Florentine
Deekeling

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“The wide range of topics and models within the course made me choose BA (Hons) Fashion Management, and also the fact that NTU is in a small city where everything is easily accessible. Furthermore, the prospect of undertaking an industry placement attracted me to apply, as well as the support of a dedicated module to this field in Year Two.”

What did you enjoy most about your course?
“I enjoyed the industry placement the most as I gained so much experience that I couldn’t have gained simply by studying the subject. It also helped me better prepare for what’s to come after my final year. I worked in the press office at Stella McCartney in London and had an amazing and fun team to work with, gaining invaluable industry experience and making friends for life.”

Can you tell us about your exchange to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York?
“It was a great experience to live and study in New York. NTU was flexible on my choice of subjects as the exchange only took place for five months. This was great as I was able to focus on subjects that are/were not covered in detail at NTU.

“Furthermore, FIT let us participate at New York Fashion Week (NYFW); some of us worked backstage and others helped to dress the models. This was a great opportunity to experience the fast-paced world of fashion for a day and be right where it was happening.”

How do you find the course staff?
“We had a broad selection of guest speakers from different parts of the fashion industry throughout my four years at NTU. In particular, Mark Brill was an interesting guest speaker, being on top of what was happening in terms of technology and IT developments within the fashion industry. Throughout the course, all the tutors were very helpful and really know their subject areas, which was really motivating. Every year, we had new tutors from different backgrounds and experiences.”

As an international student, what do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?
“Even though Nottingham is a small town, it’s filled with fun places and students, making the city very young and enjoyable. Studying at an international college in England, and then coming to NTU has improved my level of English tremendously, as I mainly live and study with British students. Our tutors were also very supportive of the fact that English is our second language, and they recognised our progress throughout our years at NTU.”

Why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study a fashion related course?
“If you’re interested in pursuing a career in buying, merchandising, sourcing and/or garment technology, this course is the perfect option as you will learn a lot about these subject areas. The business and marketing aspect of the fashion industry are also covered within this course.”

Can you tell us about your work placement?
“As mentioned above for my placement, I worked in the press office at Stella McCartney in London. Within a team of ten, I assisted the PR coordinator in the daily running of the office. This included liaising with internal and external offices, delivery and collection of samples from shoots and fittings, assisting at events, monitoring daily, weekly and monthly online and print coverage, organising relevant press clippings, and managing the showroom and accurate administration of press samples.

“I learned a lot about teamwork and effective communication between the team and external parties. As it is a fast-paced industry and at times could be stressful and hectic, prioritising was also a key skill I gained throughout the year at Stella McCartney. Overall, the placement gave me a sound insight into how in-house fashion PR works, and a solid foundation for when I graduate.”

Where do you hope to be in five years’ time?
“I really wish to be able to live and work in London, hopefully in fashion PR or events. I think London is a great place to gain experience in this field, however if I do want to go back to Germany, it will be useful there as well.”