About me
I am a driven and self-starting individual that love hard and keep on learning. A recent graduate of London College of Fashion's Fashion Management BA, I've consistently interned and worked to build up my experience across many realms of the fashion industry, before becoming more specialised in marketing, moreover Social Media and Content Creation. I am a highly adaptable copywriter, with experience in-house and at a publication. I also engage in freelance copywriting and social media projects.
Projects
- Why Do I Need a Mentor Anyway?Mentors are a long-established fixture of the fashion industry: Christian Dior was a mentor to Yves Saint Laurent, who subsequently succeeded the couture designer having been introduced by the editor of French Vogue in his late teens. Oscar De La Renta cites Cristóbal Balenciaga, the renowned Spanish courtier, as an important influence in his career stating there could be "no better mentor for a young man with fashion aspirations." Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing attributes his succ
- Artist Digest: LuzinterruptusIn the spirit of our Green Edition, it is only right that the theme extends to our choice of creative for the Artist Digest in some way. There can often be some confusion surrounding which genre to categorise artists under; even in researching ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ artists, there are many sub-groups and distinctions that can prove too much for the untrained critic. Nature has always been a source of inspiration for art; rooms of near every major gallery are filled with landscapes and even ca
- Stand For Something: Meet Melanie SSR started as a recording studio in Manchester in 1980; with influential bands such as The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and many more passing through its doors. In 1984, after a prompt from the late great Tony Wilson, the company moved into education and became the UK’s first dedicated sound engineering school. Now over 30 years on, SSR has grown into an international college, delivering a range of courses from weekend tasters to Honours Degrees in Music Production, Sound Engineering, 3D Film Production and Games Development. They have campuses in Manchester, London and Jakarta (with more on the horizon) and each one houses state of the art facilities. With the help of industry active tutors, SSR has built a reputation for first class training and has seen its graduates achieve phenomenal success. Earlier this year, Dr. Martens set up the #STANDFORSOMETHING Scholarship with SSR to give individuals the chance to win a full course at either the Manchester or London campuses resulting in industry recognised diploma in Music Production & Sound Engineering. The first two successful applicants joined in September, now they’ve had time to get into the swing of things Dr. Martens caught up with Melanie at the London campus to see how its going. file://localhost/Users/Jess/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.png Applications are now open for next year are now open, click here to apply. What made you want to apply for the Dr. Martens #StandForSomething Scholarship at SSR London? I had been thinking about studying a technical course for a while but I hadn’t pursued it seriously because every course I found was either unaffordably expensive and/or taught during the day. It was actually a lucky coincidence that I found out about the #StandForSomething Scholarship – I was idly browsing classified synth ads on Gumtree and came across an ad of a student at SSR who was offering to record bands for free to build up his/her portfolio. Wondering why I’d never heard of SSR before, I looked them up on Facebook and they had literally just made a post about the scholarship. That’s where it all started! What have you learned so far? In just 2 months I’ve learned loads. We started off with a bit of audio theory but quickly moved on to microphone recording techniques and signal flow of analogue mixing desks – that basically means how an acoustic sound we hear is converted to electricity and captured in recording, and the path it takes along the way. I’ve been in the studio every weekend since the course started. It’s a great privilege to have regular access to a fully-equipped workspace (at home I have to set everything out on the ironing board each time) and it’s also been really cool that I’ve been able to get hands-on so quickly. What projects are you most looking forward to in the next few months? I’m just about to perform my first ever live set which was specially commissioned for the chamber ensemble Project Instrumental’s latest concert series. I’ve produced about 40 minutes of new music which has sampled recordings of the ensemble and it explores the idea of a modern-day passacaglia (a structure based on cyclical, repeating motifs). That collaboration has gone really well and there’s lots of talk of doing further things next year, such as composing a work for strings and laptop. They’re a fantastic group of players and to have access to them is a real treat! In the coming months at SSR I’ll be mixing a song I recorded this term, which is basically the crux of what I want to be learning on the course. I’ve been working with the singer Boe Huntress for this which has been a pleasure. Recording is actually quite addictive too and I’m definitely intending to get lots of people in to the studios over the coming months. file://localhost/Users/Jess/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image004.png What do you plan to do with your new found qualifications after you graduate? I wanted to do an engineering course because I want to be a better artist and that will always be my first priority. Already I’ve noticed though that I’ve become a lot more confident with loads of technical aspects – it probably sounds really geeky but it’s so empowering to really understand the difference between various cables and how and when to use them, for example! Overall there’s lots of things I’d feel confident to do now which I wouldn’t have felt I could before I started the course. I’m working for a large music publisher currently and I’ve been able to take on a couple of exciting recording projects recently, which feels like a big step. The idea of becoming a freelancer is beginning to feel like a viable option too. What 3 songs are you listening to right now? The Persuader – Snodroppar (Tardis Records) – a beautifully deep track on a label run by possibly my favourite DJ ever, Eli Verveine Stephen Lopkin – Farewell G41 (Nautilus Rising records) – a fabulously uplifting and punchy track with a nostalgic tinge Tissu – Unmanned Vehicle (Mörk Records) – this track has been out for a while now but I’m still playing it all the time. I find it super satisfying to listen to! Tell us about your favourite pair of DMs: Probably the pair I have now, which are the Mark Wigan Kaboom 1461s, these shoes get so many compliments when I wear them out. And finally, what do you stand for? Inclusion, diversity and sharing. http://blog.drmartens.com/stand-for-something-scholarship-meet-melanie/
- Artist Digest: Dina BroadhurstThis month's Artist Digest takes us to the other side of the world, as Elite speaks with artist, designer, and collector, Dina Broadhurst. Australia's 'It' woman on the art scene, she has collaborated with numerous fashion brands, most recently Westfield Chermside where her works can be seen at large-scale proportions throughout the fashion precinct. Having shown in group shows in both her native Australia and internationally, this latest project marks her first live solo exhibition and incorporates Broadhurst's use of photography and collage in two and three-dimensional forms. Broadhurst's growing fame is in part due to her social media presence, her Instagram @dinabroadhurst, boasts nearly 22k followers and plays host to images of her art, interior design and lust-worthy life. We asked Broadhurst about her inspiration, collaborations, growing art collection and more: Your work is known for its themes of femininity, beauty and consumerism (– to name a few!) What is it that draws you to producing art about these aspects of life? I draw from myself and my own life experiences, the challenges and complexities of being a woman and women’s roles, the impact desire love and emotions has on my life, the changing landscape of beauty in my time, embracing age and growth and accessibility to things like cosmetic surgery. And the desire and allure of luxury consumerism and advertising which is always a huge influence as I am a part of it and fascinated by it. What is your process when approaching a new piece? I collect, photograph, cut, layout, group, make, retouch and file all day long. When I see a link or I’m inspired, I just go for it like picking up a puzzle and doing it - it's very instinctual and emotional when I feel it. I'm lucky as it's so varied I can always take a break but still be creating. If my eyes are sore from the computer or I can't sit still, I can jump off and go outdoors on a hunt in nature for bits and pieces or pick up my camera and go for a drive. There is always something to do. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578306fbb8a79b369b3bd3e0/57909918d2b857f32544d3a5/58eb4c13f5e231a18acefd2a/1491815453506/ACNE+in+water.jpg?format=500w You’ve clocked up an impressive following on Instagram, how integral has social media been in your career journey? It has been absolutely amazing and invaluable. People can reach you from anywhere in the world anytime and stumble across your work, if not familiar with you. The number of artists and inspiring people I find this way is such a pleasure and highlight of my day. You’ve also collaborated with a lot of fashion brands, has fashion always been something you’re interested in? Absolutely, it's an art form in itself and I have amazing respect and admiration for fashion designers. It's what shapes us as women, mind and body. You recently transformed the Westfield Chermside Fashion Precinct with your artworks, how did that project come about and was it what you expected? Westfield Chermside approached me 6 months ago and it was all systems go with such excitement from both sides. The scale of the spaces they allocated were so inspiring and a dream come true for me. The vision to nuance the layers and bring the collages to life with 3D - was all so mind-blowing and encompassing. I was completely immersed and loved every moment with such amazing support from the Westfield Chermside team. Then, to finally see it in actuality - the colour, the drama, the journey, the story, the vision, all come together and the emotion it evoked in all was beyond any expectations I had. Are there any brands you would love the chance to work with? There are so many brands I love for their aesthetic and vision and ultimately to be able to work with inspiring and wonderful people with a moral respect and admiration is an absolute honour every time. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578306fbb8a79b369b3bd3e0/57909918d2b857f32544d3a5/58ac1b82e4fcb50f1fadbe39/1491130857750/Screen+Shot+2017-02-21+at+9.50.24+PM.png?format=500w Does your work in interior design influence your print work? It is definitely an amazing base of practice. In learning about materials and quality in the detail. In colour, texture, composition, balance, symmetry, scale, drama, space and emotion. Do you have a favourite piece of your own work to date? It changes often but I love looking back over old work and becoming inspired all over again, seeing patterns and similarities. I collaged a Dior bikini once the colour had faded from the sun to make it into something beautiful that was worth keeping in a new light, so a piece of art. I love that piece a lot. What kind of pieces catch your eye when you’re adding to your own art collection? Photographic art, simplicity, incredible use of colour or a subtle texture. And a mystery or a hidden story that is not obvious. What advice would you give to someone looking to work in the art world? Have thick skin and passion and be yourself inside and out in all facets. If you want to find out more or purchase one of Dina's fantastic prints, head to her website.
- In My Docs - Asha IN MY DOC’S: ASHA Dr. Martens has a rebellious history often associated with free-thinkers, creatives and subcultures. This is not only true of the Dr. Martens customer, but also the hard-working staff. They are our brand ambassadors that embody the DMs way of life. Keep following the blog as we highlight our staff from across the globe and celebrate their achievements and style. In My Docs: Asha Introduce yourself: My name is Asha, I’m based in our Camden HQ as the assistant designer for menswear. I like pom-poms/hella cake and ice cream. I enjoy bright colours although I don’t wear bright colours very much- my room makes up for that. I used to be a Dr. Martens apprentice, before that I studied footwear design at DMU. I’m definitely a sucker for Instagram and blogging. file://localhost/Users/Jess/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.png Asha wears Mark Wigan 8053sAsha wears Mark Wigan 8053s Which Dr. Martens are you wearing today? I am wearing my Mark Wigan collaboration 8053s, easily the most comfiest docs I own. They may be one of my favourite pairs actually. Tell us about your first pair of Dr. Martens: My first pair of Docs were bought for me as a Christmas present when I was 23. They were part of the men’s Windsor collection. A brogue with an interesting mix of tanned leather and an off white canvas. They made the perfect Summer shoes. I loved them. Unfortunately I was very clumsy and had a bit of an accident which some how lead me to getting blood on the canvas… I was distraught as I couldn’t remove the stain. So back into the box they went. One summer I stumbled across the pair at the top of my wardrobe. After doing a little bit of research on Yayoi Kusama I thought it would be fun to spray paint them black with contrasting white polka dots all over, and adding a fringe. They are 1 pair out of 28 pairs. I keep some stashed at my parents house. How would you describe your style? I don’t have a style. I wear what I like. Some days I chuck everything on. Other days… standard black head to toe. Depends on my mood really. I’d definitely agree that I am more of a modern day Tomboy… oversized everything please. I’d say my favourite piece of clothing would be my kimono I picked up in Harajuku with sashiko stitching. Supa kawaii! Three tracks you’re listening to right now: The Internet – Girl Bonobo – Eyes Down Kendrick Lamar – Alright file://localhost/Users/Jess/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/msoclip1/01/clip_image004.png What’s your favourite thing about the city you live in? My favourite thing about London is just how diverse it is from culture to music to art… its like one collaborative palette. What are your top 3 picks for the season? 1. In Love with our Black 939 with little pops of white. A boot with a little attitude. 2. The Petri Shoe. Steel toes are a must, especially when wearing a formal outfit like tapered trousers and a blazer w/ white t-shirt. A classic. I particularly love the bulbous toe box revealing the steel underlay. 3. The 3989 Shoe. Last but not least a brogue you can’t go wrong with. And finally, what do you stand for? I stand for different things daily. Today I stand for being comfortable with yourself and learning to like ‘you’. http://blog.drmartens.com/in-my-docs-asha/
- Technology & Beauty - A New Alliance Increasingly, there is talk of how brands are adopting new technologies both in and out of store. Who's doing it well, who isn't, this brand did this... etc. It's a dense topic of conversation as we see ourselves propelled ever further into a digital age. With a few notable exceptions, almost every retailer now has a digital presence to run alongside their brick and mortar business, as well as there being a seemingly infinite number of purely eCommerce based companies, that we have grown to know and love. Although there is a clear disparity in terms of online competence, becoming omni-channel is hardly newsworthy in 2017, with corresponding apps, Instagram pages and whichever other digital means of contact is trending this week truly cemented into the marketing mix. How retailers combat the growing world of online to ensure that their physical stores remain relevant is a real source of interest across the board. This can be a simple as equipping staff with iPads for more efficient stock enquiries but many retailers are beginning to go above and beyond to maintain interest and capture the attention of the digital-savvy millennial market. One particular sector that appears very much in their honeymoon period with in store digital experience is beauty and cosmetics, as they help to drive the digital conversation forward further still. Many brands are testing out new technologies, usually beginning in their flagship stores. One such example is Molton Brown, who have applied augmented reality to the promotion of one of their perfume ranges at their Regent Street store. This is made possible through their 'Magic Mirror'. The mirror was designed to "encourage a sense of wonder" and "immerse" customers within the backstory of the different scents. The concept is simple, customer's stand in front of the mirror, select a scent and the mirror displays an animation informing the participant where the ingredients are sourced from. Transporting them to the likes of Sichuan, Seville, Tahiti and Assam whilst the mirror captures their reaction, and provides them with a video to share across their social channels afterwards as well as a 30ml free sample. The store saw a 12% footfall increase during the mirror's time there, as well as a 10% increase in sales as the rest of the stores saw a decline of 1%. It will be touring across Molton Brown's other UK stores throughout the year. Another store incorporating interactive technology is the new Wah Soho Salon, also based on Poland Street, London. The nail salon spreads over two floors and includes an immersive VR area, where guests are encouraged to don Samsung headsets and virtually apply 9 of their designs to their nails before committing in real life. The experience has been created in collaboration with DVTK and can be used by anyone who visits the store and not just those that have an appointment, while inviting staff offer their assistance. In addition to the headsets, customers are also able to print off designs, order nail polishes online and send their nail choices directly to the artists - it's a truly interactive space. L’Occitane has incorporated VR heavily within it's Shinjuku, Tokyo branch. Asia is a key market for the French brand, with 50% of its revenue generated within this area. The brand worked with tech specialist teamLab to create the in store installations including a digital gallery. This space has 4 digital walls as well as a table displaying Provençal scenery that alters throughout the day to reflect the change in daylight. There are also butterflies and birds that seemingly fly from the walls to the table and around the room. Other installations include a "Flower Table" that uses a similar concept to that of Molton Brown's mirror and educated users of products origin. The difference here, the user must place the product onto the table in order to begin the animation. Finally, there is the "Fragrance Wall" that will expel different scents as consumers pass the different signage while the display shows an animation of the corresponding flower petals cascading down before revealing the person in front of it. L’Occitane hopes that all this will help to bolster a positive image of the brand and ultimately drive sales. Luxury beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury also made waves in 2016 with the first VR fragrance campaign starring Kate Moss. Launched during Fashion week and in conjunction with the new Nokia OZO camera, the brand encouraged celebrities and influencers alike to experience the film directed by Antoine Wagner via virtual reality headsets and share their experience online. "The Scent of a Dream" encourages users to see "how it feels to be handed the key to universal attraction from the dream-like Kate Moss" and is an example of how marketers are taking the emotional promotion of perfume into the future and embracing the theatre of scents. This could not be put more aptly than by director Wagner who stated he wanted users to "have a new experience in which you can smell and understand the perfume through your eyes". Estée Lauder has grabbed the interactive trend firmly by the hand for their first brick and mortar "Estée Edit" store on Carnaby Street, London. The Edit range has always been centred around attracting a new, millennial audience and this is evident within their new flagship. The store oozes interaction and boasts a 'Selfie Wall' where customers can pose with friends, or by themselves, and have their photo taken in the interactive mirrors. You are even able to adjust the light and colour of the image depending on the range you're most interested in before sending it to your phone to be uploaded on Instagram. You can print it off and take it home with you as well. In addition to getting your photo taken, you're invited to interact with the brand further through the screens and headphones placed throughout the space showing different videos to provide you with insight into the world of Estée Lauder. The use of technology extends beyond the big screens, the staff are very engaging and use devices to help you establish just which colour foundation is right for you. Taking three readings from different points of the face to ensure the most accurate match. There are pro's and con's to the inclusion of technology and some brands are embracing it far more than others. Though for some, the idea of being colour matched by a machine is very exciting and may logically seem more accurate - especially when in artificial lighting. Others argue that it removes the artistry of make-up, with one artist that Elite spoke with claiming that a machine can never be as accurate, especially if you are planning to colour correct or contour the face in any way. The main tool seemingly being leveraged, in different ways, shapes and forms, is content creation through digital interaction. By creating an in store experience, brands are inviting consumers to engage with them in new and interesting ways and to share this across their own social platforms. By recording the interaction, consumers can share with limited effort on their part and help to further establish a word of mouth network for the brand - marketing without having to promote yourself. Makeup and skincare are very personal purchases, and although an increasing amount of research regarding products is done online interaction is key to helping consumers on their way to a purchase. The buyer now goes into knowing what they want at least 70 percent of the time, so it is imperative to have both a positive online presence as well as an engaging and relevant store. Sephora have created a new concept space in San Francisco using the 'TIP' mantra - teach, inspire and play. The space features education centres equipped with iPads, USB ports, and WiFi, in addition to makeover and skincare stations where consumers can get a customised prescription for the beauty look of their choice. Sephora have implied that this is a trial run for how their stores may run in the future, and though it is far more set in real reality than virtual, technology is still there to assist. With constant innovations taking place, we can only speculate what it will be like shopping for beauty products in the future, but these brands are definitely making attempts to lead the way. http://www.eliteassociates.co.uk/magazine/article/107/technology-and-beauty-a-new-alliance-
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Work history
Social Media Coordinator
London, United KingdomFull Time
Content creation for the website, both news and features.
Researching, sourcing and production of the bi-monthly magazine, interviewing and reaching out to potential contributors.
Community outreach, helping to organise events and job fair events.
Running of company social channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
Consulting with management and company heads of to create and implement social and digital strategy.
Content Writer
- London, United KingdomInternship
Over 100 fashion news articles published, including lifestyle reviews and sponsored posts.
Researching and producing appropriate content, both news, and full features.
Pulling looks, assisting on shoots, collecting and returning samples.
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Skills
- Copywriting
- Paid Social
- Social Content Strategy
- Cultural Journalism
- Business Writing
- Acquisition Copywriting
- Marketing
- Influencer Engagement
- Brand Communication Planning
- Fashion Styling
Education
Study Abroad
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As part of placement year.
Fashion Management (BA Hons)
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Awards
Level 5 Diploma in Management & Leadership
Diploma In Professional Studies
Achieved as part of placement year.