Sarah
Rafferty

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“I wanted to go to a university that had a good reputation both nationally and internationally and was based in a city with an established textile heritage. NTU is the best university outside of London for fashion and ticked all the boxes.”

What do you enjoy most about your course?
“I can always remember wanting to do fashion design - I like being surrounded by like-minded people who have the same interests. For me I find it intellectually stimulating, looking at things that inspire me and being creative in an artistic manner. I really enjoy being free to be creative throughout the whole designing process.”

How do you find the course staff?
“The course staff are amazing, they really push you to achieve your best and more. We have so many sessions with all of the different tutors so they really get to know you, your style and how you work.”

Can you tell us a little bit about completing the GAP Internship Programme in New York?
“We were briefed to create an in-depth concept project for A/W 2016 based around either menswear, womenswear, sports or kidswear. It was important for us to stay true to GAP’s ethos which was backed by detailed market and trend research. I based my project on the Apollo Launch in 1969, the same year GAP was founded, as for me it was synonymous with the recognition of GAP; something very American yet celebrated worldwide.

“It was extremely exciting to have this opportunity to be fully immersed into the industry. Whilst working for GAP I focused on a whole host of things such as working on conceptual designs, looking into product lifecycles, using computer aided-design (CAD) skills to sketch garments and learning how to design using GAP’s strong brand identity. Having this knowledge now is so valuable because I can apply the skills I learnt to my final year portfolio.

“Living and working in New York was a totally life changing opportunity. Being in the heart of one of the major fashion capitals was so exciting. There was always something to do and so much to see I hardly stopped while I was out there!”

Why would you recommend taking part in live projects?
“I think you would be silly not to complete the live briefs. It taught me how to design on a commercial level with a key customer in mind which was something that had always been an after thought. Even if I hadn’t got through to the next interview round it was such a good opportunity for my work to be exposed to industry.”