‘In conversation’ event with Edinburgh College of Art fashion alumni
Westfield St James Quarter is bringing together four Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) fashion alumni today (Friday 18 September), at 3.30pm-4.15pm, for a conversation on what it takes to forge a career in the fashion industry.
In Fashion: Edinburgh College of Art Alumni in Conversation is one of the closing events of Westfield Days: The Sound of Style, the 10-day fashion and music takeover curated by Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey, to mark the centre's rebrand to Westfield St James Quarter on 10 September.
The event is free and will take place at The Listening Rooms, level three, within the Quarter. It is aimed at students, emerging creatives and anyone interested in pursuing a career in Scotland's fashion industry.
The conversation reflects Westfield Days: The Sound of Style's focus on connecting fashion, music, creativity and emerging talent, while highlighting Edinburgh's contribution to the wider UK fashion industry.
Hosted by Professor Mal James, personal chair of fashion at ECA, the panel includes Samantha McCoach, founder and designer of Le Kilt, the Leith-born, Scottish-made label stocked at Dover Street Market, Matches and Selfridges; Rosie Baird, founder of BAIRD, a Scottish clothing brand launched in 2025 and creator of the St James Quarter tartan; fashion illustrator, Katie Braid, whose work has been exhibited internationally and shown at V&A Dundee; and Alistair Nimmo, head cutter and managing director of Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring's Edinburgh atelier.
The panellists will discuss the transition from studying at ECA to building careers across ready-to-wear, illustration and bespoke tailoring, offering practical advice on portfolios, creative practice and navigating the industry after graduation. A Q&A and informal meet-the-panellists session will follow the discussion.
Mal said: “One of the most valuable things we can offer the next generation of fashion talent is an honest insight into what comes after graduation. There is no single route into the industry, and our alumni have gone on to build careers across very different areas of fashion, from independent labels and illustration to the highly specialised world of bespoke tailoring.
“Bringing them together at Westfield St James Quarter gives students and emerging creatives the chance to hear directly about those journeys, the challenges they have faced and the opportunities they have created for themselves.”
Anne Ledgerwood, estate director at Westfield St James Quarter, said: "Fashion careers rarely follow a straight line, and this conversation with four ECA graduates who've built such different paths – from bespoke tailoring to independent Scottish labels - feels like the right way to bring Westfield Days: The Sound of Style to a close. It's a reminder that Edinburgh doesn't just watch the fashion industry, it produces it."
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