Meet GFW alumni Daisy Podmor-Childe, a former Northumbria University student who now works in marketing for boohooMAN. Having studied both fashion design and marketing during her time at university, Daisy discovered that her true interest lay in the communication of ideas, which led her to pursue marketing. Daisy is living proof that you don’t have to move to London to work in fashion, and she’s a big believer of celebrating the small victories that come with building a career in fashion.
Daisy Podmor-Childe
Which university did you attend, and what is the most valuable thing that you learnt there?
I graduated from Northumbria University, Newcastle in 2018 with a First Class BA Honors in Fashion Design & Marketing. One of the most valuable things I learnt during my time at university was interpersonal skills - having the ability to convey ideas and concepts with confidence. I truly believe inspiration lay’s everywhere and it’s about engaging our eyes and observing your surroundings, but when it came to conveying my ideas I would particularly struggle.
The course really helped me to develop my ideas from the realization of my concepts by product development and manufacture right through to promotion and exhibition. This was something I grasped quickly and was able to put into practice during placement year where I moved to Amsterdam to work for an outerwear label.
Which area of the industry have you chosen to pursue, and what informed this choice?
I currently work in marketing for a leading online retailer, boohooMAN. I always knew I wanted to peruse a career in Menswear as this was an area I choose to focus on early on at university, but due to the nature of my course, I was unsure on which route to go down. Having specialised in print design for my final year where I thoroughly enjoyed incorporating strong graphic outputs into my final major project, I began to apply for Print/Graphic roles.
I secured some really positive interviews and invested a lot of time and money into the preparation and attendance of them. However, the more I spoke about my work the more I realised that I was always considering the end-user and discussing branding opportunities. This is when I discovered my passion was in marketing, as it’s not only about creating a great product but also how it communicates with an ever-changing consumer. In my work I have learnt how to keep abreast of trends, generating new ideas, not only for branded content but ideas to strengthen the brands positioning and identity.
Tell us a bit more about your career journey since showing at Graduate Fashion Week. How have you found life in the industry?
Just like university, life after university is yet another new journey. I had a challenging start, sometimes travelling from one end of the country to the other in one day for interviews, but as soon as I tailored my applications I found success and am super happy with where I am today. The beautiful thing about this industry is that it’s constantly changing, which means every day is slightly different.
This is something I find both exciting and challenging in my current role. There can be a common misconception when you study fashion that you need to move to London to be successful. Staying up North was one of the best decisions I made and I’ve fallen in love with Manchester, there’s such a buzz of talent in the city.
What are some misconceptions about life in fashion that you discovered once you began your career?
Working in fast-fashion it’s assumed that you blindly follow trends or copy others style, but really this is not the case. So many people look to the fashion industry as an influence and this is exactly what we aim to do at boohooMAN, we want to give individuals the opportunity to create their own personal style whether it be from our site or inspiring content across our social media channels. Whilst we all have our own fashion sense, it’s all about styling and when it comes to that we are all different. We are all independent and all have different lifestyles, with each day often bringing out a different mood.
Where are you hoping to be in five years time?
Time passes by quickly after graduating and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved in the last two years. In the next five years, I hope to have progressed within the company I currently work for and continue to be part of the ever-growing business. I am also keen to keep up my skills in sewing & pattern cutting and one day hope to translate these skills to help teach others.
The industry is undergoing a huge change, with sustainability, diversity and authenticity becoming increasingly important considerations. Is there an issue in the industry that you’re passionate about fixing?
I believe our purchasing habits are changing, specifically within the younger generation. There are so many different services and options now available when shopping, particularly online, which has led to a big shift in consumer behaviour. One thing I’m passionate about is living within your means, this means evaluating what you already have before buying something new. Making informed choices to ensure you get full satisfaction from each and every purchase. I suppose a big part of what I’m talking about is re-purposing, wearing clothes in different ways, borrowing from your friends. To me, that’s what fashion i really about.
Lastly, what advice would you give to the students who are making the transition from university to their career?
Celebrate every tiny victory. You’ll have to work hard for those interviews so when you get there, give yourself the credit you deserve and remember, even if you don’t land a second interview you are one step closer to your dream job and have learnt new skills you can take with you to your next interview. Nothing happens overnight, so just be patient and confident in yourself and your skills, taking the time to reflect on everything you’ve achieved to truly figure out what it is you want out of a job.