Thinking about and planning this intervention has helped me define my research and focus for the following months. What I want to achieve, who I want to help, and who is involved.
I intend to help emerging designers and fashion professionals network, meeting each other in more fun and casual settings. Creating safe, joyful and empowering spaces for people who are just starting out, and need a support network/fellow creatives to talk to, share experiences, give advice to, etc.
I’ve realised that all the contacts I have made so far as a fashion writer – the people I invited to my upcoming intervention, for instance – I met by going to various events. These interventions, in fact, would also help me build my writing portfolio, by allowing me to meet designers I could interview, or fashion editors I could pitch my ideas to.
Furthermore, I can do all this whilst activating retail spaces, as it was my initial plan. The main difference is that the focus is now on the purpose of these events, rather than the fact they’re taking place in retail shops.
In the future, possibly after the course, I envision Controra Fashion Club as a platform for emerging fashion creatives. A website + social media pages + Discord. Monthly in-person and online events. Creating a fashion community, whilst activating spaces.
The next step, after my upcoming intervention (online event for fashion professionals), will be an in-person event. Once back in London, I want to go to Paper Dress Vintage (a vintage shop during the day and a club after dark), to discuss my project and whether they’d like to get involved.