Studying at JCA has been one of the best decisions I have made in my academic career. After completing my BA in Fashion Marketing, I wanted to expand my knowledge and better prepare myself for the industry. With my brand Rethreaded emerging as a concept during my BA final major project and a strong passion for sustainability, I chose JCA to develop my skills in design and garment making, going far beyond the basics I had before.At first, the transition was extremely challenging, stepping into a new, physically demanding subject at Master’s level with no prior technical experience. However, the support and encouragement from my tutors, Mark Eley and Mark Weston, was invaluable. The small class sizes meant I could receive one-to-one support, while the friendliness and approachability of the teachers allowed me to come to them at any time. Their belief in me gave me the confidence to believe in myself.What makes JCA stand out is how openly and realistically the tutors speak about the industry. They don’t shy away from discussing the challenges of profit, business costs, and sustainability. This honesty is rare in academia and has given me a much clearer, more practical perspective on entrepreneurship. The course is designed not only to guide you through the creative process but also to equip you with the tools to build a brand and business with real-world strategy.The dedication of the academic team has been incredible. Each tutor brings a different area of expertise, and their willingness to go above and beyond, whether through sharing ideas they’ve thought about over the weekend or responding outside of hours, has made a huge impact on my journey. Having access to such a breadth of knowledge has allowed me to shape my business from multiple perspectives.This year at JCA, as part of the MA cohort, I was fortunate enough to showcase my brand Rethreaded at Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE, gaining international exposure and professional experience far beyond what I could have imagined as a new entrant. Additionally, the mentorship program allowed me to connect with Orsola De Castro, from whom I gained invaluable insight into sustainability and built a relationship that has extended beyond JCA into my career.Looking back, I am amazed at how far I’ve come, from being daunted by the idea of creating a collection with no experience, to producing work I am truly proud of and exceeding my own expectations. More importantly, JCA has given me not just technical and business skills, but also self-belief. I now know how to confidently enter the market, how to conduct well-rounded, in-depth research and those challenges which seem overwhelming at first can be overcome with perseverance.
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