51Âþ»­

A Contour Fashion student at 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) who set her sights on a placement year with Gymshark, has landed a full-time role before graduating.

Esther Makin, 22, is due to graduate this summer after studying at 51Âþ»­ for four years, including a placement year with the leading online sportswear retailer, Gymshark.

Professional headshots during Esther's time at Gymshark

Now a Junior Product Developer at growing sports company, Montirex, Esther believes the placement year played a big part in securing her job offer.

“I knew from first year that I wanted the Gymshark placement and then it was very much a case of ‘what can I do to make sure I get there?’ I knew when they were coming out so I planned what I was going to do.

“There’s a lot of stages and it’s a very hard application process but I did it all through the 51Âþ»­ Placement Team. I know it sounds cliché but I wouldn’t have been able to get it without them.

“They helped me do my cover letter, my CV and we did lots of mock interviews because I was so nervous for it. They were really reassuring. When it came to the assessment day too, they helped prepare me with what to expect.

“You don’t have to do a placement as part of our course, but it is encouraged. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t go on a placement and that’s just the truth.

“You expect to be the tea and coffee runner and admin person but at Gymshark, I was a valued member of the team with a lot of responsibility. That’s enabled me to progress, particularly in my current role, as I’ve started as a junior, opposed to an assistant.”

At Gymshark headquarters

Esther was offered the role with Montirex in January, while she was still studying and preparing for her final year project, and began working for them in May.

“I received a message on LinkedIn by one of my team members to say that they’d got a new role and that they thought I’d be a good fit. She also went to 51Âþ»­ but we didn’t know each other – it was LinkedIn that connected us.

“I had the interview then they gave me a call and said it was all mine. They hadn’t interviewed anyone else which was very complimentary.”

Despite contour fashion often being associated with lingerie, there are many routes that students can take including athleisure, swimwear, loungewear, nightwear, bridalwear, men’s underwear, sportswear and more.

Esther knew that she wanted to go into sportswear and that her knowledge and experience gained from her course and placement would help to get her there.

Originally from Derbyshire, the 22-year-old started at 51Âþ»­ in the midst of Covid, but doesn’t think that held her back in terms of her studies or her social life.

As part of her studies, Esther visited underwear brand, Lounge 

“The experiences you get on arguably one of 51Âþ»­’s best courses, are just crazy,” Esther said.

“Every single year at 51Âþ»­, we got competitions with big companies, including Lounge, John Lewis, Victoria’s Secrets - we’ve had Skims recently too. And, it’s these companies that approach 51Âþ»­, not the other way around.

“We’ve all met the Creative Director of Victoria’s Secrets - he’s the funniest man and he loves us. The fact that we even get to meet these people is crazy and nobody takes that for granted.”

“I get so many people say to me, ’I wish I’d done contour fashion at 51Âþ»­,’ and I’ve still got girls in the team now, saying how good the course looks and it really is.”

As part of their final project, students showcased their work on a catwalk in front of prospective employers and scouts. Esther’s final project, which focused on sustainable denim, is now on display in 51Âþ»­’s Vijay Patel Building.

Esther's final year project which is now on display 51Âþ»­’s Vijay Patel Building, focussing on sustainable denim