Selling out

So as you know I work for the retail store COS. The only reason I took on a part-time position with them was to pay my rent and eat as working for Gareth just didn't give me enough funds to survive. One day when I was working at COS I happened to serve the brand executive of the store. Whilst serving her I decided to take some initiative (one of the COS values) and ask her if they had any vacancies at head office. Low and behold they did in pattern cutting and I just happen to be a pattern cutter. I sent my CV to her that night and got an interview for a jr. pattern cutter position on the menswear, accessories and childrenswear team.

I went to my interview and today they called me in for a trial run. This involved me taking two flat sketches and making the complete patterns for them based on the designers notes. Once I had finished we had a little chat and they offered me the job.

Now I am pondering why I am taking this job in the first place? I have never worked in the head office of a large corporation... I have never had a real life job for that matter. This position involves me drafting on a computer all day and liaising with factories in China. It is indeed a stepping stone in my career but not really in the direction I intended. Am I selling out for money, stability and the possibility of a work visa? I also have a job offer for two designers in the east end, Meadham Kirchhoff and might choose COS over them.

I blame London, it is way to hard to follow your dream here, it is much too costly. I would love to work for two upcoming designers in the east end but have put it on the back burner to draft tiny little children's and menswear clothes. How things change...

Anyway I still haven't heard back about my salary negotiation so we shall see which path I will be taking.

Here are some pics of the COS SS'09 collection. I must admit the childrenswear is quite cute and well of course I have always loved the mens and womenswear collections.