Megan Lott has wanted in a career in fashion since
high school. After studying sewing at Central Tech, she registered in
George Brown College's Fashion Techniques and Design program in
2000 and immediately took to the intensive work environment and the
focus on the craft of fashion.
"In analyzing other programs I've found most of them don't
focus enough on the technical side of fashion," Megan explains. "I
think it's crucial for any designer to go through a program like
George Brown's in order to understand what's technically possible.
Especially because it's such a competitive industry, you should
at least know the basics in all areas whether you're going to be
a pattern-maker, sewer, illustrator or designer."
After graduating
in 2002, Megan and a friend from GBC went to Milan to study
at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni.
"We were studying with people from all over the world," she says. "I
appreciated George Brown even more after we arrived and
found that our technical abilities were on a much higher level than the
other students."
Megan's main interest lies in the combination
of mathematics and art that goes into pattern-making, designing the "blueprint" for
clothing.
"Pattern-making and sewing is really where the skill is," she says. "You
can style and pick colours all you want, but you don't just wake
up one morning and know how to make a tailored suit. That's what
I'm most interested in - the craftsmanship of fashion."
Megan
refutes the notion that you need to spend a fortune to
get a good fashion education, and that in fact the opposite
is true, mentioning a friend who went to an expensive design
school.
"She spent 13,000 dollars for one year and felt rushed and
bombarded with work," says Megan. "At George Brown you work
very hard but they don't overwhelm you, and the progression of the
demos and classes are geared so you absorb a lot of information.
Plus there are tons of supplies and the teachers are always willing to
make
time for you."
Although she plans to travel more, Megan is spending
time in Toronto adding to her work experience before going
abroad. She recently landed a job at the Haggar clothing company
as an Import Coordinator,
managing the shipping and distribution of the company's garments.
"I want to learn as much about the industry as possible,
so if I start my own clothing business I'll be prepared," she
says.
Megan doesn't totally rule out becoming a designer one day,
but for now she wants to focus on making quality clothing and becoming
increasingly
skilled at her trade.
"I don't have any ambition to become famous," she
says. "Ideally
I want to apprentice with a top pattern-maker, someone
who can create a pattern by instinct. I want that level of skill."
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