An Interview With Cherona Blacksell, Fashion Designer(2/3) By Bekki Stephenson Accessories are the best invention ever - except for bras!

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

'I could scream about all the late nights and lack of partying time, (which I definitely make up for during holidays!) but when it comes down to it, I'm doing something that I love and I think that is the best thing you can do'. Not only does she talk favourably about the educational side to university but she has nothing but good words for the people that she has had chance to meet. 'University has been, for the last two years, one of the most interesting times of my life. I've met some amazing people and it's given me independence- although I'm still a daddy's girl at heart, and I still can't deal with spiders!'

In fact some of the people she has got to meet are truly at the top of the fashion world. Cherona was fortunate enough to secure a work placement with leading fashion label, Frost French (Sadie Frost's company). She obviously made a great impression because they are welcoming her back this summer. From my own personal experience, I know that work experience is one of the hardest things to obtain in the fashion world. So to be able to work for such a renowned label is truly an achievement. Cherona agrees with me, stating persistence as well as standing out from the crowd as the best qualities you can have. 'I think you need the confidence to be able to ask for the opportunity and not think that it will never happen for you' she explains.

'The easiest way is to send out a CV along with a covering letter explaining why you would like to work for the company and a little bit about how fabulous you are! (She laughs) You have to realise that the companies are extremely busy and even if they don't get back to you straight away, it doesn't mean that they're not interested. Making phone calls as well as sending your CV is always a good step, as it could possibly make your name stand out on a long list of emails'.

Work experience is not as glamorous as people may think however. 'I would love to tell you that I was hobnobbing with Kate Moss daily and living an amazingly glamorous lifestyle', Cherona smiles, 'but the reality is I spent most of my days cutting out patterns for garments and doing other small tasks. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the week, I got to see how a small and fairly new design company was run and also it was good to be part of the run up to London Fashion Week.'

It is though, what she has learnt in the last four or so years, that Cherona was able to embark on such fabulous work experience. 'We've covered a wide range of things in the course, including design, construction and also styling, which I really enjoyed. I used my first year to experiment with menswear, womenswear and childrenswear but I now focus on designing for women.' Like most creative subjects, Cherona does not have to take exams. 'Some people may think it's a bit of a copout', she says, 'but the workload is intense as it is all coursework based'.

Cherona is quite clearly having a successful time, trying to put her mark on the fashion circuit, so what does she think when it comes to the bad press Hull's fashion scene gets? 'A lot of people have a bad impression of Hull', she says 'but I know from those people who have studied fashion there, the college has a very good reputation for producing strong students who are able to move onto university well. I think that it is more important that you have talent and determination. It makes me laugh actually when people make judgements that you can't succeed when you're from a certain area.' One such example is the remarks of designer to the stars, Julien McDonald. He recently commented on Sky1's Project Catwalk competition that there are no good fashion designers from Liverpool. In actual fact, Julien was proved wrong; as a scouser went on to win the fashion design competition.

Cherona argues that fashion in Hull is good but that it could be a lot better. 'Its not too bad but most people dress the same. I would never class myself as having a very different style but it seems that Hull is made up of mostly chavs and emo's right now.' However she does think it good that people are becoming a bit more experimental.

Continued ... Next Page (3/3)

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