My name is Abigail Grewal, I am a 25 year old print and womenswear designer. I have been in the fashion industry for over 6 years.

I have just completed two degrees in fashion: the first in textiles and print from the London College of Fashion (LCF), and the second in womenswear design from Istituto Marangoni. Through my first degree, I discovered a love for prints and print techniques as I pushed myself to experiment with different colours and materials. My second degree culminated in the creation of my own capsule collection. Here, I was able to showcase the skills I had honed in design, pattern cutting, sewing, illustration, as well my digital skills. Out of 60 students in my final year, I was selected to be part of a group of 21 students who were invited to create a womenswear collection of six individual looks. Through these experiences I have gained knowledge of fabrics, including embroidery. I have also grown exponentially in understanding the backdrop against which the industry showcases its work.

Prior to undertaking my degree at Istituto Marangoni I completed a six month internship at Julien Macdonald. During this period I was entasked with a variety of roles. This included creating a system to log the company’s archived garments, as well as more technical work such as hand-embroidering garments for a landmark exhibition. I also gained experience in buying and merchandising and was a valued member of the team. In my role as a buying and merchandising intern, I monitored weekly sales, prepared trend reports, assisted with presentations for clients, and created research boards for new collections. I also helped backstage at the A/W16 Fashion Show and assisted with invitations and sponsorship for the show.

Prior to Julien Macdonald, and while still studying at London College of Fashion, I teamed up with two entrepreneurs who wanted to start up a new premium design label in India. I was asked to join the team as their design intern. Working out of London we collaborated long distance for over a year. I flew to India to direct the photo shoot for the look book. I stylised each outfit including hair and make-up.on mood boards, colour boards, and inspiration boards for the designers. I styled all the models for their S/S16 lookbook, which was circulated to retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, and Harvey Nichols.