River Island beckons for talented student Jessica
A Crewe fashion student already has designs on the industry after landing a job with retail giant River Island before she has finished university.
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) fashion promotion student Jessica Hutchinson will start work as a brand design assistant for River Island in London in a matter of weeks, after being offered the role on the back of a successful placement. The 25-year-old spent her third year of University working for the company to learn her craft on the job.
Jessica said: “I feel so lucky to be offered a job so soon and I already know that it’s an amazing team to work for. I’m excited to go back to London and begin my career.”
"I’ve created everything from the concept, branding, merchandising, marketing and promotion so it was a case of taking the idea through the whole marketing process."
The former Ruskin High School and South Cheshire College pupil has used her final year of study to come up with a new way of recycling creative materials with future students in mind. She has designed a concept art store called ‘The Stock Room’ that would be located in Manchester and sell recycled materials used by artists and designers to keep costs down.
Jessica commented: “I’ve created everything from the concept, branding, merchandising, marketing and promotion so it was a case of taking the idea through the whole marketing process you would go through when launching a new product. It’s experience like this that, coupled with my work placement, which have given me the right skills going into the fashion industry.”
Jessica will be joining other UCLan graduates when she begins her role at River Island and was offered her job by Brand Design Manager Fay Newman who also completed the fashion promotion degree at the University in 2006.
Jessica’s work will be on display at UCLan’s Preston Campus from 9-16 June as part of the Lancashire Arts Festival Degree Show. For more information visit https://lancashireartsfestival.co.uk/