Melissa
Mehrtens

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“I found the environment at NTU to be a really positive one; the fashion design course also offered many opportunities for students such as competitions and studying abroad as well as a range of specialist technology and great tutors.”

What do you enjoy most about your course?
“We have the freedom to create anything we can dream up, and there’s loads of room for collaboration between different departments, so you can really build up your creative and technical skills.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your GAP Inc. live project?
“Our project was to design three outfits for one of the GAP departments to a theme of our choice; I chose GAPFit, their sportswear section. As I was fresh off a semester spent at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, I was completely in love with the city. I decided to base my designs on a theme influenced by my experience of New York, in a collection that would be designed for New Yorkers, and hypothetically be sold exclusively in GAP’s NYC stores.”

What are you most looking forward to when you take up your internship with GAP?
“I’m really excited to be working in a live industry environment to design and develop garments that hopefully will find their way into stores! I’m going to be based in the GAPFit department, so I’m hoping to build my skills in working with technical fabrics in a sportswear context.”

Has the course included any speakers / lecturers from industry?
"Alexandra Shulman came to talk about her work at Vogue, as someone with a keen interest in not just design, but also editorial work. It was so inspirational to hear her talk about the fashion industry, as it really came from the best of the best.”

How do you find the course staff?
“I think the course staff from fashion design are absolutely fantastic, they have immense knowledge and creativity and are keen to push your ideas to be the best they possibly can be. There’s an equal balance of conceptual and technical tutors so you’re not only able to create some really exciting garments; they’ll be well-made too.”

What do you think about the facilities available to you?
“The fashion studios and workshops at NTU have been an integral part of my work as they leave room for lots of experimentation across a wide range of different materials, resulting in work that can include anything from print design to 3D casting on garments! The fashion studios are a great place to work in, and helps you bounce ideas off your peers.

“It’s also brilliant to be in a learning environment where exhibitions are always going on; there’s never a dull moment in Bonington and there’s always something inspiring waiting round the corner.”

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?
“There are many excellent businesses and spaces in the creative quarter providing material and inspiration; for example, Ideas on Paper in Cobden Chambers has the best range of independent art and design magazines outside of London.”

In a nutshell, why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study Fashion Design?

“NTU is a brilliant place to explore and develop your creative style amongst a group of like-minded peers and enthusiastic tutors with a wide range of resources at your disposal. The opportunities provided to students here are once in a lifetime, and I would absolutely recommend taking as many as you can!”