ECA fashion alumni share their career journeys, creative insights and advice for the next generation of fashion talent.

What does it take to build a successful career in fashion?

Join Edinburgh College of Art for In Fashion, an engaging conversation exploring the journey from studying fashion at ECA to developing a diverse and successful career within Scotland’s fashion industry and beyond.

Hosted by Professor Mal James, Personal Chair of Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art, the discussion will bring together ECA fashion alumni to share their experiences, creative practices and career journeys.

Panellists include:

Samantha McCoach, Founder and Designer of Le Kilt

Born and raised in Leith, Edinburgh, and trained at Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, Le Kilt founder Samantha McCoach explores the origins and meaning of garments through her designs. She reframes local tradition for a modern audience that wants a connection with its clothes and appreciates how true craftsmanship reveals itself the closer you look. Since launching in 2014, Le Kilt has been proudly made in Scotland by expert craftspeople using the finest natural materials and stocked across the world from Dover Street Market to Matches and Selfridges. Le Kilt is now established as one of the most coveted Scottish independent labels to emerge in recent years, rooted in both the highlands and cityscapes that shapes modern Scottish culture.

Rosie Baird, Designer and Founder of Baird

Fashion Designer and alumni of Edinburgh College of Art, Rosie Baird, founded BAIRD in 2025, a new independent Scottish clothing brand built on culture, curiosity, and humour. BAIRD explores ideas through small-scale, carefully crafted garments that tell stories. Balancing romance and reality, the brand draws inspiration from both the authentic and commercialised aspects of Scotland. Through a female lens, BAIRD examines modern Scottish identity, blending softness with strength, heritage with self-definition, and the search for belonging with storytelling.

Katie Braid, Fashion Illustrator, Educator and Designer

Edinburgh based Katie Braid, is an award-winning fashion illustrator, consultant, and Teaching Fellow Edinburgh College of Art. Known for her expressive line work, she combines her design, brand-building, and heritage expertise to create authentic visual stories. In 2024, she won the FIDA Award for her stop-motion fashion illustration work. Her illustrations have been exhibited internationally and featured in several top publications. Katie also conducts private commissions, and workshops for institutions including V&A Dundee and the National Museums of Scotland.

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The conversation will explore the breadth of opportunities available to fashion graduates, including practical insights into developing a portfolio and personal creative practice, making the transition from education into industry and navigating the many different career paths available after graduation.

Following the talk, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the panellists informally, ask questions and continue the conversation about what it means to be ‘in fashion’.

Whether you are studying fashion, considering a creative career or simply interested in Scotland’s evolving fashion landscape, this event offers an inspiring opportunity to hear directly from established industry practitioners.

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The image used is credited to photographer, Robbie Lawrence.

Description supplied by the event organiser.