Interview with Arthi Rangaraj

I sat down with This Month’s Back Bone Society female, 24 year old, Arthi Rangaraj. She gave me a look into what it’s like working in a different country while balancing the life of a fast-paced fashion career.

Did you know that you always wanted to go into fashion?

I always knew I wanted to go into fashion because I used to do sketches of clothing when I was about 10. My parents wanted me to explore other realms of the art world. Through school and projects on my own I always did art. I was always obsessed with magazines and I didn’t quite know where I wanted to go with fashion. I just assumed I would do design (which I think everyone does at some point) Then, I applied to London College of Fashion for the foundation degree. I made some clothes for it and I hated it. Absolutely hated designing.

Why did you choose to apply to London College of Fashion as your university?

Legitimately, because there was a poster in my school I walked past that poster every day when I was younger and then I looked it up and decided I must go there! I just kind of made up my mind and it was the only college I applied to. I made a bunch of clothes for it and did my whole interview and did my foundation degree. I realized I hate making clothes. I would much rather sort of do communication and visual communication. Which is what I did for my undergrad and pretty much my job now.

What interest’s do you have within the fashion field?

I have started leaning more towards graphic design but always with an interest in fashion. Which, I think is, just through the years of trying stuff and experimenting and projects. Work has played a huge part in this.

Can you state exactly where you are from?

I am from a relatively small city called Chennai in the south of India. I grew up by the beach. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is as far away as you can be from Chennai and it’s pretty exciting because I don’t think that growing up I would be where I am today. I don’t think growing up I ever thought that I would have worked at two different fashion weeks. It’s pretty cool sometimes when I look back and think 13-year-old me would be pretty excited. Now I live in London.

How long have you been in London?

I have lived in London for close to six years, which is a long time when I think about it. It is pretty much my entire adult life. I moved here straight out of high school and I think my experiences here and the industry here has shaped my outlook on what I want to do with my career and what I want to do creatively.

What was the hardest thing about adjusting to living in another country?

I think the whole idea of doing everything by myself because growing up in India everything is outsourced. There’s a person to do something and then another person to do something else. The biggest shift for me moving to London was everything was done by me, you know, just day to day life. but also the way University was taught. Everything was suddenly like on me. Learning to juggle all of that and learning how to create under what felt like huge pressure.

What are some of the most important tasks that you do at your current job?

I currently work at Ralph and Russo. It is a high fashion house that specializes in haute couture. I do a variety of things which are a mix of admin and creative. My role is both a creative role and I assist on graphic design, but I also handle coordination for the art department. That usually involves photoshoots, budgets, invoicing and archiving. Some of the most important things would be that we are meeting our budgets and staying within those budgets. Also, when we pitch to company’s collaborations I work on all that brand material. This is important to the business because its business to business. It gets taken much more seriously than if a consumer was looking at images.

What advice would you give young girls today who hope to have dreams like yours?

I would say intern when you can, wherever you can. I think that I have learned more from doing that than I have from any class. Classes are fun but interning you learn what you don’t like doing. Which I think is a much bigger way to understand what you actually like doing. You can always be good at something but not enjoy doing it. I think that’s an important distinction that I’ve learned along the way. Don’t take no for an answer.

Do you think it’s hard being a female trying to move up in the fashion industry?

Personally, I have never felt like I was not chosen for something based on my gender, race yes, and I think that’s part of trying to navigate an environment like London. Where there is a huge mix of people from diverse backgrounds and you will meet people, who have absolutely no prejudice or any open choices based on race, but there will also be times when it’s evident the choices that they’re making. I think working with brands and marketing realising why some companies are making their decisions, can feel a little uncomfortable if you’re not part of the large population of white females making those choices.

What’s next for you?

I honestly don’t know but I know the things I want to try and do would be a Masters in Graphic Design and also work for a magazine, on the creative team putting together content not on the fashion teams. Those are currently my top two things I want to do in the near future and depending how this year goes we will see which of those things I can actually do. For now, I’m happy where I am and learning every day. I enjoy working fulltime definitely trying something completely different like a magazine would be next on the list.

Any advice for women trying to broaden their career path?

Eh I think use youtube tutorials. Learn how to do things and learn how to make your content look pretty because it’s harder than you think it is and making a website or sustaining a Instagram page is much harder than it seems. You need to have a plan going in because making it up on the way won’t work.

Personal fun facts?

Fun facts? I know way too many random trivia which I think helps form a lot of the pages I follow and the design references I pull. It sort of comes from the fact that I like reading trivia. Because you learn the weirdest things which lead you to more weird and wonderful references. I wrote my undergraduate dissertation on the role and nature of memes on social media and how they play into intimacy and how they act as a media that strengthens bonds of friendships. It’s a subject that’s constantly evolving. I think I would like to use it again if I decide to go into Masters. I love memes they are hilarious but also so interesting. For fun, I like to read and I am currently reading a book called the Politics of Design by Ruben Pater. Which is about design all over the world and typography. I also watch Star Wars and Harry Potter way too much. I also love all things pink and sparkly.

What’s your night time routine?

I usually try to stop looking at my phone at least 20 minutes before I get into bed. I’m not consistent with it but I do try to do it every day. So, I set my alarms, plug my phone in and then do my whole skincare routine. I double cleanse, wash my face, do serums and moisturize. Then I do 10 minutes of meditation and then I go to bed. It takes about 25 minutes. I will sometimes read or occasionally scroll on my phone for too long.

Morning routine?

I am not a morning person, so my morning is chaotic at best. I wake up absolutely 50 minutes before I have to start functioning. I will wake up stare at the ceiling for a bit and then check my phone. Shower, drink coffee realise I have taken too much time get dressed quickly and then run out the door.

Thanks to Arthi for participating in this month’s Back Bone female interview and giving insight into her life until next month hope you enjoyed!

Female of the month - Arthi Rangaraj

June 2020