Former fashion recruiter Violette Kimona’s Career Tips

Former fashion recruiter Violette Kimona worked as a bridge between companies, and those seeking to work within them. She now works as a fashion stylist and runs her own company. Violette got in touch with fashion job recruiters and other creatives, who are interested in the industry’s business side. In this interview, she tells us about the importance of females in the industry, she gives advice on how to stand out with one’s CV, what fashion recruiters are looking for, if it’s more important studying or interning and her morning routine.

1. Hi Violette. Thanks for being here with us today. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our Glam Observer Community?

Hi, Glam Observer Community thank you for letting part of this interview. I’m Violette Kimona and I have worked in the fashion industry for the past 10 years in recruitment and PR mainly within many different fashion houses. It is a pleasure to speak with you all.  

2.Working as a fashion and technical recruiter, your focus laid in supporting creatives to finding their ideal career path. What did this position require from you? 

The position required me to manage and recruit new talent processes with screening candidates for potential positions, which meant that I had to build strong relationships with candidates as well as building up a platform and engaging with the fashion and design industry. This way I was able to look at what both sides wanted. I was essentially a bridge between companies, and those seeking to work within them. 

Recruitment is all about rapport building. A development of mutual trust that can allow recruiters to source credible candidates for potential roles.  

3. Working hand in hand with fashion recruiters and exactly knowing what they are looking for has been part of your job. What do they pay attention to, when looking for fashion employees?

Every role that I have worked in has had different requirements.  For example, if I were working on a design assistant role, most luxury brands would require you to have a least a year’s internship industry experience and 1-2 Years’ experience in a paid working role. For such criteria, I find that it is very important to have the right attitude and be a teachable person. What draws me to a potential candidate is someone that is passionate about their area of work, even if they do not have much experience, whether its design, production or pattern cutting. 

4. Is there any CV and Cover letter advice you could give, in order to making one’s experiences stand out from the wide mass?

I would say make sure you highlight your experiences related to the job role that you are applying for. Someone once told me “dress for the job you want not the job you have.” Be related and show the transferable skills you have required. Companies really like to see candidates that can make their skills related to different aspects of the roles they are advertising.

Making sure that you are catering your CV to what the company is looking for. Be also aware of what is happening across the fashion industry, for example we are moving into a more digital era and most designers tend to work on CAD systems so if you have any of those skills defiantly highlight it!

5.What do you think is more relevant and supportive for a future career in fashion: Interning or studying at a well-known University? Why? 

Fashion is such a wide industry so it really depends on what you want to do in fashion. For example, if you were to pursue a career in fashion design I would advise to go to university and intern as well. This is because university will offer the technical skillset in order to help you create good quality garments.  Technique and design come hand in hand and you will see yourself as a much stronger candidate if you can show you have both. The name of the university doesn’t necessarily matter, but I would say do your research on the university that you want to attend and look at what they can offer in regards to skills and whether that would benefit you for future roles.

I would definitely say that having some sort of internship is a benefit for career progression as it offers you experience and builds your skills and allows you to build connections with industry professionals. It also shows you if fashion is what you really want to do. I have had the privilege of having a degree and benefitted from many internships. This has helped me navigate what I really wanted to do and exposed me to reality of how challenging the industry can be at times. 

6. How did expectations from recruiters change with the rise of interest in Social Media?

I would say now that there has been a rise of social media; more people are able to create their own career path through this medium and increase their reputation. The increase in entrepreneurship has started particularly in fashion. This means individuals do not really want to work 9-5 but have more drive to start their own companies. This has allowed finding work a lot easier because people tend to promote themselves through social media. With more candidates becoming freelance, there is a slight increase in opportunities.

7.A huge part of the Glam Observer readers are girls and women. How would you consider the impact of females in the industry and what are your favorite female leaders of the industry?

The impact of females is of very much of an importance in this industry considering it is mainly female dominated. This makes sense to a degree as we are promoting and designing clothes we as females would like to wear. 

One female I admire in the industry is Yasmin Sewell (VP of style and creative for WWD).  I feel that her career has influenced the industry. Her contributions to the industry has led to working as buyer for Browns where she first discovered Christopher Kane and created her own clothing line Être Cécile in 2013.

I really admire that she has redefined brands. For example, working as a style director for Conde Nast’s Style.com, being responsible for the recreation of the British Department store Liberty London as a buyer in 2008, where she changed and introduced more Avant -garde brands and designers that, lead to recreating the stores concept. As of recent, redefined the creative direction of Farfetch as the VP of style and creative. 

8.We would love to get a little insight into your morning routine. Which products would you say are essential to staying fresh and awake looking during a long day at work?

 I am all about my morning routine and staying fresh. I have been experimenting with natural products recently to see what difference it makes. I always start the morning with my face scrub, which consists of baking soda, coconut oil and brown sugar. I use a natural Aloe Vera gel toner, which helps with those dark circles and improves the skin tone. I then moisturise with natural coconut oil, that helps hydrate the skin and keeps me looking refreshed all day. In the evenings I tend to use the ‘Renu Skin flash relax mask’ which, helps smooth the skin.

9.What are your three favourite pieces you wear to the office at the moment?

Currently my favourite pieces to wear in the office now would be my trusted white blazer from Mango, my Chanel Rouge Allure red lipstick and my black peep toe mules from Zara. These essential items are always good to wear for meetings.

10.Three aspects you appreciate the most about the fashion industry?

The fast pace of the fashion industry challenges you to be flexible and alert in how you manage changes in trend and how we perceive the clothes we choose to buy. I enjoy the continuous opportunities to meet new people and expand my networks. I would also say creative is always at the heart of what goes on in the fashion industry and I hope to keep developing this through my business and the clients I work with. 

Interview by Lilly Meuser