Rae Ashton

Review of Fashion Retail Academy

Dropping out of A-Levels and choosing to attend th...

Dropping out of A-Levels and choosing to attend the FRA has completely changed my future. I never would have thought that I'd be able to acquire all of the skills needed to have a career in fashion, let alone in such a short space of time.
I've just completed the Level 3 Fashion Retail course and couldn't recommend the academy enough - so much so that I'm going to be starting the Marketing and Communications degree in September. L3 Fashion Retail gave me an insight into the different job roles in the industry so I could find the right pathway to suit me.
Not only has the academy taught me everything I know about the industry, but it has also set me up for life outside college and my future - we had a lot of lessons and workshops based around interview skills, CV making and applying for university which made the transition to HE a lot easier for me. I love being able to learn from all my tutors and peers too, all of the tutors and many of the students have had really interesting job roles and experiences in the industry already, so I love being able to learn and hear about them.
There have been so many benefits from being at the FRA - the industry connections, industry weeks, placements, trip week, library/resources and location of the academy. I've had industry projects with Topshop and Converse through the academy which have both been really interesting and have built my confidence with presenting. I've also attended talks and workshops with brands like ASOS and Louis Vuitton thanks to the connections and industry weeks at the FRA.
Trip week was a major highlight of my time at the FRA, I went to New York and got to go to places like the Fashion Institute of Technology. Being based right by Oxford Circus, atttending FRA has allowed me to travel into the city and have easy access to different retail environments for research; having a two day week timetable is beneficial too, it makes juggling education and a job possible, and meant I could work independently at home rather than having to travel into central London every day. I like to make the most out of the resources in the FRA too, access to WGSN and countless books and magazines have made my project research easier too.
Possibly my favourite thing about the FRA is that they don't treat you like children - which has been the main difference between FRA and my old, local college. There's more of a professional, office vibe - the building being immaculate is also a plus, it doesn't feel like a boring old classroom. I also feel like because the college only has fashion related courses most of the students really want to be here and aren't just there because they have to be, the students and tutors have a real passion for the industry - which is a lot different from most of typical colleges too.
The academy has taught me about the basic job roles of the industry, how to present, how to write a CV and personal statement, how to approach brands, how to use computers and programs like Excel and InDesign, how to do a bibliography in Harvard format, how to conduct and gather in-depth research, how to find news and updates about the industry and how to make my work aesthetically pleasing.
I couldn't recommend the FRA enough, I wouldn't be where I am without them - especially all while being so young.