Early in 2012, Gillian Shen was devastated when she failed to get a place in one of the local universities after graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma with Merit in Mass Communication. It was the lowest point in her life, but it was also a catalyst for an undiscovered and exciting path.
Around the same time, Gillian had signed up for ‘Project Jem’, a nationwide uniform design competition by an upcoming mall in Jurong. In preparation for the competition, she attended the WSQ Develop Design Collection course by the Textile and Fashion Industry Training Centre.
“I really wanted to go for the course because I wouldn’t have known how to start working on my design entry. I didn’t even know what certain terms in the competition brief meant.” she said. “I called the Jem management and was told that the class was already full. But they assured me they would try to get me a place, and thankfully, I did get one.”
Learning From Scratch
Gillian enjoyed every moment of the course, from the lectures on brands, designers, fabrics and the fashion market to the group presentations on design processes which guided the students’ train of thought and helped them organise their ideas.
One of the things Gillian found particularly useful and interesting during the course were the sessions about fabrics, which played a big part in helping her design her entry for the competition. Another key takeaway was understanding fashion trends from different eras, as that helped to give deeper meaning to the designs and correlates how styles and trends mirror political and social situations.
“The knowledge on fashion trends helped me decide which direction I would take in designing the uniforms for Jem. Together with Jem’s requirements of having a uniform that represents their brand values, I decided on a modern classic look for my entry. If not for the course, I don’t think I would know what modern classic looks like!” she quipped.
Overcoming Challenges On The Route To Success
“I had a fulltime job when I entered the competition. At first, I worked extra on weekends to cover the days I went for the course. Upon getting into the finals, I switched to part-time so I could concentrate on my designs. Now that I’ve won the competition, I’m dedicating 100 percent of my time to finishing the entire line of uniforms.” 
The other major challenge Gillian faced was her lack of technical skills. To make up for it, she researched online for templates to adapt from, bought books on fashion drawing and even watched tutorials on YouTube. These took up a huge chunk of her time, but it paid off in her final presentation when her entry won the vote of the panel of judges, and she was named the grand winner of Project Jem!
Looking Forward To The Future
Having made a 180-degree turn from the university path she had always thought she would take, Gillian is thrilled about moving towards a career related to fashion and design.
“I have learnt so much in such a short time, and having had the opportunity to have a glimpse of the fashion industry during the design course, I’m now ‘fired up’ and confident to explore the fashion industry.”
“More than anything else, the entire experience made me believe that I can succeed so long as I put my heart to it. It also made me realise I love every bit of the design process despite the difficulties,” she reflected.
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