I had only ever left Ireland to go on holidays so this was a real treat. Of course, once you decide you are not living at home anymore, you quickly come to realise that the folks are not around to pay the bills and feed you, so I needed to find a job and quickly as there was also rent to pay.
Now don't get me wrong, life wasn't that bad, I was living in my uncle's house in Kilburn after all, with my older brother and twin sister....
Living there was like living in Ireland, it was so full of the Irish (so didn't feel too home sick) in 1983.
Anyway, found out that the Evening Standard newspaper was the place to find the best jobs going!
After applying for machinists jobs in design rooms, I landed one in a company called Boule's Ltd working in Hammersmith.
Now bear in mind, at this stage in my working career, I have only ever worked on piece work on the jeans that we made in the factory back home, so you can imagine how I felt the first morning I arrived into this fab design room, was introduced to all the team and was shown to my work space where I was to make up all the fantastic samples that were going to bring in huge orders for the company. (No pressure then).
The designer handed me a little bundle tied up with a string and a picture of the garment (a blouse) and asked me to get to work. Oh God! Took a deep breath and looked at what I had to do. So looking like I had put a full garment together before and this little thing would be a piece of cake, I opened the little bundle and about 15 pieces fell out! (my heart nearly fell out of my chest also).
I sat there looking at all the parts and trying not to look to see if anyone was watching me watching the pieces. I made it look like I knew what the strange parts were (I hope), and with the help of what my mum had already taught us about dressmaking and what I had picked up from doing my own bits and pieces and also asking the designer what way would she like it to go together, I managed to get the blouse looking like a blouse and ended up working there for 3 years, loving the people and also the major experience I gained.
My life in the fashion industry in London had begone and I really really loved it!
Now bear in mind, at this stage in my working career, I have only ever worked on piece work on the jeans that we made in the factory back home, so you can imagine how I felt the first morning I arrived into this fab design room, was introduced to all the team and was shown to my work space where I was to make up all the fantastic samples that were going to bring in huge orders for the company. (No pressure then).
The designer handed me a little bundle tied up with a string and a picture of the garment (a blouse) and asked me to get to work. Oh God! Took a deep breath and looked at what I had to do. So looking like I had put a full garment together before and this little thing would be a piece of cake, I opened the little bundle and about 15 pieces fell out! (my heart nearly fell out of my chest also).
I sat there looking at all the parts and trying not to look to see if anyone was watching me watching the pieces. I made it look like I knew what the strange parts were (I hope), and with the help of what my mum had already taught us about dressmaking and what I had picked up from doing my own bits and pieces and also asking the designer what way would she like it to go together, I managed to get the blouse looking like a blouse and ended up working there for 3 years, loving the people and also the major experience I gained.
My life in the fashion industry in London had begone and I really really loved it!
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