'Ragtradejobs.com talks' - Rachel Gilbert
Sydney Fashion Designer Rachel Gilbert has reason to be enormously proud of her success. As a former graduate of the prestigious Whitehouse Institute of Design, Rachel now boasts International success with herself titled label ‘Rachel Gilbert'.
Starting her career working for fashion icon Lisa Ho, Rachel clearly had aspirations to surround herself with luxury fabrics and fine design. Her role as a design assistant and fit model gave Rachel a behind the scenes intro into fashion that most of us would envy. Later Rachel also worked for Australian icon Peter Morrissey, but it was Rachel's role as the head designer for Nicky Hiltons range ‘Chick by Nicky Hilton' that gave Rachel her international ‘break'. Rachel's design role in New York was under the design direction of the design director so although she loved the experience her handwriting and own design talent was to take a backseat, for the time being anyway.
Having achieved great success in New York Rachel came home to relaunch her label ‘Rachel Gilbert' at Australian Fashion Week in 2007. Inspired by the sassy business sense and international success of Sass and Bide and the fashion design style of Tom Ford, Rachel has worked very hard to achieve incredible success in just over a year since the labels relaunch.
Whilst Rachel loved her New York experience it was time for her to design with freedom instead of to the brief of a design director. So with lots of energy and enthusiasm Rachel set about researching her target market in Australia and Internationally. It wasn't long until she had made her first collection, signed on a National Sales Agent, and well, the rest is history - Rachel's label has enjoyed enormous success ever since.
So what is Rachel's advice to everyone with a passion for fashion "be prepared to work triple the hours and double the pressure, but the feeling of seeing strangers in your designs over powers all of that." When you start your career in fashion, "be confident, believe in yourself and never give up!"
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