting her professional career at the very first agency she had interned at. “When I was younger, I used to pull out the magazine pages and stick them on my walls, much to my mothers dismay,” she went on.

Eager to learn more, the other NFC students and I were given the opportunity to ask Brydie and Monte some of our own questions. They also gave us some of their own advice, to succeed in securing a role in PR, and their favourite areas of their roles in PR. “You have to be willing to put yourself out there.” Monte went on to explain the value of making connections with anyone and everyone in the fashion industry, because you never know who you will need to know. Showing a photo of her on the table visually planning seating for an event, Brydie stated, “It’s not as glamorous as people think but that’s the fun of the job.”

So grateful to NFC for organising this excursion and to MCMPR for welcoming us into their establishment, I was truly awed by the entire experience. From the clothes, to the showroom, to the team, it was incredible to see the glamorous and not so, in the world of Fashion PR. The excursion to MCMPR headquarters is one that I won’t be forgetting soon.