The first step on the career ladder is often the hardest, and in our current economic climate, it’s no wonder that many talented graduates are falling by the wayside of the business world. When your dreams lie in industries without rigid internship and graduate schemes, but rely instead on networking and somehow building a strong working portfolio to get your foot in the door, things can seem hopeless.
 
Fashion is certainly one such industry.

However this challenge also represents one of the industry’s most redeeming qualities- it is an intimate community of talent. Once your foot is in that door, you’ll find opportunities can come thick and fast.

Many fashion hopefuls are now exploring the wonderful world of blogs- an incredible tool to develop your own ideas and get your work on the computer screens of the right people. It would be unwise for graduates or the fashion community to underestimate the influence blogging can have on consumer buying habits and even future collections, as some fashion bloggers such as Susanna Lau can recommend items which will sell out within hours. Tavi Gevinson is fast becoming a 13-year old fashion goliath, whose blog thestylerookie.com has spawned her own online fashion publication rookiemag.com, not to mention getting her on the front row of countless shows during New York fashion week.
 
Tavi’s success is not a product of her taste or talent alone, but her appreciation that appreciation of talent comes from sharing it appreciation of talent comes from sharing it. Hanging around outside shows and bombarding any contacts with (polite!) emails asking for unpaid work may seem pointless and often gruelling at first, but there is something to be said for the ‘anything I want I have to go and find for myself’ mindset.
 
Another avenue to explore is to employ a little professional intervention to kick start your career, such as the new London based venture Shootingbeauty; the brainchild of industry veteran Nina Malone. Her appreciation of the challenges young creative talent face when trying to break into the fashion and beauty industry has prompted her to establish a venture which helps bridge the gap between inexperienced graduates and professionals.
 
Based in three London studios; MUA’s, hair and fashion stylists can develop a professional level portfolio surrounded by industry professionals. They also offer career consultations and incredible networking opportunities.
 
Ventures such as this are a refreshing take on the traditional route into this close-knit community, and should be considered a viable option for graduates looking for that initial shot of adrenaline into their fashion careers. The difference between the fashion icons you know and the talent you will never hear of is that the former find ways to put their work into the world, whatever it takes. 

Find out more about Shooting Beauty here.