Fashion Design student gains industry experience at Sirplus through UKFT’s MADE IT programme
02/12/2024
Henna Ibrahim, a second-year BA Fashion Design student at Winchester School of Art, completed an internship with the London-based menswear brand Sirplus, as part of the UKFT’s 2023/24 MADE IT programme.
The MADE IT Production Internship offers a two-month paid placement in a UK production setting, giving one student from participating universities hands-on experience in manufacturing and sourcing.
Henna interned with menswear brand Sirplus, where she joined the buying and design team. Her role involved exploring the menswear sector, conducting trend research and contributing to product development, gaining first-hand experience in bringing a collection to life.
‘‘This internship challenged me in ways that encouraged personal development. Working in a dynamic and collaborative environment pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, which increased my confidence and adaptability,’’ said Henna.
‘‘One of the highlights of my internship was researching and gathering ideas for Sirplus’s forthcoming summer collection. I enjoyed the process of researching current trends, discovering new concepts, and understanding how the design team incorporates them into a unified collection. This phase required a great deal of creative thinking and competition research, which allowed me to bring new insights to the development process.
Throughout my internship, I learned a variety of practical skills that will undoubtedly help me as I continue my studies and pursue a career. Managing technical sheets, performing quality checks, and accurately measuring samples were all important aspects of my job, and each required a keen eye for detail. My experience with industry-standard software has prepared me.’’
Sirplus is a modern British menswear brand with stores throughout London, specialising in upcycling surplus textiles to create stylish, high-quality garments with a strong focus on sustainability. Known for its collarless designs, Sirplus offers unique pieces such as jackets, grandad shirts and its own British twist on the classic Parisian chore jacket.
Katie Imong, Head of Buying and Design at SIRPLUS, said:
‘‘Henna helped provide colour and trend research, putting together colour moodboards, finding relevant colour swatches and working on design research boards for our accessories collection. She responded really well to feedback and really began to understand our customer’s taste and style sensibility and became more confident in voicing her opinions on style and fabric decisions. Henna was very easy to get on with and we enjoyed having her as part of the team and was invaluable in the help she provided.’’
‘‘Internships, like the one I had with Sirplus, are essential for aspiring designers and fashion professionals. They fill the gap between academic learning and practical application by providing a platform for exploring and refining essential skills. My experience has instilled in me a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, which I hope to carry forward in my own work, thereby positively impacting the industry.’’
Discover Sirplus online:
About MADE IT
Ten university design students have undertaken paid internships at UK fashion and textile businesses including Peagreen, SIRPLUS, Pristine, Lyle & Scott, Trouble at Mill, EMIKO, Standing Ground, Amanda Kelly, Feben & Simon Stewart Clothing and London Embroidery Studio, as part of UKFT’s MADE IT scheme.
Students have been selected from the five participating universities on this year’s MADE IT programme: Winchester School of Art, the University of Bolton, the University of Westminster, Manchester Metropolitan University and Nottingham Trent University.
Supporting UK manufacturing
UKFT’s MADE IT campaign is generously supported by The Clothworkers’ Company and CapitB. It is part of UKFT’s broader aim of supporting the future of the UK manufacturing sector, which includes running projects to support growth and innovation, promoting and matchmaking businesses and ensuring that the next generation of skilled people entering the sector are being trained to the highest level.