Comments on: Nothing Good Happens After Midnight

By: Trista

Trista — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:25:49 +0000

Thank you so much for your insight. I’m about to graduate and start my career in the industry, and I’ve been wondering lately what I’ve gotten myself into. After being a hairstylist for 10 years, I went back to school to hopefully have better working conditions (for my body anyway). So the prospect of putting in all that time and money to be slave labor is depressing. I now know to look out for companies like this and some warning signs. I hope to find a small to mid-level company that is more attentive to employees needs, this seems to be the best balance of hardwork and well being I’ve found in the hair industry.
Thank you again for this blog and the information you give to someone outside of the industry. It has been a great help!

By: Amsterdam

Amsterdam — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:32:57 +0000

Extended hrs only (beyonda 10 hr day, except during costing, then 12 hr days for 2 wks)happen to employees new to the industry or people with no life. Mostly recent grads, I guess it’s all part of earning your “chops”.
Keep in mind, once you start traveling to vendors/ftys you will have days in the fty were you stay till midnight, maybe 2 in morning.
I remember being customs facility in Thialand were fabric must stay for 2 wks, but there is a cutting rm & sewing dept where you may have the items put together prior to exit(at least it was like that in the 80’s, I now hang mostly in HK, mainland China, Korea, & Turkey). Anyway, cutters didn’t show, so me & the sourcing manager carried bolts to a second flr, layed the goods, & cut(this process began at 2 a.m.). At the time it was a horrible exp, but I was young & new to NYC, so I didn’t know if this would happen time to time. Nevertheless, great “war story” & I’m sure many are still to come, it’s work, interesting situation, exotic locations, love the industry or leave it:)

By: midwestfashionista

midwestfashionista — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:02:41 +0000

That interviewer was just looking for slave labor-how ridiculous! I hope that the person looking for a job just walked out in outrage.

By: WendyB

WendyB — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:23:16 +0000

Appalling.

By: Swify

Swify — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:44:26 +0000

Its all bullshit and they do it because they can! end of story!

Even when we leave a job there is always some fashion grad willing to take the abuse and in this town who can afford to just quit!

By: fashionherald

fashionherald — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:31:25 +0000

God, what an unsupportable situation. How can they think they get anything good out of exhausted and stressed staff? It’s like the industry is in the dark ages. And yes, in finance people work like that to retire young and rich, and of course aren’t in untenable work environments.

By: Midtown Girl

Midtown Girl — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:05:13 +0000

You just reminded me of my hell dayz as an I-banker working without heat and light LOL! The building used to turn it off after 5pm – bastards!

But yes, we did get a car/food/expense card, so you are right – it is BULLSHIT to think people can be creative in a hellhole environment.

ps – they do something similar in the airline industry…making pilots works 24-48 hour shifts with NO sleep = plane crashes…don’t execs see the connection!?!

By: A

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:43:38 +0000

I remember the feeling of not sleeping for 3 days straight as a parsons student as well as now working late nights at work in the industry. But definitely not to the extent described above! I doubt the conditions will change but hopefully they will one day at least be tolerable and reasonable.

By: Bex22

Bex22 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:05:36 +0000

Hells yeah!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!

This has been my biggest problem with fashion since I started working in it. And like you said, it just doesn’t make sense, it helps NOBODY! Including the bottom line!

Now, what can we do???