FAD - London Fashion Week

As part of London Fashion Week I attended the yearly FAD Fashion show held in Holborn. The FAD programme gives a platform to young designers nd allows them to showcase their work to a live audience as well as network with wel known figures within the fashion industry.

The FAD group spent a week at one of London top design university's expanding on their skills and building their final pieces. I caught up with one of the young designers Sinead Cloonan who took part in FAD course to find out about her experience.


Why did you join FAD?

I was in college and my textiles teacher told us about the course and one of my mates did it the year before, so I thought why not try it, plus I wanted to get in to a good uni to do my art foundation, so I thought, whatever extra I can write on my personal statement would help.

What makes you different from other designers?

I wouldn't call myself a designer until I graduate from uni with a fashion degree and say to myself this is what I want to do 100% , because right know I know I want to be in the fashion industry.

What did you learn from FAD?

I learned that pattern cutting is probably the most essential skill you need to be a good fashion designer, Alexander McQueen proved it.

What obstacles have you faced and how have you overcome them?

I found the whole construction process hard. Laying out your designs on paper is completely different to cutting it out on fabric and sewing it together. I had never used a industrial sewing machine before, it really annoyed me because it was so fast. I overcame it by trying to do as much sewing at home on a machine I was used to. But, really I should have just got used the industrial machines to be hones.

Court Reporting

You hear it all the time in the news, the papers or on the radio, but when you’re sat in front of real case it’s a whole different experience. A real court, with a real judge, defendant, victim, solicitors and more, you definitely don’t need to be a law student to recognise it all.

For a minute it’s as though the whole experience isn’t real, but you soon realise these are real people with their livelihood at stake right infront of your eyes. Possession of drugs, rape and fraudulent offences are only a few of the many cases that take place, all with similar criminal charges, but the stories are all so different.


I initially got to the court for 1pm excited to be at the forefront of a real trial, only to be greeted by the security guard who told me to return in an hour as everyone was out for lunch. So I was given an hour to bide my suspense as well as get a bite eat.

I then returned at 1:45 ready and rearing to go. On entrance I was searched by security as part of court procedure, and then shown to the programme of trails that would be taking place. ‘Today is youth court’ the guard explained, as he pointed at the brown board. I just nodded, not 100% sure what he meant, but gathered that hearings held would be particularly for young people.


So I took my pick and chose court 2, there was 6 other courts in procession that day. ‘You’ll have to speak to the usher’, the guard pointed at a man strolling around in a long black cloak, it reminded me of something out of a Harry Potter. But all jokes aside the atmosphere was very different, weird and airy. No one looked happy, there was a feeling of tension amongst the room, but I guess what you can really expect when you’re in a place where perpetrators of civil law are judged and may face imprisonment?

I stood in the lobby for about 10mins, at around 1:55pm the door to court two was opened, as the families of the defendants entered so did I. I could tell from the looks on their faces there were all thinking ‘Who the hell is she…’, but I didn’t care I was there to compete my court reporting task. So I took my seat on the far left of the front row of three benches. On my right I saw two other women with note-pads; this made me feel a bit more comfortable. I saw them speak to the usher to confirm the place on the bench, moment later I soon followed suit and made my enquiry, ‘Is it alright if I listen to the case’ I asked, ‘Of course, just make sure your phones switched off’ she replied. Of course anyone can go into court and watch a case, but when you’re stared at by a random family you get the obvious impression that you’re more than no wanted.

There was a knock on the door ‘all rise’, the usher commanded and like soldiers in an army everyone in the court including myself rose to there feet to greet the judge and the magistrates. As soon as they took their seats so did we and the hearing began. . .

How I Got My Media Break.

Joseph Patterson is a music journalist and promoter most famous for his club nights 'ChocABlock’, which initially started off in Northampton in April 2007. The event featured well known acts such as Skepta and Tinchy Stryder. 'ChockABlock' has grown enormously since then and even greeted us here in London attracting hundreds of Grime and Bassline listeners.

JP, initially started blogging in 2007 to track the progress of his event as well as many others he attended. The site has grown from strength to strength since then accumulating a staggering amount of hits. The blog features topics, from music to event, lifestyle and more.

His writing history includes Contributing Music Editor and Club Editor for SUPERSUPER magazine, columnist for JD Sports Magazine, The Voice, and Artrocker, writer for Dazed & Confused and he is a contributor of Mix Mag and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+. Most recently he was offered the role of contributing to MTV's website where he writes 'MTV The Wrap Up'.

I thought I'd catch up with JP himself to find out exactly how he made his way into the industry.


‘I started off working as a club night promoter with my event called ChockABlock, which is a night that features the best in UK underground music. Then one day I just had an idea to put together a blog, somewhere where I can write club night reviews, he explained. ‘I sent a link to my blog to SUPERSUPER Magazine and they offered me to write a 3-page story on the up North sound of Bassline. When that was published, they told me that the feature was very well received and offered me the role of Contributing Music & Clubs Editor and the rest is history, as they say. Since then I’ve written for the likes of The Sun, The Guardian, The Independent, NME, RWD, Mixmag, Dazed & Confused, Metro and many others and in February of 2010 I was offered the role of Editor at MTV’s urban website – The Wrap Up. ‘

For JP, the route of music journalism happened as an accident but, for him he recalls it as 'a good accident'. His best article 'would probably have to be an article that I wrote for NME on how Grime MCs turned their back on the scene for pop and mainstream success. As an avid Grime Music fan, I just found it hard to see all these old grime MCs forget their roots, so I felt the need to bring them back down to reality and that was possibly one of the most important articles that I’ve ever wrote to date.'

Yes he describes the industry as 'Challenging', be he advises anyone who wants a career in the industry to '...definitely think about making up a blog and practice writing. In the early stages of writing I approached many top publications with pitches and in the pitch was a plethora of spelling mistake, grammar mistakes and I was refused for a very long time until I learned to do things properly. I never went to college, never went to Uni, I was never an intern, so I just had to teach myself. I used to read articles and how they were put together from morning until night and my grammar is still not that great today, but it certainly isn’t as bad as say 1 or 2 years ago (I’ve been a music journalist for 3 years now).'

You can stay tuned to JP via his blog JP...The Hoods Journalist or MTV The Wrap Up

Where I Want To Be

As part of my course at Catch 22 Academy I will be given the chance to work with the Academy’ established Media partners, some of which include Incisive Media, Redwood or BBC Magazines.

Although there is a long list of partners, here are my select three that interest me.

Bauer Media

This company is the largest privately own publishing group that offers 230 magazines in over 15 countries in addition to online, TV and radio stations. The company tiles 38 million magazines a week. I would like to work for Kiss FM as a music journalist or reporter. The companies Flagship publication is Grazia.





Recent news: The company has recently launched a range of Nickelodeon for distribution in the Clarke’s shoes store.




John Brown

This company has for specific divisions, which include magazines, digital, kids and catalogues for companies such as Chelsea FC, Virgin and John Lewis. The company is a customer’s magazine. The Flagship publication is Sense (RBS), which has a circulation of 882,604. I would like to work for Virgin, as I am interested in working with their digital media and would like to cover music.


Recent news: John Brown has recently appointed ex-Marie Claire Deputy Vanessa Thompson editor of the new John Lewis magazine scheduled to launch in September 2010.



Conde Nast

The company’s principle focus is fashion; they have offices overseas in Chicago, Miami, London and Paris. Their Flagship publication is Vogue, which is produced online as well as the hardback publication. The also produce magazine publications such as Glamour, GQ and Love. I would like to work for Glamour magazine as a journalist and cover the media events that take place in the fashion industry. The company’s current circulation for all of their publications is 1,539,661.



Recent news:
Readers of the Conde Nast traveller have voted India as the 7th best holiday destination in the world.

Although my ideal career would be in music journalism, I'm willing to expand my subject areas to as wide as possible, whether it be fashion, politics, music or current affairs. I love to write and will continue you to, so on this journey with Catch 22 I'm willing to go wherever it takes me.

Every Minute Counts.

Every minute is crucial when you’re working towards a deadline and although you want to devote you 110% effort to your assignment it’s so easy to get distracted.


That five minute phone call soon turns into an hour long gossip...











That quick text or ping easily leads to a full swing, thumb tapping conversation...








and that 5 minute peak at your favourite programme, turns into to an hour long soap-skipping session.





Then before long you’ve lost valuable time that you could have been spending on that assignment.

So don’t do it!

Don’t make the mistake and leave your work to last minute, do it before the deadline and your left to enjoy the remaining hours at your leisure.

My Precious USB!

Shattered, Torn, Broken!

That’s exactly how I felt when it dropped. Carelessness accompanies disaster and I wish I knew that before the incident.


So there it sat, wide open on my bed just playing music as I dozed off to sleep, everything was fine, but this one particular night I decided to stretch my right arm out that bit further to where it dropped and vertically snapped my precious USB!

Words couldn’t explain how fast I woke up, literally 2mins ago I was snuggled up under my duvet slowly closing my eyes and then when I realised what had dropped, where from and the angle it dropped I was awake in seconds!


Every word document, picture, and song I had ever saved. Practically my life gone down the drain in a matter of seconds, who every told you that technology was good for was so lying, they just wanted you to spend your money so that they can capitalise on the whole technological influx.

This will teach me to back things up to my computer in the near future and so should you!


I’ve so learn my lesson

30 Seconds in the mind of Joesph Wolfson

Today i caught up with Joesph Wolfson a journalist at the Catch 22 Academy to find out a little bit about him.


So Jo, If your could be named after any colour which one would it be and why?

Blue. Firstly because of blues music which i enjoy and secondly because it's the colour of the shirt that i'm wearing at the moment.

What happened in your last dream?

I don't usually remember my dreams.

If you could fly anywhere in the world where would it be an why?

I would go to America because its such a cool place to be, I've been there twice. Once to New York and another time to North Carolina and Tennessee. There's so much variety and space out there.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Playing my computer game, Asher's Cricket.

What was the last film you watched and who was in it?

Gamesborg, I can't remember, I didn't like it, it was rubbish and completely forgettable.

Joe's Favourite:
Website : http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Tune : Exodus - Bob Marley
Youtube Video : Bob Marley Jammin - One Love Peace Concert



To find ut more from Joe you can follow him on twitter @Josephwolfson