I chose the Fashion Design & Technology degree because the course stood out for its combination of creativity, science and technology, allowing me to apply interests from my A levels, including maths and science, within a fashion context. Through modules exploring thermal performance, garment construction and digital technologies such as CLO3D, I learned to design with both aesthetics and functionality in mind.

A placement year was always important to me because I was aware of how competitive the fashion industry can be. I wanted to gain practical experience, improve my employability and explore different career paths within textiles and performance fashion. Loughborough University provided extensive placement support, including CV workshops, careers seminars, open drop-in sessions and employer talks. They also advertised placement opportunities through Loughborough's careers portal and on an external job boards.

I took a proactive approach to finding a placement by independently researching roles, networking and making speculative applications. My tutors encouraged me to explore brands I was interested in working for, so I found the placement opportunity through the Adidas careers page. This reflects the level of hard work and patience required to secure a placement. The knowledge and skills gained after completing a year in industry makes the time and effort worth it.

One module that particularly prepared me for industry was Advanced Digital Design Processes, where we used laboratory data and knowledge of thermal performance to create an outerwear and activewear capsule collection. This project helped me understand consumer needs, technical design processes and industry relevant digital software.