Megan Exsteen

Returning to education to follow a creative passion

For Megan Exsteen, fashion has always been part of her life. Growing up with a mother who made clothing, she developed an early appreciation for garment making and creativity. Once her children were older, Megan decided it was the perfect time to return to education and pursue the career she had always wanted.

"I've grown up with a mother who made clothing, so I've always had an interest in making clothes. Once my children were older, I was finally able to come back to study and do what I'd always wanted to do - designing my own clothing."

Choosing Leicester College

Whilst researching fashion courses, Megan found that many only offered short sewing programmes. Leicester College stood out by offering a comprehensive fashion course that covered a wide range of topics she was eager to learn.

"I'd been looking online at lots of different courses, but most of what I found were short sewing courses. When I came across Leicester College, I saw they offered a dedicated fashion course that covered so many of the things I was interested in. I went to an Open Day and thought it looked like a really nice place to study."

Unlike many aspiring fashion professionals, Megan doesn't draw inspiration from a single designer or luxury brand. Instead, she embraces individuality and looks for creativity in many different places.

"I'm not really into fashion labels or following designers. One of my teachers once told me I was into 'anti-fashion', which I didn't even know was a thing! I'm inspired by people being unique. I take ideas from different designers, art, films and everyday life rather than just one person," she says.

Stand out moments

The highlights of Megan's time on the course have been the friendships she has built and the practical skills she has gained along the way.

"I've made some really good friends, and I've learnt so many new skills. There were lots of things I'd never done before, and now I feel confident and skilled in them," Megan explains.

Next steps

With the support of Leicester College, Megan secured a work experience placement with Next, an opportunity that quickly turned into a full-time role.

"I'm very fortunate. The college helped me find work experience at Next and when I finished my placement, they offered me a job."

Megan's new role as a Sample Machinist will see her playing an important part in bringing fashion collections to life.

"The designers create their ideas, which are then passed to the pattern cutting team. From there, I'll be making the first samples of the garments. Every day will be different, and I'll get to work on everything from womenswear and menswear to childrenswear, helping create the clothing that ends up in stores."

Recommending the course to others

Megan would recommend the course to anyone considering a career in fashion, praising both the teaching staff and the supportive learning environment.

"I would definitely recommend the course to other students. The teachers are all fantastic. They genuinely care about you and your future, and they're always there to help. It's just a really great place to study."