In this series, IFA Paris alumni share how their studies at IFA Paris has paved the way to land their dream job. This week we talk with Veronica Vaduva, a Bachelor in Fashion Marketing graduate. The Canadian came to IFA Paris to help cultivate her creative side and has now landed her job working for her dream client, Balmain.
Get to know:
Name: Veronica Vaduva
Nationality: Canadian (Toronto)
IFA Campus: Paris
Program studied: Bachelor in Fashion Marketing
Favourite course: Entrepreneurship (especially as a woman) and dealing with all aspects of any brand in the fashion industry.
Current project: I am currently the Digital Coordinator at KCD Paris. I do a wide variety of things including influencer relationships and programs, content ideation, social media community manager, strategic consulting, and much much more. My current clients include Balmain and Gucci, and in the past I have done some work for brands including Yeezy Season 8, YSL, Fenty, Mugler, and much more.
Veronica and Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing
Fashion inspiration: My inspiration comes from a wide variety of sources, but I would say the most would be menswear. I love looking into current pop culture and taking inspiration from all the creative men and putting a women’s touch on it. We live in a time where we have so many creative men to look up to like Olivier Rousteing, Virgil Abloh, Kanye West, but being an independent woman from a young age I also try to mix it with more feminine touches and add my own spin on things.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background – who you are, where you come from and what got you interested in studying fashion.
I’m originally from Toronto, Canada and found IFA Paris because I knew that I wanted to really develop my creative side, as my brain was already conditioned to the business side of things. I’ve always been a good student, but knew that I had more to offer.
In my free time I would always look into “aesthetics” whether it was through the pages of Vogue, Pinterest, my grandma’s closet, or social media. I found that I always had a unique take on things, and loved mixing androgynous aesthetics with a business mindset. I started interning at KCD from my second year at IFA Paris. I felt that it was my destiny to work at KCD, and I’m now hired fulltime, living out my dreams and working hard.
Veronica and classmates at graduation ceremony
What are you currently doing and what’s most exciting about it?
It was recently (digital) Paris Fashion Week so I was in full fashion week swing. Working with my main client Balmain has always been a dream of mine, so being on set for the past week and working to send out all the invitations and customized looks to talents has been very exciting (and exhausting). My favourite part of my job is really connecting with different people and seeing their creative take on things, and how their brains work. I’ve been able to build such amazing relationships with so many creators, so seeing how they take one concept and make it their own is inspiring. From seeing how Aleali May ideates her content, to Olivier Rousteing’s vision of his newest collections and translating that to a video is very inspiring. Check out the #BalmainAboveAndBeyond to see snippets of the show.
What skills did you learn at IFA Paris that helps you in your current role?
I definitely learned how to manage stress! IFA really taught me so much in all aspects from business to fashion history, but I would not be where I am today without being able to balance time and know how to meet a deadline.
During fashion week, while running back and forth from shows, and having a never ending to do list I am really capable of looking composed on the outside, no matter how stressed (and tired) I am. Also, Excel really helped me get to where I am today… I’m still known as the “Excel Queen” as Silvere once named me.
In FOUR words, describe your IFA Paris experience:
Stimulating, Informative, Personality-building, and Creative
What words of wisdom do you have for current and any future IFA Paris students?
Push through it. Things aren’t always as bad as they seem, and I promise in the real world, you’ll miss those times of taking notes of PowerPoints at the back of the class with your friends around you.
Make sure to pay attention, and actually listen to your teachers because I promise they know what they’re talking about. Also don’t forget to have fun, always take time for yourself and do what you love.
If you could choose three things to include for an IFA Paris “survival toolkit”, what would they be?
- Laptop – You’ll always need it to take notes (or do a retail therapy session during break)
- iPhone – Although we still use LinkedIn, always keep your social media platforms up and running
- Coffee – Lots of caffeine for those long days, and even longer nights
Veronica’s top tips for: Paris
Cheap eats Sorry, I only eat Caviar 😉 Just kidding, basically any salad or sandwich from a local Bio boulangerie
Place to hangout with friends: The Louvre garden (my friends and I do iconic picnics in the summer)
Getting around: Scooters!!! The Lime app is one of the most used on my phone, and it’s better than the hot metro in the summer
Relaxing: Any good nail salon, my fav is Co Em Nails– treat yourself J
Favourite word in local language: “Geniale” – meaning amazing, or “JPP” (je peux pas), translated for “I can’t”
For more information on this program, please visit: Bachelor Fashion Marketing.
This program is also available online for distance learning.
If you are an alumn and would like to be featured, or know someone who should be, don’t hesitate to let us know at [email protected]