Making the cut: inside Floraidhs first month as a tailoring intern with Blues & Browns

Hello, my name is Floraidh and I’m the intern at Blues & Browns! I am currently studying for a BSc in Fashion Technology at Herriot Watt and my degree allows for the opportunity to spend a semester working in industry.
I had contacted Blues & Browns to enquire about a possible internship and after a phone call and meeting, here I am. What attracted me to the company was the craftsmanship and care for both the customer and Scottish heritage. From my perspective its very easy to see the dedication and knowledge behind the garments and the production.

This dedication and the heritage are close to my heart as I love learning about traditional textiles, techniques and its history. The opportunity to work with tartan and working closely with the tailor is a rewarding experience. This area of study is where I want to go further into, the history of tailoring and its techniques, the weaving of the cloth and the sewing of the garment.
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I have been interested in textiles since I was little, with my mum teaching me to embroider and knit. This interest led me to my degree, which led me to likeminded people caring about the process and the workers behind it. I have previously worked with Youth Music Theatre Scotland based in Kirkcaldy working on the costumes for two productions and I had a ten-month placement at Joyce Young Design Studios in Glasgow.

I came to Blues & Browns with the intent of sharpening my sewing skills and I was
​provided the opportunity to do so right from the start of my internship. I was given a bundle of garment pieces, a sample jacket to follow and the assistance of the tailor when I should need and was set to it! 

It was wonderful to just be thrown into the thick of it and practise the pattern matching involved in the jacket, working with the fabric and the pressing involved.

​Another project I worked on during my first month was appliquéing embroidered motifs onto the skirt of a bride’s dress order. The bride has the embroidered motif throughout her outfit, with features on the jacket and more prominently on the skirt with a total of eight motifs sewn, taking a total of two and a half days. I adore embroidery in its different forms of machine made and handmade, I love applying the knowledge I have and learning more. Outside of my studies I cross-stitch and embroider and have recently taken up goldwork. I find hand sewing very therapeutic and enjoy it immensely.

One thing I have most certainly learned this month is the importance of pressing! It makes all the difference to the garment not just for a smooth appearance! For the future I wish to work on my speed, its something that can always be improved!
I have been greatly welcomed to the Blues & Browns team and cannot wait to do more work together!

I'll be a guest blogger once a month over the course of my time here, so do keep an eye out for my next instalment!

Thanks,

Floraidh