Work with Mexico’s leading ethical fashion label

Carla Fernandez, 34, is the founder of Taller Flora, a fashion label and mobile laboratory that travels throughout Mexico visiting indigenous communities, including those that specialise in handmade textiles. Taller Flora has developed a unique style, and is a leader through its business model of a fair-trade network and environmental policies that encourage responsible practice in the fashion industry.
Carla was chosen as the winner of the British Council’s International Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award after giving a presentation to a UK panel of leading industry figures including Colin McDowell MBE, Suzanne Tide-Frater, Julie Pinches, Alberto Bartoli and Alison Moloney. The winner had to demonstrate a keen understanding of and vision for the fashion industry in their country.

The judges stated that “She has a clear and distinct design philosophy, which is highly personal and representative of her cultural identity, while speaking to the international fashion industry. The IYFEY prize is a financial award to be spent on a project tailored to the winner’s specific interests while developing the relationship between the winner’s country and the UK. Carla’s project is to recruit a printed textile designer and menswear designer from the UK to work with her and the Taller Flora team in Mexico for five months.

Menswear Designer – Taller Flora is looking to recruit a talented and driven menswear designer to work with Carla Fernandez to develop tailoring within the Taller Flora label. The designer will be working with the artisans of the co-op Charro Mexicano, who are skilled in the traditional tailoring and embroidery skills of the national ‘charro’ suit. Two lines of clothing will be developed with Carla: Haute Couture, preserving the manual tradition; and ready-to-wear, in collaboration with Tramex, one of Mexico’s biggest menswear manufacturers.

Requirements:

· Applicants should have a BA or MA in fashion or be a talented designer. Demonstrable competence of pattern cutting is mandatory

· Ability to work independently

· Team player with good interpersonal and communication skills

· Knowledge of and an interest in ethical fashion

· Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset

· Must be a resident in the UK.

Textile Designer – Taller Flora is looking to recruit a textiles designer who will work on the printed textiles designs inspired by the work of artisans from the indigenous community of Tenango de Doria. This project will commence with a creative workshop with artisans who draw and embroider Tenangos, to help Taller Flora translate their traditional practices into contemporary fashion design. Two lines of clothing will be developed with Carla: Haute Couture, preserving the manual tradition; and ready-to-wear, translating drawings produced in the workshop into prints for mass-production. Requirements:

· Applicants should have a BA or MA in textile design or be a talented print designer

· Excellent freehand drawing skills

· Knowledge of PhotoShop is mandatory

· Silk screening experience

· Ability to work independently

· Team player with good interpersonal and communication skills

· Knowledge of and an interest in ethical fashion

· Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset

· Must be a resident in the UK.

Conditions of employment:

· The appointment will be on a 5 month contract, ideally starting at the end of August (exact dates to be negotiated).

· Taller Flora offers a tax-free salary which is competitive according to Mexican standards which is $1200 per month.

· An economy-class return air ticket will be provided.

· Accommodation is not included but Taller Flora promises to assist in locating an apartment near to their studio, which is located in one of the trendiest spots of Mexico City.

How to apply: Designers interested in the project should apply with the following materials:

· A short, written statement (not more than 300 words) outlining why you want to be part of this project.

· Up to 12 photographs of your work

· The name and contact details (including a telephone number) of one person we may contact as a reference

· Your CV

The deadline for applications is 16 June 2008. A shortlist of 6 candidates will be interviewed the week beginning 30th June 2008 For further information you can contact Alison Moloney on 020 7389 3157, Alison.Moloney@britishcouncil.org or Carla Fernandez at carla@flora2.com. Please send your application

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Taller Flora – Design – British Council – Arts