Meet our alumni
Anjo Loots - Fashion Marketing & Merchandising
Original program: Fashion Marketing & Merchandising
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver
Grad Year: 2007
Program of Study: Fashion Marketing & Merchandising
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Indigo
Location: Toronto
Job Title: National Store Curator (Visual Lifestyle)
Primary Responsibilities: My main responsibility is coming up with visual creative for propping for all 96 stores across Canada. I also assist in managing what stores look like from a visual merchandising standpoint, and send direction out for each season for stores to implement. Another large responsibility is press previews and what that visual concept is for each season.
Describe a typical work day:
A work day usually ranges from business meetings about brand visual direction, sales and product reviews, showroom mock-ups and set-ups, to brainstorming for the next season and what that creative will look like for in-store. The great thing is, no day is alike. Every day there is something new going on and that’s always exciting and enticing. Never a dull moment!
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I am proud that I moved to Toronto to further my career and gain all the experience I could get with what I wanted to do. I’ve gained the trust and respect of very notable people in the fashion industry here and this has led me to this next chapter in my life with Indigo. My previous job was as the National Visual Merchandising Coordinator at Holt Renfrew, and throughout my time there assisting in the creative process and designing windows nationally, we won multiple international awards for our concepts, which is something I’m very proud of. Mostly, I am proud that I made the jump to move to a different city and start something very exciting, and that I didn’t give up on what I wanted every step along the way. Also, I am proud for taking risks in my career and building myself into what I eventually want to be in the industry.
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
My creative inspirations and influences are what I see around me every day. Yes I look at multiple magazines and sites for inspiration, but I feel true inspiration comes from being observant to what’s happening around you at all times.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
I enjoy the fact that every single day is different and that I’m always learning. Every job I’ve done so far has been different from the previous one, and I love that I’m increasing my knowledge, strengthening all my skills and becoming stronger and better within my career every second. I’m extremely excited for what’s to come.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
It was an intense course which covered all areas that I needed to know about before entering the field I wanted to be in. The workload, the projects we did and the learnings were all great tools to help me in what I’m doing now.
What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?
Always take chances and opportunities which present themselves to you, because you never know where it will take you and who you will meet. Be honest, be open, know who you are beforehand and keep that with you throughout all of it.
Especially in the fashion industry, you have to be incredibly motivated, keen and determined and not be afraid to take that risk.
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
I think the whole world, including fashion, is moving into a very digital era. That especially will affect the fashion industry, where largely it’s about what you feel, touch and see when you walk into a store. We have to constantly train ourselves to be open to new and radical ideas to be able to keep up with what’s happening with technology. From a visual merchandising standpoint, I can see how digital displays could largely start becoming the primary displays within stores. This will be challenging but exciting at the same time.
