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So, imagine getting featured in Vogue when you’re just graduating your MA! Straight after this, your next collection is also showed at London Fashion week.

This week’s guest Helen Kirkum. Helen is a footwear artist and designer based in London. Helens studio creates bespoke handmade sneakers by reworking discarded components. Helen is so conscious about the cost of fashion in terms of carbon footprint She won’t even take a pair of used discarded trainers from the recycle centre! Nope she will only take that one dumped shoe, creating wearable couture collages from discarded sneakers. Helen is a pioneer of the hacking, re-worn and patchwork aesthetic within the sneaker Industry.

So of course, after graduating in 2016 Helen got snapped up to work in house for Adidas, but after a while the artist within Helen had to go back to London to pursue her vision further!

Helens clients include Nike, Ellese, Lacoste, Timberland, Murakami Takeshi to name a few! Helens exhibited all over the world, her MA collection of course started at RCA London Helen then went on to exhibit in Minnesota, Philadelphia, China, Bordeaux.

Helens Takeaways

1. Creating a path that no one else has built before you is scary, but remember this; the worlds needs what you have to offer, so keep on going!

2. You don’t have to know the end destination, in fact most entrepreneurs and artists don’t! You just have to follow that feeling and know the next few steps.

3. Get a mentor or coach to keep you accountable or start an accountability group so you know you will keep on the path.

4. When pitching to companies or new clients, write a quirky or funny subject to grab their attention!

5. If you believe in your project, don’t be swayed by another people’s vision.

6. It’s ok to not know what to email or say, keep drafting. We all get uncomfortable and we should feel uncomfortable we that’s where we truly grow.

7. Get to know other designers in your space, collaborations are a great way to help push each other.

8. If projects had been cancelled or works quieter use this time, to work on the parts of your business you’ve been putting off, do you can start next year strong!

Helen Kirkum.com

https://www.instagram.com/helenkirkumstudio/?hl=en

Podcasts mentioned

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

Creative Rebels

The Imprint Podcast