Photos courtesy of Dannika Zen – draped leather and lambs fur jacket
When I spotted pictures of Dannika Zen’s work on DIRTYFLAWS, I was instantly entranced – not only did the aesthetic perfectly align with my own, but the designer lives in my city (amazing to think that I should discover homegrown talent via a blog based halfway around the world). Curious to know more, I emailed Dannika and we spoke about her eponymous label.
At 24 years old, Dannika Zen has a wealth of experience to her name – having completed an Advanced Diploma of Design at East Sydney (now The Fashion Design Studio), several pattern-making courses and internships with German labels Macqua and Unrath & Strano. Her work is considered; mature – there is a quiet poise to it that suggests a much more established label (in fact, it was only started in February this year). Working primarily with leather and fur, the collection includes jackets with shearling collars, bohemian vests and neatly tailored blazers.
“I like classic garments and appreciate good menswear,” explained Zen, and the masculine influence is evident in her work – simplicity, a focus on workmanship, a certain timelessness. With plans to expand into jersey, cotton and knitwear in the same classic aesthetic, Zen’s label promises to evolve into something deeply collectable.
Here are some snippets from our conversation:
What is your studio like? I currently go between 2 studios, my apartment and the leather workshop. I guess its like most what creative spaces are like – organised chaos! There are pens hanging from the ceiling.
What’s your favourite outfit at the moment? At the moment, I like wearing vintage tees inside out with one of the Moto jackets or classic blazer over the top. I love anything faded or washed out, you can’t exactly replicate those vintage colours.
What are you currently working on? A very feminine skirt and developing some jersey basics.
When you’re not working, where do you like to spend your time? In front of the piano, but mostly in bed catching up on sleep.
Follow Dannika’s blog for a window into her inspiration and glimpses of her design process.
As most of you know, I’m currently undertaking an internship with a fashion magazine here in Sydney. And since some of you have asked, I thought I’d collate a few thoughts on what it takes to get an internship and how to make the most of it once you’re there. This post comes from personal experience, so it’s very Australian-centric (sorry, international readers) and print-oriented. That said, I hope you find it useful.
Before you apply:
In Australia, you will have the best chance of getting an internship if you live in Sydney. If you aren’t based in Sydney, consider moving there (I did). That’s not to say that you can’t get an internship if you live elsewhere. But with the publishing industry largely operating out of Sydney, there are more opportunities there than anywhere else in Australia. Fact.
Most magazines require that you undertake your placement whilst enrolled in further education. This is for insurance reasons – when you’re enrolled in university or TAFE, they cover your insurance and the magazine isn’t liable if something happens to you. Some magazines will require proof of enrolment once you’ve been accepted for your placement; some won’t.
It is very, very rare to get paid for your time. So make sure you’re doing it for love.
There are lots of different kinds of internships available at any one publication – fashion, beauty, editorial, web, features and social media, to name a few. Start thinking about what area you want to specialise in.
Where to apply:
Write up a wish list of all the places you’d love to intern with. Then write a secondary list of the places you’re vaguely interested it. Then stand in your local newsagents (I suggest Mag Nation), and write a list of all the magazines you hadn’t yet considered. Give yourself as many options as possible – while it’s tempting to think Vogue, or nothing, I would advise that you apply to as many publications as you can.
You should also look into applying for internships with online publications. Even web shops. There are many, many online retailers who maintain blogs and may need interns to create content (however, these internships tend to have a PR slant).
Your application:
After you’ve made a list of all the places you want to apply, check the masthead of each magazine for the email address of the editorial coordinator – they’re generally the best person to speak to about getting a placement.
Write a brief, friendly email outlining who you are, where you’re studying and why you want to intern with the magazine. Try to avoid “To whom it may concern” – you’ll know from the masthead the editorial co-ordinator’s name, so address it to them. Let them know what area you’re interested in specifically. Attach your resume and let them know that samples of your writing are available on request.
You won’t hear back from many magazines. This is normal. Some will write back saying that they don’t accept interns. A few will be happy to take you on for a week. And sometimes, you’ll be lucky enough to land something that will last a few months. My internship doesn’t have a specific end date, but I gather that’s quite unusual.
The magazines that offer one-week placements are generally booked up long in advance, so be prepared to have to wait up to six months between the time you organise your placement and the time you actually do it.
Interning:
The best piece of advice I can give you on interning is, treat it like it’s your job. You don’t want to be thought of as the work-experience kid. You want to be thought of as a member of the team. So arrive on time. Dress like you belong there. If there’s something urgent that needs to get done, skip your lunch break. Make an effort to get to know the people in your office. Offer to help. Stay back late if required (an example: during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, on some days I would get into the office at 7:30 in the morning, and not leave until 10 at night). If you’re given a task to do, make sure you follow through with it. Even if you’re only there for one day, make it count.
If you can prove that you’re responsible, intelligent, dedicated and a good fit with the rest of the staff, you will have a good chance of your internship turning into something more long term.
As for my own experience, I have been interning for four months and over that time, I have had some amazing experiences. Attending Rosemount Australian Fashion Week was definitely a highlight. I’ve had a couple of bylines in the magazine. I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to put a magazine together. I don’t know if my internship will turn into paid employment (it’s a budget issue), but I’m cautiously optimistic.
If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll endeavour to answer them.
Although I didn’t get to see Dion Lee’s show in person at RAFW, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about his utterly stunning collection. Everything about Dion’s work is so considered, so precise. The palette, the construction, the styling, the venue – all the aspects of the show came together to produce something truly exciting, truly innovative. The above dress is probably my favourite piece from the collection – its classic construction offset by a Rorschach inkblot print. The print is beautiful on first glance, slightly sinister on the second.
If the Rorschach test is designed to reveal inner thoughts, then welcome to my mind. I see pelvic bones; a monkey skull with glowing eyes; lobster claws; a scarab beetle. Make of that what you will.
You can see a full gallery of Dion Lee’s show here.
