Lethbridge living May/June 2017 | Page 13

Our grads on the ground Graduates like Jaime Johnson are already making their mark. After completing the new Fashion Design and Sustainable Production program at Lethbridge College in 2016, Jaime transferred to the University of Lethbridge and launched her own business, JaMi Jewelry and Accessories. & Q A with Jaime Johnson What did you like about the program? You learn everything here. They are with you every step of the way. If you don’t have any experience with any aspect, whether it’s sewing, drawing, pattern drafting or even writing a paper, they help you with everything here. Did you find a mentor during your time at the college? One of my major influences here at the college was our instructor, Brenda Brandley. She really goes the extra mile for you and makes sure that you are successful. How do you know this is the right field for you? I didn’t particularly like working in an office. I always thought that being creative was something that you were, not what you did. Now I know that you can have a job being creative, and not be stuck at a desk. To learn more about this program, visit: lethbridgecollege.ca/fashion What does a good day look like at work, and what does your professional future look like? I like it when I have created something that people are happy with. When you get a customer who is really enthused about your product, it’s a great feeling. The possibilities for me in the future are doing costume design or costume construction. How did the sustainability aspect of the program influence you? It taught me a lot about how I want to do things on my own. You have to make sure that you are doing things ethically – making sure workers are paid properly, that you don’t have a huge environmental footprint and that it’s economical. You can find Jaime’s shop online at etsy.com/shop/shopjami.