Ready To Launch Your Career In Fashion?
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP, the world’s leading online luxury and fashion retailer, and The Prince’s Foundation, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is President, are offering a life-changing opportunity for recent fashion and textiles graduates based in the UK with the launch of the second edition of The Modern Artisan, a 10-month paid training programme in responsible design and luxury textile craftsmanship.
The programme will guide eight trainee artisans from Britain and Italy through the process of bringing a responsible luxury womenswear collection to market, debuting on NET-A-PORTER and YOOX Autumn 2022 under the label YOOX NET-A-PORTER for The Prince’s Foundation.
The paid training programme will kick-off with four months (6th September – 17th December 2021) of immersive design training at YOOX NET-A-PORTER headquarters in London*, where you will have the opportunity to explore designing for sustainability and circularity. From here you will work collaboratively on the collection’s design with four graduates from Italy as you are guided through the design process by industry experts.
In the second phase of the programme (3rd January – 8th July 2022), you will have the opportunity to live, train and work for six months in Scotland at The Prince’s Foundation’s Dumfries House headquarters in Ayrshire. Here, together with the four trainees from Italy, you will undertake intensive training in luxury small batch production skills and gain the expertise to handcraft the collection you have designed to the highest of standards.
Over the course of the programme, you will benefit from industry visits in Italy and the UK** and throughout you will receive ongoing mentorship from YOOX NET-A-PORTER, The Prince’s Foundation and our brand partners. The first edition of The Modern Artisan project culminated with the launch of the YOOX NET-A-PORTER for The Prince’s Foundation collection in November 2020, which attracted global media attention and debuted in British Vogue.
Since graduating from the programme, all the trainee artisans who took part across Italy and the UK have secured employment in the industry or started their own fashion and manufacturing businesses.
CRITERIA AND CORE COMPETENCIES
This opportunity is for those looking to enhance their manufacturing skills in a challenging, fast-paced environment. Successful applicants will already possess excellent sewing skills and are seeking to learn how to transfer bespoke construction techniques to luxury production methods with a view to setting up in business or furthering artisanal manufacturing. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in fashion and a knowledge or desire to learn more about circular design principles and responsible design.
- HND, Bachelor’s Degree, BTEC level 2 or equivalent in Fashion or Textiles course graduating this year or recently qualified and continued to practice manufacturing skills since graduation
- Understanding of industrial machinery
- Ability to follow a sewing specification pack
- Have knowledge or an understanding of pattern drafting
- Experience in manufacturing womenswear fashion garments
- Competency in technical sewing
- Interest in sustainable fashion
- Strong design and colour work
- Willingness to learn
- Team worker
- Ability to work calmly under pressure
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Strong work ethic
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications open 09.00am BST Tuesday 1st June until 23.59pm BST Wednesday 30th June 2021. To apply go to www.ynap.com/pages/the-modern-artisan/ to download the application form and send the following documents to modernartisan@ynap.com:
- Application form
- CV
- Digital portfolio
- One written reference
Applications will be reviewed by YOOX NET-A-PORTER and The Prince’s Foundation. Interviews will take place digitally on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th July 2021, applicants will be notified if they have been selected for an interview approximately one week before.
If successful at the interview stage, applicants will be invited to a second round which will be a digital competency assessment of their skills on Monday 26th July 2021. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 30th July 2021.
This is a paid training opportunity, trainees will receive a salary throughout the programme to support their learning and cover their living expenses. Trainees will be expected to be based in London for the period 6th September – 17th December 2021 and must relocate to Scotland for the period 3rd January – 8th July 2022. Relocation travel will be covered by the programme and trainees will be supported in finding accommodation.
YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP is an equal opportunities employer, we encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We recognize and celebrate the benefits that diversity brings to our workplace, our business and our customers. We welcome and will consider all applications regardless of race and nationality, religion, colour, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application or you would like any more information about the programme, please email modernartisan@ynap.com