What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory was the first time I got into a plane, on my own, to head to my first long-time destination: it was an aupair experience in Rome. I was 18yo, I had just finished high school, and was about to start my fashion studies in Paris, away from my family, living in the south of France.
I remember the feeling of freedom in my lungs, the rush in my head thinking that from now on, everything was possible, and nothing could stop me from fulfilling my desire to see this great playground we call planet!
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
TaF.tc provided me with my first job position, right after I graduated, a couple years back. It taught me everything, from how a business work, to develop my working skills, to handle a multi-cultural environment.
Without the trust that my CE put in me when I just graduated from my fashion master, I would never have been able to become the woman that I am today: a go-getter person that never gives up!
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
The best story I've heard from a return student is crystal clear in my mind and drives me every day. It was a French student that participated in the 15 days fashion trip program to Singapore and Malaysia. It was the first time that she was leaving France. Her English was really not the best, she had zero knowledge in handling herself on her own, and was not really what we can call an adventurous person!
I have to admit, this trip has not been a summer camp to her. She struggled to follow her courses taught in English, and she was clearly not used to not be in her comfort zone. Well, believe it or not, at the end of the trip, she came to me and said: "Louise, this experience taught me so much about myself. I went far beyond my limits and actually discovered that I could do so much more than what I was capable of. And most of all, it completely unlocked my fear of speaking English in front of others, despite my French accent and total lack of vocabulary, not to mention grammar!".
She wrote me again a few months later, saying that she just got hired by Balmain, a famous French fashion house, all thanks to this trip. Her interview was mostly in English.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
If I could go on any program that TaF.tc offers, I would definitely strike for the 3 months Footwear program. This course is a first-of-its-kind in South East Asia. As a student, you get to be surrounded by passionate Italian trainers that share their knowledge on something every lady in the world loves: shoes!
I particularly love the fact that, in 3 months, you become an expert in literally every footwear aspect: from hand and digital drawing to pattern making, product development and marketing. You even get to make your own pair of shoes! How cool is that?!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
TaF.tc is unique in the sense that it is a global training institute: its number one concern is to provide quality fashion training to countries that need it most, such as neighbor countries from South East Asia.
Besides, it really is turned towards the future: it is a 100% new technology company driven! I wouldn't be surprised if we find out that a TaF.tc training centre is the first one to open on the moon! The sky is the limit, as we say, isn't it?!
More seriously, I love the fact that the management truly believes and trust its staff. The company's spirit is "if you have a project in mind, well just go for it and stop wander around about it!". I believe you can feel this energy as a student and I think it is very inspiring and challenging!
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I believe that, as a company, to be successful, you have to be surrounded by people that believe in what they are doing and find it meaningful. It doesn't matter if they don't have the perfect skills to complete their tasks, as long as they are doing it with all their heart and they dare to try new things, it will eventually end up on something positive.
There's only the ones that don't try that never fail. I strongly believe that failure is not a bad thing, it is a way of learning from it and growing stronger.
