fashion design internship @ The Original Cult, Los Angeles, CA
My homestay room in LA
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TUESDAY 28th APRIL
After an 14 hour flight from Bristol to Los Angeles, I arrived at my Homestay accommodation in the Wilshire district of LA. After meeting my hosts, unpacking and settling in I visited a park in the local district to 'touchdown' and acclimatise to the temperature. |
THURSDAY 30th APRIL
Fabric Archive...BEFORE and AFTER
I arrived for my first day of work at the Lip Service headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, and was assigned my first task; to re-organise the fabric and trims archives.
I tidied up the Lip Service fabric archive that stretches along the back wall of the building on a mezzanine level, and organised the archive according to colour and fabric type.
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FRIDAY 1st MAY
I tidied up the wall of Lip Service trims, and re-labelled the storage boxes in the archive.
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MONDAY 4th MAY - THURSDAY 7th MAY
I was briefed by the Head Designer to design a new line for the teen/youth market, on the given theme of Deathrock/Horror Punk. A line for Spring 2010 which, if successful, would go into professional production and retail globally. I was given a week to produce a design range, to consist of the following garments/bodies, and to include a number of design options/colourways... Girls: Waist Cincher, Tee/Tank, Dress, Skirt, Hoodie, Capri/Shorts/Pants Guys: Top/Button-Up Shirt, Tee/Tank, Hoodie, Shorts/Pants Most of this week I spent researching and designing the Lip Service range that I titled 'Ghoul School'. |
Designing my Ghoul School range
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FRIDAY 8th MAY
I accompanied Autumn, Head Designer, to the fabric district to purchase trims needed for Lip Service's 2010 lines.
The Original Cult were holding a Lip Service sample sale open directly to customers at their headquarters on Saturday. I helped put out stock, signage and prepare for the sample sale. Went to Blicks art store after work to buy colouring pencils and journals for my UWE Art School module. |
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SATURDAY 9th MAY
Taking advantage of the premises being open for the sample sale I came in to work an extra day on my Ghoul School designs, adding colour indications to my drawings.
TUESDAY 12th MAY
Meeting with Drew Bernstein (CEO), Autumn (Head Designer), Anjuli and Mickey (Sales Team) to present and discuss my design range...
- showed sketches, designs and ideas for my new 'Ghoul School' line
- line approved, aside from minor adjustments
- briefed by Autumn on sampling processes for production
WEDNESDAY 13th MAY
Lip Service recently designed and produced a mini dress for Hot Topic which has been selling successfully in their stores. Hot Topic's buyer asked for a new dress based on the same body. I was assigned a second briefing by Autumn...
I selected 98% Cotton/2% Spandex solid black jersey. For trims I chose a pair of skull/bat nickel buckles with 6 x nickel eyelets for the adjustable shoulder straps, stretch black fishnet with raw edge for a 2.5" waist ruffle and 1" black stretch fishnet ruffled bodice ribbon. |
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THURSDAY 14TH MAY
Plaid Mini Skirt trims
I was assigned a third briefing to design a women's coat for Hot Topic. I needed to draft the pattern and make the sample in preparation for a buyers meeting at their headquarters in City of Industry next Wednesday.
After selecting the fabric and trims - a 6oz black satin twill, black poplin lining, Lip Service signature branded skull/dagger buttons and black brocade - I designed a classic tailcoat with a mandarin collar and military styling.
And my fourth briefing was to select and add some trims to a plaid mini skirt in preparation for the HT buyers meeting. I chose some black satin ribbon and matching decorative bows to lie around the deep waistband.
After selecting the fabric and trims - a 6oz black satin twill, black poplin lining, Lip Service signature branded skull/dagger buttons and black brocade - I designed a classic tailcoat with a mandarin collar and military styling.
And my fourth briefing was to select and add some trims to a plaid mini skirt in preparation for the HT buyers meeting. I chose some black satin ribbon and matching decorative bows to lie around the deep waistband.
FRIDAY 15th MAY
- Pattern cutting for women's tailcoat
- Cut fishnet trim for waist seam and both pieces were handed over to a member of the sewing team.
- Researched 'Alice In Wonderland' for a requested new Hot Topic garment in anticipation of upcoming Tim Burton film release.
WEDNESDAY 20TH MAY
 Preparing display in Moroccan room
Travelled with Head Designer to Hot Topic Inc. headquarters in City of Industry, California to attend a buyer's meeting.
We were shown to the 'Moroccan Room' where we set out the samples to display to the buyer. |
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THURSDAY 21st MAY
Embossed Coffin Zipper Pull
I prepared and shipped my hardware production pack to the factory in China.
Included in this pack was a covering letter specifying number of pieces, a sample keychain to illustrate exact finish required plus printed Illustrator diagrams showing actual dimensions. |
Purple & Green Distress Stripe Prints
 Purple Distress Stripe
Using the Pantone catalog I selected colour codes for the purple and green printed striped and contrast stitching....
I prepared and shipped a production pack to the China factory to request 25 yards/per colourway of printed sample fabric strike-offs. Included in the pack was a covering letter, CD with Photoshop versions of the print designs, hard copies of my print design, 6oz twill/french terry/stretch jersey/voile fabric samples and my print designs along with the Pantone colour codes. |
FRIDAY 22nd MAY
Graphic Design for Placement Prints
At midday I had a meeting with the Graphic Designer to brief him, and we discussed graphic artwork designs for the garment placement screenprints. |
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MONDAY 25th MAY - Memorial Day
TUESDAY 26th to FRIDAY 29th MAY
I compiled a fabric and trims journal, created a Powerpoint presentation and written reports for submission, then mailed this coursework to my tutors at the University of West of England for assessment.
TUESDAY 1st JUNE
Model fit session
 Garment marked with amendment
The model arrived and we had a fitting session for my 'Ghoul School' line.
I gave the samples to the model to try on, and then after studying the fit I marked or pinned any necessary adjustments to be made to the garments. |
Marking adjustments on Mini Skirt
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SUNDAY 6th to TUESDAY 8th SEPTEMBER
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LondonEdge trade show, Olympia, London
My 'Ghoul School' collection for Lip Service is exhibited wholesale by The Original Cult at this alternative and streetwear trade show for European retailers. |
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FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER
The Lip Service tailcoat that I designed for Hot Topic is listed for retail on their website... 
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