Meet MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online) student Berfu Ilgililer
- Written byLondon College of Fashion
- Published date 18 January 2023
MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online) is a challenging and invigorating course for strategic creatives aspiring to a successful career within the marketing sector. This new specialist online course has been developed with a global view on the fast-changing fashion industry, indulging students in active industry projects with academic rigour creating new skills in research, theoretical application and digital communications. Want to know what your day might look like on the course? We caught up with current student, Berfu Ilgililer.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose the MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online) course?
My name is Berfu and I was born and raised in Cyprus. I came to London in 2019 to complete my BA studies in Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear at LCF. After completing my studies, I felt the need to know more about management in the fashion industry to pursue my ambitions, as I believe creativity and business intersect and exist together. I was excited to be introduced to areas of business development, brand strategy, and innovative and industry-specific fields like sustainability which is my area of interest. Moreover, the online study option was appealing to provide me the time to focus on innovative projects I am undertaking in Cyprus with a focus on sustainability and VR besides job opportunities.
Can you tell us about a project you have worked or are working on, and what aspects you enjoyed the most?
As MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online) students we had the opportunity to work with a UK footwear design consultancy firm during a live hackathon to suggest strategic recommendations and create a presentation for a well-known online retailer. The opportunity was very encouraging and allowed us to reflect on what we have learned through our lectures and seminars besides introducing us to key industry contacts.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying to MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online)?
I encourage anyone considering applying for this course to reflect on their own insights and do their own research apart from the taught content. This is because, despite being in an online atmosphere, the course is comprehensive and informative, to ensure you reach your full potential. Organize your tasks, work, and time efficiently, and take short breaks from time to time. But the most important advice I would like to give you is to enjoy your time on this course and make the most of this wonderful experience. Connect with your peers and faculty and learn from each other. One of the best things about this course is that you get to work with a diverse and unique group of people with different educational backgrounds, not just marketing. This provides an opportunity to learn from each other and brings different skills, ideas and values to the topic of seminars and group assessments.
What inspires you?
Coming from a creative background, I would say inspiration can be found anywhere whether it is history, objects, people, or brands. It is hard to define it in a sentence, but the holistic progress of brands and designers is a major topic that inspires and motivates me.
What skills have you learned on MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (Online) that you have been able to practice outside of London College of Fashion?
Apart from the taught content that I have been using for the individual projects, I am undertaking back in my country, one of the biggest skills this course has provided me is collaborative skills which are prominent in the fashion industry. By allowing us to work with different courses like MA Fashion Analytics and Forecasting, we gain strong collaborative skills and explore different roles and responsibilities within a group.
What are your plans for the next few years, and where do you want to see yourself professionally?
I would like to carry on my projects within Cyprus which is allowing me to know local creatives and industry people. In the future, I would like to see myself working in the marketing department of a global luxury fashion or beauty brand.
Have you had interactions with fashion industry links, if so, how? (Industry expert talks, placements, live project work with brands etc.)
We have had various opportunities to connect with fashion industry links. During the earlier weeks, we had the opportunity to attend a Q&A guest lecture to ensure we familiarise ourselves with the industry. During one of our units where we have been exploring consumer psychology, our lectures have been delivered by a key figure within the industry. We have been introduced to live hackathons with industry guests who act as our clients and are asked to deliver solutions, allowing us to reflect upon our learnings in real-life.
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