Working In Fashion Abroad- Everything You Need To Know.

We highlight the key takeaways from our latest podcast episode.

Podcast Episode published by Emma Golley 01/12/2023

Have you ever thought about pursuing a career in fashion abroad? Perhaps you're in need of your next adventure but don't know where to start or how to go about it... 

In Episode 11 of the Fashion and the Free podcast, I talked to Senior Designers Laura Flanagan and Mel Gilfoyle about their experiences and advice for working in fashion overseas.

Both Laura and Mel have been designers in the fashion industry for over a decade. Originally from the UK, they both left their careers in London in 2015 to start new adventures overseas. Laura has since worked in Hong Kong, Australia and this year she will be moving to Canada. Mel has since worked in Beijing, China and Dusseldorf in Germany. We discussed the highlights and challenges of having a career in fashion abroad and what the process looks like from visas to relocation packages.

With so much experience of starting a life overseas between the 3 of us, (with me moving overseas too for my fashion career), we couldn’t wait to share our stories and insights.!

Here are the Top 10 key takeaways from the podcast episode:

1. Why Move Abroad For Your Fashion Career?

There are so many reasons why you might decide to move abroad for your career. For all three of us it really came down to there being a lack of opportunities for progression in London at the time of our search- and of course our love for travel. All three of us were in our twenties when we decided to make the move, we were open to new adventures and there seemed to be a lot of opportunities in fashion design across the globe.

Moving overseas for your fashion career can have a lot of benefits, it looks good on your resume, it provides you with new experiences and can create new opportunities for growth. With that being said, it’s not for the faint of heart either. There can be many obstacles to overcome which we explore further in this episode.

2. How To Find Your Dream Career Overseas

There are many online platforms available to start your search, and while it might sound obvious, simply typing into google can be a good start! It certainly worked for Laura as she mentioned on the podcast. Through googling various positions and countries she came across several recruitment sites which she bookmarked and kept returning to.

Recruitment agencies can be a great way to find jobs overseas, many agencies specialize in positions across the globe. Here are just a few of the agencies we have used:

Freedom Recruitment, Style Careers, Seek, Fashion United

And as Mel added- contacting your favorite brands worldwide isn’t a bad way to apply either. You never know- perhaps they don’t have a role available right that minute, but they could in a few months time.

Last but not least, Linkedin is also another great way to see what’s available worldwide.

3. What To Expect From The Interview Process

The interview process can look a little different when applying abroad. As we have experienced, the brand will usually meet with you virtually for your first interview via a video call. As you continue in the process, this can often result in them asking for a project submission. Depending on how far away the country you apply to is, you may even be flown over to that country to meet the hiring manager as well as other team members. Alternatively if your interviewer happens to be visiting the country you are in, you may be able to meet them closer to home.

If you are accepted for the role you applied to, make sure you are comfortable with the salary being offered, the vacation days, sick days and other benefits. If a company really wants you, you can potentially ask for more. As Laura and Mel said during the podcast- don’t be blinded by a big salary, make sure you have a full understanding of the entire package you are being offered and that it works for your needs.

4. Getting A Work Visa…

So, you’ve been accepted for the job, wahoo! Surely the hard part is done now… Unfortunately that’s not always the case. Next step is getting a work visa - the vital step in the process of moving abroad that most people don’t always consider or give much thought to. Depending on which country you move to, this stage can look very different for each individual. Some applications take just a few weeks, others can take months.

The reassuring part is, the majority of fashion companies are prepared to handle most of the hard work with the exception of a small few. On your end you may only have to submit some of your information while they handle the rest. They typically also fund it too.

During the podcast episode, we agreed Australia and Northern America are two of the toughest countries to submit visa applications for. A lot of paperwork is required, and certainly for the US - they need to know your life story and proof you are worthy of a career in the States. Be prepared for background checks, letters of recommendation and examples of work to be featured in the application. A visit to the country’s embassy for final approval is usual. It can be a little nerve wracking but as long as you listen to all the advice given from the company’s lawyer you should be just fine.

Our advice - when you’re applying overseas and have been accepted for a role, do a little bit of your own research to find out what to expect, which visas are required to work in that country and how long they allow you to work in that country for. Even if you are getting a lot of help from the company, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

5. What Is A Relocation Package?

Believe it or not, this is an important stage that often gets overlooked. When a brand offers you a job abroad, make sure you find out what the relocation package is before signing any contracts. If you have to move to another country for a role, they absolutely should be helping you with that move. If you feel you need more than what they are offering you, you can try to ask for more and work that into the terms in your contract.

Some companies are better set up for this than others. For example when I moved to the States, the company who hired me paid for my belongings to get boxed up and shipped, for my flights, hotel for one month until I found an apartment, an allowance for any other moving costs and help finding somewhere to live.

Both Laura and Mel have had similar experiences overall, but as Laura mentioned on the podcast, there are some companies out there who are not used to hiring expats and may not offer as much help as you had hoped for. Don’t be afraid to ask for more help, moving abroad can be expensive.

One last thing to mention- check the cost of living for the area you’d be moving to, including average rent costs. A company may offer you a great salary but check how far your money can go in that region.

6. Challenges With Working & Moving Overseas

As you may expect, it’s possible you could face some challenges when moving to a new country. For Mel it was the language barrier and vast culture difference in particular that proved a challenge. Moving to Beijing and Germany certainly wasn’t an easy transition, but she learnt the basics to get by which made life a little easier. Other challenges such as moving to a new apartment, buying new furniture every time you move and ‘life admin’ can also prove difficult as Laura discussed. From finding a new bank to figuring out health insurance, often these are done differently from country to country and are extra complicated when in another language. Again, don’t be afraid to ask others for help and advice, from co-workers to expat networks online, you’re sure to find someone who’s more than happy to steer you in the right direction.

You may also find being so far from home where you have family and friends is also challenging, but keeping connected to the people you love back home is certainly a lot easier these days then it ever has been before.

7. Do Roles Differ At Other Brands Abroad?

Surprisingly, fashion roles can vary from company to company, especially in other countries. In Australia, Laura found many design roles were often hybrid with buying or merchandising. Whereas Mel found her role as a designer in Germany meant having more ownership over her designs and presenting in meetings a lot more than she was used to in the UK. For me in the US, I have often seen buyer and merchandiser roles combined, as well as trend and color teams operating separately to the designer role (very different to what I was used to before).

Another factor to consider is what market you are designing for. For example, we discussed working for the Chinese market and how culturally, certain colors and numbers are deemed bad luck, so in Mel’s case she was not allowed to use certain colors or numbers in her designs. Or perhaps you are designing for a country where the seasons are different, or the way of dressing and trends are different, as Laura explained- designing clothes in Australia was a unique experience with the seasons being the opposite way around to what she was used to.

If you do move abroad for your fashion career, try to go into your new role with an open mind and be ready to adapt to working a little differently to what you’re used to.

8. The Biggest Highlights

Travel seemed to be the main highlight for both Laura and Mel. The ability to travel regularly to factories and on shopping trips, as well as their close proximity to many of the factories they worked with has certainly been beneficial to their learning and progression within the industry. For me, the experience of exploring a new country, a new way of life and meeting new people has been my biggest highlight. All 3 of us are still living overseas so it can’t be too bad right?!

9. Any Regrets?

Neither Laura and Mel had any regrets! But they both echoed the same sentiment- that they wished they had done more research into the countries and roles they were applying for beforehand. The excitement of moving overseas had often taken over and they both felt they had been a bit naive when rushing into their moves. So the moral of this story kids- do your research!

10. Lastly - Enjoy Every Minute Of It!

Moving abroad for your fashion career is an exciting adventure! Embrace it! You never know where it will take you. And as we all said on the podcast- if you decide after a few months it’s not for you, you can always come back home!

Listen to the full podcast episode for more insights into working in fashion abroad.

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