Meet our alumni

Kasumi Forth - Fashion Design & Merchandising

Original program: Fashion Design & Merchandising

Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver
Grad Year: 2007
Program of Study: Fashion Design & Merchandising
Degree: Diploma

Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Three Stones Clothing
Location: Vancouver
Job Title: Designer & Production/Merchandising Coordinator
Primary Responsibilities: Design, trend research, fabric sourcing and creating technical packages for factories for sample development and bulk production.

Describe a typical work day:

My typical day depends on which point in the season we are in. When we are working on design I spend my days flipping back and forth between design direction meetings, sketching and trend research, which I do online, in magazines and out on the street. I then create technical packages for each style with fabric, trim, size and construction details for the factories to follow for sample development. I arrange model castings, coordinate the photo shoot and assist in building our seasonal catalogues. Once a new line has been launched and sent to our sales representatives I then switch to fitting the samples and providing sample comments and corrections to the factory for them to proceed with bulk production. I also travel to Asia twice a year to source new fabrics and meet with our agents.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?

I feel the biggest sense of accomplishment when I see a style that I designed and saw through the multiple stages of production in retail stores and on people in the streets.

What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?

I love the clean lines of Japanese and Scandinavian design, but I am inspired most by my surroundings. What I see in day-to-day life whether it be in nature or at an art exhibition. I am also particularly inspired by the differences in street style around the globe.

What do you enjoy the most about your career?

What I love most about my job is the creative outlet it allows me. I get to do everything from designing clothing, styling outfits, producing photo shoots and catalogue design. I also love the opportunity for travel I have been given. The fabric markets in Southern China are beyond what I could have imagined.

How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?

My studies at LaSalle College Vancouver gave me the foundations I needed to succeed at my first job after graduating. The pattern drafting and sewing classes in particular gave me the understanding of garment construction and the technical ability that was required in my position as a spec coordinator.

I believe that this knowledge of garment construction is often under valued and that it is important for even the most conceptual of designers to be able to understand what is and is not doable.

What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?

My number one piece of advise for people looking into getting into the business would be to get an internship as soon as possible and do as many internships as possible. It not only allows you to gain experience and allows you to see different aspects of the industry, but the networking opportunity should not be missed. Many times finding a job in the fashion industry is based on who you know and word of mouth. I also think it ís important for fresh graduates to have realistic expectations of what jobs they will get straight out of school, and not to get discouraged if they do not get a design position right away.

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?

Where I work we do all of our production in China and, with Chinese economy the way it is, it has become increasingly difficult to find stable supply chains. Also, with the continued demand for sustainable clothing, I believe there will be a continued shift back towards domestic production. This will obviously change how we source our materials and fabrics.