Quirky and Quaint

It's finally May, and that means it's time to seriously put my head down in the books. While the panic of dissertation and last minute assignments linger overhead, there was still time to listen to Justin Quirk give us some post university advice on Friday.

An old-school print trained journalist, Justin has worked for many creditable publications including the Guardian, The Times and Soho House's quarterly journal, HOUSE. Coming in to speak to a gang of fashion marketing and journalism students, his main points of topic were to always be adaptable to change and to think critically.

Justin Quirk talking to fashion marketing and journalism students about the industry

Whilst some say that print media is a dying breed, Justin is evidence that it is the total opposite. Currently the editor of Supplement Magazine, a new publication devoted to contemporary culture in its widest sense, he's experienced the changing journalism climate with the rise of online. Justin said, that where once a clear difference with editorial (the creative) and commercial (advertising) existed, nowadays, "those divisions have gone completely". He adds with the internet "we are far more culturally aware".

Naming Red Bull as a brand that is a perfect example of this, he said that they have perfected the filter between the customer bridge and content creation. They think in an agile way, and are essentially, a bit of everything. We as young, urban consumers are valuable to brands.

Off the back of this, Justin says, "critically think about culture and connecting readership" because "creating culture is a psychological hurdle". He adds, "Find things that are interesting and communicate that to people".

Such is considered normal in London to work ridiculous hours as an unpaid intern in exchange for so-called 'real-experience'. "Giving your services for free is a slippery slope" he said when asked about what he thinks of working for zero fee. Justin, who started working for the Guardian while he was still in university, said "to contact as many people as humanly possible" about opportunities, even if it's to meet them for a cup of coffee to sell yourself and skills.

Justin has also kept freelancing. "Coming up with ideas is the hardest part" he says. When pitching an idea, three questions should be asked:

Why is this story interesting?

Why is this story right for the title?

Why should you do it?

"No ideas are wasted, even if the editor does knock it", he says reassuringly.

Speaking about personal blogs, he adds, "If you're doing it for free, do it for yourselves".

"Think of yourself as a brand", Justin says. Whilst receiving criticism can be daunting, if you want an employer to hire you, he recommends to make your blog as professional as possible because according to him, "your ideas have to work visually".

Another tip he offers is to show brands or people you are interested in their work. An example of how to do this he says is to "really collaborate with others who don't have your skills". By doing this you are essentially doubling your contacts.

Discussing the time he interviewed the "charming" Jude Law in his hotel room, and in my mind I'm imagining Hugh Grant in Notting Hill claiming to be a reporter from Horse & Hound, he says to "stay clear of celebrities and cover people starting their career, rather than at the end."

"You are your first audience", says Justin. People are always going to need to know about culturally exciting things.

Printemps

Taking pictures for Lindsey Isla's and Annabel's blog has really given me the perfect excuse to get back into my photography.

The second week of our Easter holidays from university has brought us to three galleries in East, South and North London. The Spring weather has also been bright and beautiful, so we've taken advantage to do some style shots.

Alright, enough of me yabbering on. Here's my favourite pictures from the last few days.

Check out my two photogenic pals:

Tuck-In

Annabel Laura

Patrick Brill: "Art makes you powerful"

Known for his contemporary slogan art, the artist also known as Bob and Roberta Smith, discusses influences and how important art education is.

In early 2017 Patrick Brill, 54, received a prestigious OBE by Her Majesty the Queen for his services to art. Now an associate professor of fine art at London Metropolitan and founder of the Leytonstone Centre for Contemporary Art. How did he get to where he is now?

“It was a democratic time, everybody ought to of been making culture at that time”. When punk really took off in London, Patrick explains he was heading towards the end of secondary school. He added: “Some people picked up guitars, but I grabbed hold of a paint brush and made a mess.”

As a secondary school student, another important memory for Patrick was a visit to Whitechapel Gallery for a kids workshop. Inspired by the 19th century German painter Max Beckman, he created a huge abstract collage, and knew that afternoon he didn’t want to do anything else.

After studying an undergrad in Reading University he committed to a scholarship in Rome. Whilst there, he noticed how every surface was covered in decorative painting and this  helped change his idea about painting.

After this Patrick went on to have a fruitful career teaching in Goldsmiths, Cardiff and even lived in New York for a while. Whilst in The Big Apple he saw that political text art was on the streets. It was around this time that he started making the political conceptual art that he is famous for today.

Two things inspire Patrick on a daily basis. Firstly, other people’s work in museums which create huge conversation between human beings and the resulting finished object he said. Radio also generates further motivation. Jokingly, he added: “An awful politician would makes me want to throw my radio across the room and inspire me to create a slogan.”

Art is more central to peoples lives then they imagine. He explains, “when you put your clothes on in the morning you’re making a series of aesthetics”. Even looking is the mirror is a visual artists thing he adds.

Currently Teaching at The Cass, he describes it as a “huge comprehensive school” with a whole range of people and societies”. He added: “none of the other art schools are like that”.

For Patrick, art is central. His relationships, friendships, work environment are all driven by creativity. “Art makes you powerful”, he said, because “creativity on basic level, teaches you to think for yourself, and to not follow other people”.

Unmasking Fashion

Forget Vogue, Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion is the real Fashion Bible.

They say honesty is the best policy, but behind the glitz and glamour of the fashion world lies deep and disturbing secrets. Shockingly truthful and brutally honest, Tansy Hoskins exposes the superficial industry for what it really is. 

Each year 40,000 fingers are found severed from work related incidents in China’s Pearl Delta River. And that’s only the ones that are found. Just let that sink in.

Published in 2014, it delves into the nitty-gritty. The book reveals the harsh realities of the $3 trillion dollar global industry. Essentially, the book is about how the lucrative fashion industry pulls the wool over your eyes and “stitches up” those at the bottom of the supply chain.

Having previously written about many ethical based issues for i-D, the Guardian, The Independent, Aljazeera and Business of Fashion to name a few, it’s safe to assume that freelance journalist Hoskins is an expert in the field. Currently writing her second book, her work has taken her all over the world, most recently to Topshop’s warehouses in Solihull.

In 202 pages, Hoskins unveils how “fashion is a world devoid of variety”, where anyone or anything “who does not fit within its slim visual confines is rendered all but invisible” —  in instances of body size, race, class, and gender stereotypes. She dissects the economics, starting from raw materials to the final product within the media and our wardrobes.

It echoes what Karl Marx wrote about 169 years ago, that inequality and exploitation are right out of the past, and we, as the consumers, are continually turning a blind eye to greedy designers and impatient corporations.

Jam packed with brute statistics, Stitched Up is a complete eye opener. It will make you question whether the shirt on your back began its footprints by an Indian cotton farmer who killed himself because he was unable to pay his farm equipment loan back, or whether the Haitian family ate dinner that night. 

Fashion exists to make you buy clothes that are in trend one week, and destined for the charity shop the following. Unlike fashion’s rapidly changing nature, this book will however exist to be relevant until there is a reform on fashion. If you purchase garments this investigative read is a must have for you.

Fashion is a product of corporate narcissism. It’s time to lift the mask.

* Stitched Up available on offer at Wordery