Liverpool students get opportunity of a lifetime in LA

Three fashion students from Liverpool have recently returned from Los Angeles, where they were given the exclusive opportunity to experience a six-week internship working at the heart of one of the city’s leading design studios.

The students, Emily Hughes, Sean Wainwright and Jessica Sutton, study at the Rare School of Fashion in Liverpool based on Duke Street in the city centre. The school is a charity that enables people to receive training from industry experts in all things fashion regardless of their personal circumstances or financial backgrounds.

The three students headed to Hollywood to the headquarters of Fabletics for their internships. The fashion brand which specialises in activewear, was co-founded by actress Kate Hudson in 2013 and is a wardrobe staple of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.

Liverpool-born Vice President of Fabletics Shaun Kearney, who arranged their visit and met them at the airport, launched The Rare School of Fashion in September 2015.

Over the course of their internship the three rising fashion stars worked across several departments of the studio, including design, styling, photography and marketing. One of the young students, Sean Wainwright, was even given the honour of working on designs for several collections including Spring Summer 17.

Sean said: “L.A was an absolute dream. To be able to work and design in-house is something beyond my wildest dreams. I can truly say it was one of the best experiences of my life, and an opportunity I’ll forever be thankful for.

“Designing is something I’ve always wanted to pursue, and I’ve finally found a springboard into the industry where I want to be. Rare School of Fashion has given me the confidence to go after my dreams, whilst always being myself, something that is just so important to me.

“I’d say to any local young people my age who want to get into fashion, just go for it. Try everything, keep on learning and never be afraid to say yes. With Clothes Show Live coming to the city this year there’s so many opportunities on the horizon for aspiring fashion designers in Liverpool.”

Fabletics took care of all the young people’s expenses, including flights.

Lindsay Inglesby, Director of Rare School of Fashion, said: “To say I’m proud of my students is an understatement. They went to L.A with the intention of learning more about fashion, but left with so much more. Their confidence has grown and their thirst for success is unstoppable.

“It’s important to us that we provide our students with lots of opportunities. We try and make sure Rare School of Fashion is less like a traditional school, and more like a studio. Doing this helps prepare them for the industry, and allows them to get a taste for what is expected once they graduate.”

The Rare School of Fashion offers 25 places for students each year who they believe have an eye for fashion, design and merchandising.