She appreciated the fact that this combination allowed her to start her higher education studies at a local specialist Fashion and Design school in her home region before moving away to another part of the country to finish her university studies.

She now works for the Spanish multinational fashion giant INDITEX, as a designer for their world-famous Zara brand, specifically developing new collections for their Zara Kids sportswear ranges.

When asked about the most challenging part of the programme, Illana said:

“adapting to really pushing yourself as if you were already a professional, even though at that moment you are obviously still very much studying and learning your trade and making the transition to a future career in the field”. 

She would recommend doing a BTEC HND to others because of the opportunities it provides for further study and career development. One of the most interesting and enriching parts of the HND experience for her was working as a team on assignments with other students who often had different tastes and ideas to her, but who provided her with different visions of investigating  and doing things in the fashion industry.

*HND in Fashion and Textiles is a specialist pathway in the BTEC Higher National Art & Design (RQF) qualification. 

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