Takara Thai Dimmick, a student specialising in womenswear fashion design at the Winchester School of Art, has gained invaluable experience on an “incredible” internship at Emilia Wickstead, supported by the Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary programme.

Through the Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary programme, ten students annually receive financial support, guidance and mentoring to access internship opportunities they might otherwise struggle to afford.

Takara said: “Starting just two weeks before the SS24 show at London Fashion Week, I was immediately thrown straight in at the deep end. Everyone was exceptionally welcoming but stress levels were high and I had to quickly adapt to working in a new and rapid environment. This was my first time at a London Fashion Week show and to experience all the preparatory work and what goes on behind the scenes was phenomenal. The atmosphere after the show was unmatched and everyone was high on life.

“I interned within the design team, which was incredible as I was able to see collections come to life from the initial ideas. It was great to see all the alterations and amendments that happen along the way and to see how every single part is perfected.

“Currently, Emilia Wickstead is designing the new uniform for Air New Zealand, so as well as working on other collections, I was also helping to design and develop this. Designing a uniform is complicated because you need to consider specific details, and the technical drawing of each garment needs to be an exact representation. This gave me the opportunity to practice and develop my Adobe Illustrator skills, something that I hadn’t been so confident with beforehand. I can confidently say I’m pretty good now!

“Although still an undergraduate, I was given great responsibility for a lot of things throughout my internship. One of my highlights was working on bespoke: ready-to-wear and red carpet. The responsibility of creating design illustrations and fabric samples for celebrities as well as presenting them digitally and physically was so rewarding once they had been approved.

“Poppy Delevingne’s dress for the BFAs was by Emilia Wickstead and I am proud to say I was able to aid in the development of the design from start to finish. To see Poppy wear it on the red carpet was thrilling.

“I knew I would learn a great deal, but I had no idea really to what extent, it was truly an invaluable experience, and I have learned more than I ever imagined. Nothing compares to actually being immersed in the industry. Being surrounded by creativity and creative people is amazing. To anyone who is considering interning – you honestly won’t regret it!

“I feel highly privileged to have been able to intern with Emilia Wickstead and to have been supported by The Drapers’ Company and UKFT throughout. This experience has definitely reaffirmed my desire for a career in the fashion industry, and I can’t wait to put the skills I’ve learned to use in my future work.”

Through initiatives like this, students like Takara are equipped with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the competitive landscape of the fashion industry.

Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary Programme

The scheme is part of UKFT’s work to increase the industry knowledge and experience of graduates, as well as opening up new routes into the sector. Find out more about our work around skills and training here, and UK manufacturing here.