In conversation with: Rosie Hiskey, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business

Rosie discusses what it’s like to study BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business.

About Rosie

Hi, I’m Rosie and I specialise in fashion marketing, business and journalism. I have just finished studying my third year in BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business at Norwich University of the Arts.

Why did you choose to study at Norwich?

Choosing to study at Norwich was a decision that took many months of uncertainty for me. After finishing my college diploma in Art and Design, I knew I wanted to take a fashion industry path because I focused my final college project on fashion business. However, I was overwhelmed by the number of university choices and the pressure to choose the right one for me. Recommended by my college course teacher, Norwich quickly ticked all my boxes. I could commute from Ipswich to a gold-level University and gain a valuable degree while living at home.

What does an average day and week look like?

A usual week at Norwich for me would be two full days on campus from 9:30am to 4:30pm, filled with lectures and studio support where we can get advice on our projects from tutors and share our work with fellow students. This is followed by a morning guest lecture online the next day and a drop-in session with our lecturers to offer more support and guidance. The tutors are always there to guide you during their working hours in the week and are more than helpful in terms of support.

Could you share your creative process with us and discuss what keeps you inspired?

Throughout my work, I constantly draw inspiration from my passions, animal rights, sustainability and ethics within the fashion industry. I highly value and strive to make an impact through my work. I look to platforms such as Good On You, Sustainably Influenced and Business of Fashion for inspiration on current topics. I love the broad coverage of content within fashion, which each covers in detail, and the efforts of their writers to make a difference in the industry.

My most recent work, nominated for two Graduate Fashion Week awards, is a marketing strategy collaboration between the fashion brand Lazy Oaf and leading publishers Penguin Books UK, pushing to create social change and redefine the feminist movement. The marketing strategy is split into two phases. Phase one is a writing competition for young writers to develop the next intersectional feminist fiction, launched with an exclusive inspiration book range.

In phase two, led by Lazy Oaf, the winning entries will inspire a clothing collection. Marketing outcomes from the strategy would include a Boiler Room pop-up called Lazy Room, an Amazon Kindle takeover and an exclusive app, all used uniquely to gain consumer interest and drive social change.

How has your course helped you develop your skills and prepare you for the future?

Fashion Marketing and Business at Norwich has developed no end of transferable skills for me, such as communication, problem-solving and in-depth reflection, all skills I will need to progress into the Fashion Industry. From year one, we are shown skills such as pitching and presenting our work (even though initially a little scary) are vital for sharing ideas and are given a safe space to practice and build confidence in preparation for the industry after graduation. Specialist knowledge skills such as, marketing theory and strategy, fashion buying, visual merchandising and branding which are developed throughout the three years of the course.

How do you make use of the University facilities?

The University facilities are available to all students to support their studies and build these skills. Studio spaces such as Bank Plain, Duke Street and the Student Union are great places to work independently or collaborate with peers to develop projects.

Do you have a particular favourite moment or highlight from your university experience?

The highlight of my experience has to be the people I have met through the course. The lecturers have all been outstanding, filled with industry experience and knowledge to help guide us through the course and give us creative freedom to explore our interests. Alongside my peers on the course, sharing work has been valuable, as I have gained different perspectives, pushed ideas and been able to lean on others for support.

Another highlight is the opportunities to visit industry workplaces to prepare us for graduating, such as the Next head offices, on a buying and merchandising day, we got to explore and delve into the behind-the-scenes of the brand. More locally, we have had the opportunity to visit marketing agency Borne and Coder here in Norwich and Soundyard, a podcast studio, which was intriguing to see the many pathways this course could lead to.

What guidance would you offer someone who is considering studying at Norwich?

If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering this BA or to study at Norwich University of the Arts in general, it would be to research, but trust your gut instinct! You will know from the moment you visit on an Open Day or sit in your first few lectures if you feel inspired to be creative here, and if you have that excitement, it is no doubt the right decision. This took a while for me, but as soon as the first projects kicked off and the idea-generation process began, I felt a sense of security and excitement to throw myself in.

To sum up my experience in one sentence, it would be, don’t be afraid to give everything a go and explore every opportunity. From visiting industry workplaces, testing ideas in studio support to connecting with guest lecturers and building networks, this University is excellent at providing opportunities for growth and preparing you for the future. Put yourself in the best position by taking these opportunities, it can only lead to positive things.

Can you tell us about any plans or projects you have in the near future?

After graduation, I have taken a position as the PR and Marketing Executive at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive. Then, in September, I will start my MBA studying Fashion Entrepreneurship to push the skillset I have learnt at Norwich and explore the fashion industry further.

You can discover more of Rosie’s work by visiting her website and Instagram.