Fashion Techniques and Design - Graduated 2002
Megan Lott has wanted in a career in fashion since high school. After studying sewing at Central Tech, she registered in George Brown College's Fashion Techniques and Design program in 2000 and immediately took to the intensive work environment and the focus on the craft of fashion.
"In analyzing other programs I've found most of them don't focus enough on the technical side of fashion," Megan explains. "I think it's crucial for any designer to go through a program like George Brown's in order to understand what's technically possible. Especially because it's such a competitive industry, you should at least know the basics in all areas whether you're going to be a pattern-maker, sewer, illustrator or designer."
After graduating in 2002, Megan and a friend from GBC went to Milan to study at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni.
"We were studying with people from all over the world," she says. "I appreciated George Brown even more after we arrived and found that our technical abilities were on a much higher level than the other students."
Megan's main interest lies in the combination of mathematics and art that goes into pattern-making, designing the "blueprint" for clothing.
"Pattern-making and sewing is really where the skill is," she says. "You can style and pick colours all you want, but you don't just wake up one morning and know how to make a tailored suit. That's what I'm most interested in - the craftsmanship of fashion."
Megan refutes the notion that you need to spend a fortune to get a good fashion education, and that in fact the opposite is true, mentioning a friend who went to an expensive design school.
"She spent 13,000 dollars for one year and felt rushed and bombarded with work," says Megan. "At George Brown you work very hard but they don't overwhelm you, and the progression of the demos and classes are geared so you absorb a lot of information. Plus there are tons of supplies and the teachers are always willing to make time for you."
Although she plans to travel more, Megan is spending time in Toronto adding to her work experience before going abroad. She recently landed a job at the Haggar clothing company as an Import Coordinator, managing the shipping and distribution of the company's garments.
"I want to learn as much about the industry as possible, so if I start my own clothing business I'll be prepared," she says.
Megan doesn't totally rule out becoming a designer one day, but for now she wants to focus on making quality clothing and becoming increasingly skilled at her trade.
"I don't have any ambition to become famous," she says. "Ideally I want to apprentice with a top pattern-maker, someone who can create a pattern by instinct. I want that level of skill."
