Qifang Teng

My undergraduate degree is in International Economics and Trade. When I was a child I used to read the fashion magazines that my mother bought and it was then that I developed a keen interest in fashion. I then honed my sense of beauty by studying painting for eight years and keeping up with fashion news. In other words, I didn't have any fashion related expertise before that, but in the future I was so sure that I wanted to work in a fashion related field that I decided to do a master's degree in that field.

What made you want to apply to your MA course and to Leeds?

For various reasons I didn't study art as an undergraduate, which I regret. However, after learning about the Global Fashion Management programme at the University of Leeds, it is a good combination of business management knowledge and fashion design. I think it is a good extension of my original knowledge and a good gateway to my future career in the fashion industry. Secondly, I chose to study at the University of Leeds because the UK fashion industry has always been at the forefront of development in the world and the University of Leeds has an excellent global reputation. After my year-long experience, I said I really fell in love with the city of Leeds, the warmth of the people, the tranquillity, the cultural tolerance and so on.

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

When I see a fashion brand I know come into the classroom as a case study, whereas before I might have only focused on what the brand's new products were, through the knowledge imparted by the teachers I can learn about the management model behind the brand company, which makes me very interested. Secondly, I also learnt a lot of things I had never been exposed to before through the elective modules, such as fashion sustainability and textiles, and this new knowledge was part of what challenged me and kept me enthusiastic.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most?

What I liked most about the course was that it often combined knowledge of business with fashion examples. This not only allowed us to understand how many fashion brands are managed, but also reinforced and enhanced my basic business knowledge. During the group activities and presentations, we learnt to apply our theoretical business knowledge to real fashion cases time and time again, which was also an attempt to put theory into practice.

Did you work closely with a particular tutor or member or the University’s academic staff? Tell us about that experience.

I have worked and communicated closely with my dissertation supervisor, Bruce Carnie, who is a very approachable and responsible teacher, and it has been a pleasure to have him as my supervisor. He kept each student thinking independently and was able to suggest changes when necessary, which allowed us to realise our problems and make corrections in a timely manner. His feedback was always very specific, even down to the revision of a single word, and I really learnt a lot about the essentials and knowledge of writing in these subtle points. All in all, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at Leeds and on the course, or about the skills you developed?

In addition to your studies, you can also join the various clubs and societies at the university, where you can find people who are similar to you, whatever your interests. This not only enriches your life, but also helps you to make friends with people from all over the world. Amongst other things, I have had the opportunity to take part in some of the School of Design's craft activities and to see the School of Design's graduation exhibition. I also met a few people who also love photography and we met up to travel and take photographs together, which was an amazing experience for me.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for your course?

There are many different ways to enjoy fashion, so don't just limit yourself to work. There is no denying that people who study the subject want to work in fashion related jobs in the future, and most of these jobs are more available in big cities. Some students may choose to give up because they don't have the confidence to enter the fashion industry or because there are no such jobs in their home town. I think that if you love fashion, keep your love alive. It's not just working for a fashion company that is the best ending, if you love it enough and persevere, you can choose to be a fashion blogger and other various ways to realise your value. Fashion is worth a lifetime of loving, integrating into your life and becoming your life.