Alumni Stories- Laura Egan
‘My main goal is to make the fashion industry a friendlier, greener and more supportive place.’
Name: Laura Egan
Current Career: Fashion
Graduation Year: 2016
Discipline(s): Fashion Design
Location: Dublin
What career path did you want to follow as a child?
As a child I always used clothing as a form of self-expression. I was adamant about dressing myself from the time I was in montessori and I was always intrigued by fabrics and soft textures. I made up my mind very early on that I wanted to be a ‘clothes-maker’ and, although I changed my mind multiple times throughout my teenage years, I’ve ended up doing exactly what I wanted when I was a child.
Why did you decide to study at National College of Art & Design?
From the time I knew I wanted to go to art college, NCAD was my goal. I had heard about how brilliant the courses were and the beautiful campus was an extra bonus. My art teacher in secondary school spoke highly of the college and explained how it allowed the students to trial different courses before choosing their final discipline. That was a big plus for me, as I was toying with the ideas of studying Textiles, Jewellery and Fashion so to have the time to test these out was amazing.
How did you develop your career towards your current job / practice?
After graduating in 2016 I launched into my fashion career, heading straight to Paris to intern with one of the world's most renowned fashion houses. I worked my way up as a fashion designer between Paris and London in two more luxury brands, showcasing my collections at Fashion Week. When Covid hit, it led to two big changes for me – I moved home from London to Dublin and Studio Minti was born!
The most sustainable way to shop for clothes is preloved, so Studio Minti extends the life of the world’s already-existing wardrobe. I offer a stunning selection of hand-picked preloved clothes and a tailor-made upcycling/re-design service where, with a little bit of Minti magic, your old dresses can become new skirts and tops! As a preloved shop / studio, my main goal is to make the fashion industry a friendlier, greener and more supportive place.
What is the one experience during your time at NCAD that has informed you most in your career / work to date?
NCAD’s Fashion Design course is a fully-rounded degree, teaching both design and technical skills, so it’s quite hard to pinpoint one exact experience. As a whole, the course provided me with a really strong skillset in pattern cutting, sewing and design. This gave me confidence in my technical abilities on graduating, which was invaluable when I got out into the industry.
If you were chatting with current NCAD students today what is the one piece of advice you would offer?
Use the time you have at NCAD to carve out your own creative strengths and directions. Hone in on where those strengths lie, and understand what you enjoy doing. Research into your industry and know about the career paths of the graduates that came before you. Enjoy your creative freedom during your college years!
