I have a background in fashion design, as well as in economics and management. I am interested in combining creative practice with business development. My Host, Maïa Archive, is a sustainable fashion product development studio based in Brussels, working with designers and brands from sourcing and prototyping to production. I am thinking go developing Turchina Studios, a creative project focused on fashion, culture and collaborations, with an interest in creating new and sustainable ways of connecting creative people and businesses. I decided to participate to gain hands-on experience in managing a creative business and developing collaborations. I expected to strengthen my skills in business development, communication, project management and production, while gaining knowledge that I could bring back to Turchina Studios.
During my EYE stay, I worked closely with my Host on business development, communication and creative projects. I especially contributed to the development of Maïa X, including market research, brand communication, website development, shooting production and the organisation of the launch event. I also supported content creation, production coordination and communication with collaborators and partners. My relationship with my Host was collaborative, with regular exchanges of ideas and feedback, allowing me to take responsibility for my tasks while learning directly from her experience.
I will definitely continue collaborating with Maïa Archive on Maïa X, which has been an invaluable learning experience and, in many ways, the greatest school for learning project management from a 360-degree perspective. I have gained practical experience in business model development, market research, event production, website development and social media management, all within a sustainable and creative fashion context.
I feel particularly lucky to have had the opportunity to work across all these different areas, as they are skills I will need to develop Turchina Studios in the future. The experience also allowed me to meet and collaborate with designers whose work I have admired for years, as well as to build a professional network of suppliers and manufacturers that I can rely on if I decide to develop my own products or collections. I believe these relationships and the knowledge I have gained during my stay will continue to be valuable well beyond the end of the exchange.
Maïa Archive has been a 360-degree school of creative project management. I gained new skills, built meaningful connections and found tools and inspiration that I will carry into the future of Turchina Studios.