TSW Talks: How to Turn Your Passion Into a Career With Rebecca Miller

Ever wondered how to turn your passion into a career? In our latest episode of TSW Talks, we sat down with Rebecca Miller, Footwear Designer at Clarks Originals to find out how she did just that. From internships at Tommy Hilfiger, to footwear design at adidas, Rebecca’s career has taken her across the world whilst working for some of the biggest brands in the industry. If you’re looking for inspiration and advice on how to land your dream role, or where to get started to get your foot in the door, then check out our latest episode that shows you how you can take an opportunity, and turn it into a career. Check out the full interview over on The Sole Womens Instagram.

"I am a footwear designer at Clarks currently. I've only been in the position since the start of the year. And then before this, I was a footwear designer at adidas."

"I started at Falmouth University, so I studied sportswear design. From there, I was applying for internships and, as you know, trying to get internships in London is expensive. Like, I couldn't afford it. So, my only option was to go for paid internships. So I was looking for a very long time. And then luckily we had the opportunity at university to go to Tommy Hilfiger. But that was abroad, so that was in Amsterdam. Luckily it was paid so I could afford to do it."

"I done two internships for six months each, but I waited until I finished uni to do them in my final presentation at university. So we had a runway show that was people from adidas and Tommy Hilfiger there, and that's how I met them and got speaking about what I do and what I'm going to go on to do. And that is basically how I ended up going on to work for them in the future. I'd done six months at Tommy, so that was in Amsterdam. And then straight after I went to adidas. But yeah, that was simply from that final collection and connecting with people and chatting. And it's awkward like trying to get your name out there and like trying to push yourself forward. But yeah, it has to be done."

"I started in apparel actually during my internship and then luckily I was given the opportunity to go into footwear, which is where I always wanted to go. I always wanted to go into footwear and I was given an opportunity by my director at the time who took me on as a footwear designer and I had no experience in footwear. It was all in apparel and so she really took a chance on me, actually employing me as a footwear designer. And I think it's because of people like her that are higher up in these companies and that can make more of a difference, especially for women in the industry."

"That's how I got into footwear and then spent three years there. So I was working in the SMU team. My job was colour and materials, but I ended up being more product-based. So I was designing new uppers. Bringing archived shoes back into the mainline projects."

"I'm now working within Clarks Originals, which is well, I ended up coming back to the UK and I ended up going back to Bristol, which is where I'm from. So I started at Clarks at the start of the year. I'm working in the menswear footwear position and I also work on collaborations with Clarks."

Oh, my favourite part is probably everyone's favorite part is like getting the samples. A lot of them are pretty like an eye-sore, they're rough to look at, but some of them just like hit that sweet spot. So they've got a longstanding collaboration partner, which is Ronnie Fieg, and recently he brought out the New York Yankees Wallabees. But the reason that I love the Ronnie Fieg collab so much is because when I first became like this trainer collector, my first pair of shoes that I probably bought and I got shipped from like America and I was like obsessed with them was a pair of Ronnie Fieg.

"But it was New Balance, so it's crazy now when I look back to like what, seven, eight years ago when I was buying Ronnies stuff and now working with him and doing collaborations with Ronnie is just, it's crazy. It has a little bit of a place in me to work with Ronnie but yeah."

My favorite designer especially has gotta be Grace Wales Bonner because I love her collab with Adidas and I managed to see behind the scenes a little bit about her inspiration and where her ideas come from and it's honestly incredible the way her mind works. I think she's one of the best designers."

"It doesn't matter what your background is. It doesn't matter as long as you love what you do and you have a passion for something, it can take you anywhere it really can. And so I think that's what I'd tell my younger self anyway. Like when I was going for these internships, and being knocked down because I couldn't get to London or I couldn't afford these internships that weren't paid. Like it was like so disheartening and it really sets you back a little bit from the overall picture."

"And now I sit here and I'm like, I'm happy. I really love what I do, but there are definitely doubts along the way, and you're always going to get that, especially in the creative industry. It doesn't matter if you get setbacks. Just build yourself back up and just keep going and keep just loving what you do and it'll take you very far."