道德經Dàodéjīng

夏令Summertime

In a great attempt to wipe out the Riddington Family (or so my 16 year old sister believes), my father unconventionally moved the family to Shanghai, China this year.

Optimistically, scared, filled with strange emotions, I completed my first year of FCP year one preparing myself for the biggest transition in my life (as of yet…!).To my annoyance, I secured an internship at the beginning of the summer before knowledge of ever moving to Shanghai.

Two weeks in the Tesco CE Boyswear Head Buying Department, what a mare. Of course, things always turn out ‘okay’ and I admittedly had a brilliant time. Amid the course of my internship, the absence of the Assistant Buyer endowed me with responsibility of this demanding role.

Along with all the expected spreadsheets, mood and story boards and maintaining of stock, the weekly sales meetings, model fittings and presentations I observed were the factors that truly gave the two weeks

an interesting, exciting angle.

A brilliant surprise and act of kindness, my good friend invited me (as if I would refuse) to stay at her villa and yacht in Alicante! My birthday, the end of two weeks work experience and hot sun!

¡Arriba!

During the more ‘routine’ days at Shokay, we created a campaign launching the new fashion range within Shokay. A website, look books, promotional materials for in store promotion and Berlin Fashion Week and Tradeshows, photo shoots, product and consumer research, visual merchandising and I even got a taste at modelling

(definitely not quitting the day job!)...

The four months interning with a brand cal led Shokay fulf i l led my stay in Shanghai hugely excit ing. Shokay makes yarn from Yak f ibre, impacting on the l ives of local communities oppressed by poverty . P rov id ing l oca l he rde rs w i th l ong - term employment and a greater susta inab le i ncome .

The Shokay store in Shanghai col laborates with a brand cal led NuoMi which supports a local orphanage. Vis it ing the orphanage gave a great insight on the impact that the two brands are making.

Although an emotional trip, it was very inspiring to see the help that is being given to children whom would have otherwise been denied necessary care and treatment.

When a friend of a friend of a friend (it’s not what you know, it’s who you know!) informed me that having seen my CV/portfolio, the owner of the only White Collar Boxing company in China had requested for me to intern with them over the

summer, I was more than surprised!

The success of the twice a year white collar boxing event, held in Shanghai spurred the decision to launch the Shanghai’s only Boxing Gym. Even though boxing, is most certainly NOT a field I would have ever considered working in, it was an offer I

couldn’t refuse.

6 weeks prior to opening and EVERYTHING (quite literally) had to be organised. The job involved everything; from finialising the logo, brand name and theme, to writing all contracts and manual guides, to designing all of the promotional material.

boxing Gym Shanghai China

Orient  Express  

Sophis/cated    Rich  colours  Luxurious  Drama/c  Oriental  Elegant  Lavish  Prints  

Sexy  Retro  Country  meets  city  Smart  leisure  3me  ‘Worn’  look  Relaxed  Check  Jeans    Cord    

Girls  

T62  –  Top  10  Volume  Lines  

AW11  Buy  Posi,on  -­‐  WomensAUTUMN/WINTER  2011

WK  24  -­‐  32            W/E  13/11-­‐06/11WK  33  -­‐  42        W/E  13/11  -­‐  15/01

Dept  Carryover  AW11

 TotalCarryover  &AW  Newness  %  New

 Total  FPEstimate

TY  %

Contribution  %  BoughtTOTAL  GM

                     62,382                      51,723                        114,093 45%                                  52,435 100% 218%

WOMENSWEAR 18,594                     21,482                     40,076                             54% 24,190                                 46% 166%CASUALWEAR 11,189                     3,682                           14,871                             25% 6,885                                       13% 216%

T41  CASUAL  TOPS T41 750                                     1,495                           2,245                                   67% 1,500                                       3% 150%T38  KNITWEAR T38 8,700                           904                                     9,604                                   9% 3,785                                       7% 254%T51  LEISUREWEAR T51 600                                     248                                     848                                           29% 200                                                 0% 424%T54  CASUAL  BOTTOMS T54 639                                     1,036                           1,675                                   62% 1,400                                       3% 120%SMARTWEAR 4,450                           5,055                           9,505                                   53% 7,600                                       14% 125%

T43FORMAL  TOPS T43 -­‐                                       641                                     641                                           100% 900                                                 2% 71%T57  FORMAL  BOTTOMS T57 1,000                           682                                     1,682                                   41% 1,400                                       3% 120%T59  SUITS  AND  JACKETS T59 1,500                           302                                     1,802                                   17% 900                                                 2% 200%T42  DRESSES T42 -­‐                                       691                                     691                                           100% 500                                                 1% 138%T50  AUTOGRAPH T50 250                                     1,956                           2,206                                   89% 1,900                                       4% 116%T49  COATS T49 1,700                           783                                     2,483                                   32% 2,000                                       4% 124%FOOTWEAR  &  ACCESSORIES 2,755                           6,552                           9,307                                   70% 5,205                                       10% 179%

T01  ACCESSORIES T01 440                                     349                                     789                                           44% 690                                                 1% 114%T02  FOOTWEAR T02 1,700                           3,939                           5,639                                   70% 3,000                                       6% 188%T06  JEWELLERY T06 386                                     1,315                           1,701                                   77% 860                                                 2% 198%T82  SLIPPERS T82 210                                     507                                     717                                           71% 220                                                 0% 326%T83  HANDBAGS T83 19                                           443                                     461                                           96% 435                                                 1% 106%BRANDS 200                                     6,193                           6,393                                   97% 4,500                                       9% 142%

T69  LIMITED T69 200                                     2,727                           2,927                                   93% 2,000                                       4% 146%T62  PER  UNA T62 -­‐                                       3,466                           3,466                                   100% 2,500                                       5% 139%

The final internship during my time in Shanghai was my only pre-arranged Internship. Shadowing the Head Buyer of all departments in Marks and Spencer China was greatly eye opening and I was

highly appreciative of this opportunity. Having interned with two buying departments in notably

diverse marketplaces, I encountered the contrasting fashions, how greatly the job itself varies internationally and the relationships with factories and manufacturers in a country where they are local.

That is my summer in brief, of course, I didn’t just work..! I got to know my new home, enjoyed being a complete tourist and had my

most exciting, fulfilling summers’ yet! These are just a few of my favourite photos

taken over the four months.

Holly Louise Riddington