ABOUT US
Empowering you to become resilient, enterprising, and sustainable human beings in the fashion industry.
We exist so you can receive expert & honest advice about what it’s really like to work in the fashion industry, how you can learn how to flourish, and be your best self, not just creatively but emotionally, physically and mentally too.
WHAT WE PROMISE
We can’t compete with big fashion education websites (like Vogue, Business Of Fashion, Graduate Fashion Week or top Fashion schools) We don’t have the budget, or the team – not yet. But what we can do is offer you the real insight. What really happens behind the scenes – the bit that most people don’t get to see – until they are actually working in industry. The important ‘stuff’ that you need to know and will be crucial to your success and longevity in fashion – something you rarely get taught at fashion school.
OUR AIM
Our driving force is to ensure you are equipped and empowered with the right knowledge, skills and mindset needed to work in such a high profile, highly demanding industry and prepared for the rapidly shifting world of work and accelerating pace of fashion business and innovation.
WHY WE EXIST
We want you to navigate a successful career in fashion and stay safe & sane in the process. Why?
Our Founder, Marie Oakes, was flying high in her career as a fashion designer for top fashion brands including Alexander McQueen and Mulberry until she hit burn out. She was 32. Without the right mindset and resilience to cope with the pressures of such a highly demanding, high profile industry, she had to leave a career and job she loved to recover from stress and burnout. Our sole mission is to make sure this doesn’t happen to you. Marie says,
“I started The Trend Academy because I wanted to be able to share my experience and knowledge with the next generation of creatives. Fashion is an amazing industry to be part of, but it can equally be tough, persistent, and highly-demanding – something I really struggled with.
I found it difficult to cope. I had all the design skills needed to be a fashion designer when I graduated, but what I didn’t have was the Mental Toughness to survive.
I didn’t realise I could stand up for myself, I could say no, that I had a voice, even in a junior position within a company. I want to educate and empower talent in the fashion industry so they can learn how to stay safe, how to set boundaries and how to look after themselves so they can thrive and flourish.”
Our FOUNDER
Marie Oakes
Marie is a fashion industry and retail expert. Formerly a fashion designer for Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, M&S and Topshop she knows the industry inside out. Founder of The Trend Academy, she helps fashion students become ‘industry ready’ and is a Visiting Lecturer at top fashion universities speaking on Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Branding, Trends, Self-Care and Resilience. Marie gets invited to speak at industry events across the country and works with leaders to help them overcome stress and avoid burn-out and delivers speeches, workshops and programmes for businesses to help their teams thrive.
