You may already know what career you’re aiming for, but have you considered the day-to-day reality of the job you think you want? HotCourses talks to successful knitwear designer Liria Pristine about the pros and cons of working & knitting in the world of fashion…

Where do you work?
For my personal label, Liria Pristine, and I also freelance here in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

What qualification route did you take?
I did my foundation in Art & Design at Camberwell College of Arts. I then went on to a
BA in Fashion Knitwear at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Are you doing what you always wanted to do?
I came to London from Toronto to study fashion, but not knitwear specifically. Knitwear came during my course, while I was working on and preparing my portfolio in order to apply to CSM.

What inspired you to pursue your career in fashion?
Costumes and couture. My love of colour, contrast and textures inspired me to work with fashion.    

What tips could you give to someone who is interested in the fashion industry?
Hard work is always my number one tip. Networking is very important, choosing the right college to fit your needs, personality and vision of the future. Make contacts, show your work, and refresh and update your portfolio.
Be yourself in order to stand out from the crowd, as there are many different people out there with many different tastes, but there is room for everyone as long as you work hard and be yourself. Find your niche and keep improving your skills. There’s lots of competition out there! There are many different paths in the fashion industry, so make sure you are aware of all of them. There’s print, knit, menswear, PR, marketing and plenty of others. Sometimes when people think of fashion they directly associate that with womenswear, but there is so much more to fashion then that.

Have you ever undertaken any work experience?
Yes, I did work experience with Bora Aksu and Rubecksen Yamanaka. Prior to my final year, I flew to Mauritius island to work in a knitwear factory called Floreal Knitwear, where I was able to learn about knitwear from a more commercial and production point of view. I learnt about the fabrication of yarn and the process of yarn dyeing – this was an invaluable experience for me. I was lucky enough to be able to design and produce a mini in-house collection and was involved in every step
of production.

What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you at work?
Having the chance to work with people like Patrick Wolf, a musician/artist that I respect tremendously. Having the opportunity to work and collaborate with him was,
and still is, amazing.
 
What’s the thing you are most proud of?
I’m proud of myself, for working hard to get to where I want to be. It’s a tough industry and you need tough skin. You will face a lot of disappointments, but you need to filter these and make yourself a stronger person.
You need to remember to not take things personally, but still use all the constructive criticism you get.  

What makes your knitwear unique?
My knitwear does not follow the norm of what knitwear is suppose to be. It’s innovative, hard and structural, not soft and cosy, which is the first thing you think about when you hear the word knitwear.

Can you describe a typical day in your working life?
At this stage of my career, it still involves a lot of creative work. Since I am working for myself, a typical day is not always so typical! I try to get on my machine everyday, to try and sample and innovate my textiles. I do lots of sketching and draping, always keeping note of my ideas. I research different yarns and play around with techniques in order to constantly to push new ideas. An average day also involves things like dealing with press enquiries and the business side of things, which can sometimes overshadow the creative jobs. One per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration – so very, very true.

What is the environment you work in like?
Getting more organised every day! I work in a small studio in Sao Paulo, just me and a domestic knitting machine for now. I have lots of color and inspiration around me: things I find on the streets, things I made, photos I’ve been a part of, it’s a little Liria Pristine world! Everything that inspires me is around me every day.

How important is time management in your profession?
When I am doing a freelance job on a strict deadline, which is usually the case in the fashion industry, time management is very important. Sometimes it is hard to find time to sleep, and sleep is very important. I recommend trying to be the best you can at managing your time in order to stay healthy. In the long run, this is the most important thing.   

What is the hardest thing about your job?
Personally, it is staying true to myself. I need to find a way to be conceptual but also think on a business level. Finding ways to produce my collection is difficult, as a lot of money is involved in starting a label. I have to be creative but deal with all the business and promoting side of it – that can get difficult at times!

What do you like most about your job?
The creating aspect of my job is my favorite part. I love working with people, musicians and performers. I love seeing a final product after putting so much hard work into the designing of it.

Do you have any advice for school leavers who might be thinking of working in your field?
Work hard and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be an individual because that’s the only way you will stand out from the crowd. Find your niche and have a determination to follow through with what you want. Never be afraid to change your mind and always re-evaluate what you are doing.

What is the salary range in your profession?
Salaries vary greatly. I could charge a minimum of £250 a day for a freelance job, but jobs are usually always negotiated in terms of what the company wants to spend on a particular project. It’s up to me to figure out the value of that job and if it’s worth it, in terms of updating my portfolio. If I’m inspired by the project then I might take the job at a lower price. You need to be aware of your value. If you find a specialisation, then you can offer that specific service. That is a very valuable thing.