Re-Rewind

So let's go back to where I left off in 2014: final year of uni. One of the hardest years of my life, so much work, so many decisions. I remember feeling like I didn't want to do it anymore, not just because it was hard, I starting thinking what if fashion's not for me, do I really want a job in fashion?
My placements hadn't given me much faith in the fashion industry and I wasn't really aware of what options there were for me.
But if I am anything, I am persistent! I had put in so much hard work over nearly 4 years of uni and wasn't about to quit. So I finished the year with a 2:1 which I was so over the moon with! But I was also a bit dead inside haha
I was really pleased with my accessories collection and when I look back on it now I'm really proud of it, even though then I was sick of the sight of it!

http://www.northumbriafashiondesignandmarketing.com/annarichardson/

The Mercury bag, based on liquids, made with screen printed liquid satin.

So then I started applying for jobs. I couldn't get a job in retail as I had no retail experience and there are hardly any other fashion based roles in Newcastle; confusion once more! Do I move? WHAT WILL I DO?!

After waitressing for a bit at the hotel my sister worked at, I applied for a job at Handbag Clinic, a handbag repair workshop just outside of Newcastle.
It was a dreary 45 minute bus out of Newcastle, in an industrial estate in the middle of nowhere.
But it was in fashion right? The place was okay and the people were nice and I got offered the job the next day.
The job was as a stitch technician, repairing handbags by hand-stitching; stitching ripped handles, linings, pockets, making new parts and attaching hardware.
Although we had targets to meet, it was pretty relaxed, I was enjoying not having to talk to customers and I made some great friends. The job was easy enough and enjoyable and I was getting some practical fashion experience.
I had been there almost a year when they asked if I'd like to work in their retail shop in Newcastle as an in-store stitch technician as they had one in Chelsea and it worked well.
I was chuffed to be asked and also super grateful as it meant I could walk to work and not have to get the awful bus super early in the morning. And I got a huge pay increase!
It was all top secret and I wasn't allowed to tell anyone I worked with as they were firing some people for me and someone else to swoop in and run the shop. This was so difficult, I literally left the workshop one day and never went back.
But then I had a great year in the Handbag Clinic shop, gaining customer service, retail and sales experience. I was a lot happier, walking to work and interacting with people on a daily basis, managing my own time and workload.
And then I decided it was time to move on, our house contract was coming to an end so we thought instead of renting again we'd just move to the other side of the world...