Megan Doyle is an Australian-born London-based journalist, who currently works as a Digital Editor for Graduate Fashion Week. She gets exclusive insights into the inner processes of fashion students, from show organization to the final collections of graduates from around the UK, and keeps the Graduate Fashion Week audience up to date with content about student life, social issues, sustainability and more, throughout the year.
She tells us why internships are not the only way to get into the fashion industry, her unpaid internship experience after her course at the London College of Fashion, her apprentice at the Business of Fashion and why no job or internship is worth your physical or mental health
1.Welcome Megan. Can you quickly introduce yourself to the Glam Observer Community?
Hello! I’m an Australian-born, London-based fashion journalist. I’ve been in London for 2.5 years after moving from Perth, Western Australia to study my post graduate. After finishing that, I found an internship and never looked back!
2. You are the Digital Editor at GraduateFashionWeek. What does a Digital Editor do?
In short, I run the Graduate Fashion Week website and oversee social media too. This includes commissioning contributors to write stories for our website, writing stories myself, and of course, during Graduate Fashion Week (which happens in June every year in London) I run the digital team of photographers, writers, social media assistants and editors who will cover all the happenings from the event. The event attracts 30,000 visitors every year, and with over 20 catwalk shows, exhibitions, masterclass talks and workshops, there’s a lot to cover!
3. What did you study and how did you discover this specific niche of journalism?
Back home in Australia, I studied journalism at Curtin University. It was quite a generalised degree, because at the time there weren’t any major universities teaching fashion journalism in Australia (I don’t think there are any still) so my interest in fashion grew when I started a blog in my first year, documenting street style on campus. From there, I kept blogging, teaching myself how to write, edit and hone my tone of voice.
While studying in Australia, I did a semester abroad at Kingston University in London, where I had the (rather delayed) epiphany that fashion journalism was actually a real career option in certain parts of the world, and set my mind to returning to the UK as soon as I could. When I did return to London after finishing my degree in Perth, I studied a postgraduate course (which sadly no longer runs) at the London College of Fashion, which was a really intense but rewarding introduction to the industry and pace of London.
4. How would you describe the importance of internships in order to succeed in the fashion industry?
I’d say that internships are helpful, but they’re no longer the only pathway into a successful career in the fashion industry. Now, there are so many ways emerging creatives can forge their own path without having to do the horrible unpaid internships in a big fashion publication or brand. Once upon a time, this was the only way in, but it’s amazing how young entrepreneurial people can create their own work, promote it entirely by themselves on social media, and build a community and identity around their niche these days.
It’s handing the power over to young people, and one day (I hope!) will mean that fewer young people are taken advantage of through unfair internships that are only accessible to people who can afford, through whatever means, to live without an income. The current model still doesn’t work, it’s not inclusive enough, and it means that the industry isn’t hearing the voices and stories of people from different backgrounds.
5. Did you do internships yourself?
After studying at the London College of Fashion, I interned unpaid for three months at the e-commerce giant MatchesFashion, which
6. You did an apprenticeship at Business of Fashion. Could you describe this experience for us? What did you learn there and what was the biggest challenge?
My time as an apprentice at the Business of Fashion was a huge learning experience. It taught me the importance of understanding every aspect of the fashion industry in order to have a valuable contribution to it. I learnt how to read earnings reports from luxury conglomerates, interview CEOs, and be able to discuss and turn around stories about any aspect of the industry.
Because I got to learn about so many different aspects of the industry, I also discovered what sectors I’m passionate about. For instance, I really care and find meaning in writing about sustainability and the education system, but less so about the luxury or sportswear sectors. Discovering this and building my knowledge of the inner workings and complexities of the fashion industry was simultaneously the best and most challenging aspect of the job: being one step ahead of the news before it happens is no easy feat!
7. Coming back to your current job position: What are the aspects you like the most about your job and daily tasks?
The best part of the job is getting to meet and work with students from fashion schools from all over the country. Our student contributors are writing for us about a whole manner of subjects that they’re passionate and excited to cover. It’s invigorating to meet so many talented students who not only love fashion, but equally care about feminism, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, politics and mental health. Getting to meet incredible students is inspiring, as is seeing their journey as they create their final collections or projects to showcase at Graduate Fashion Week.
9.Do you have to get in touch with the young designers yourself and do you get to visit their shows?
Whenever we get the chance, we will head out to one of our 38 member universities across the UK — from Edinburgh to Brighton — to meet students in person and see their work. Sadly we can’t travel all the time, so when we’re in London we keep up to date with their work through hashtags like #tagyourtalent where students share their progress, sketches and portfolios to win prizes. They’ll all come down to London for Graduate Fashion Week 2019, and we’ll see the top collections from each UK-based school, as well as a number of international schools. It’s going to be a busy four days!
10. How would you characterize the fashion industry in London compared to the ones in other fashion metropoles such as Milan or Paris?
London is a city that draws in creative talent from all over the world like no other. It can be polarising, outrageous and daring — the wackier the better sometimes — and that’s why people love it. I think the strength and international reputation of fashion education in the UK is part of the reason that London is so welcoming and enticing to experimental creatives.
11. What advice would you give young fashion enthusiasts who just started working in the industry or are interested in the business?
One big thing that I learnt the hard way is: no job or internship is worth your physical or mental health! As much as hard work is so important, it’s equally, if not more important, to look after yourself first and foremost.
It’s important not to compare your journey to anyone else’s. Someone else will always be more wealthy, more successful and more popular than you, but all of that is out of your control. The only thing you can control is how hard you work and how nice you are, and if you can sleep at night knowing you did your best, then that’s all that matters. Comparison really is the thief of joy, so just focus on your journey and wish everyone else luck on theirs.
Interview by Lilly Meuser
