Choosing the right path after college can be both exciting and daunting, but for former Gower College Swansea student Hayley Szymonski, it was the beginning of a creative career that would take her to the heart of British design.
Now the Head of Design at Corgi Socks – a luxury brand with a global reputation – we caught up with Hayley to find out how her time at Gower College Swansea shaped her journey, her advice for aspiring creatives looking to follow in her footsteps, and an insight into the brand loved by the Royal Family.
Tell us about Corgi
Corgi is a sixth-generation family business, where we make socks and knitwear for luxury, high end stores as well as our own brands. We’ve got the Royal Warrant, which we were awarded in 1989. Being a manufacturer, we work with a lot of white label companies, so they could be shops, designers or fashion brands.
Some of the companies we worked with have been Burberry, Thom Browne, and then we’ve worked with a lot of up-andcoming younger fashion designers who are showing in London Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and they have some really wacky and creative ideas that they want to bring to life and we sort of help them develop their creations.
What does your role entail?
So my role here at Corgi is Head of Design. I’m at the forefront of all the designing and creative work here. I’ve been here for 17 years, and I have been able to develop my skills and use what I learnt in College.
How did Gower College Swansea influence your career?
I studied A Levels in Art and Media Studies at Gower College Swansea’s Gorseinon Campus and it was a really great start for me to develop my creativity. I was approached by a former lecturer who told me there was an opportunity here at Corgi, and that was 17 years ago. So I went along to the interview, got the job and I’ve been here ever since.
What’s your advice for current students at Gower College Swansea?
“Get your creative juices flowing in your studies and get into it, meet new people, take as much as you can from the tutors and really build your confidence.’’ Gower College Swansea has 40 guaranteed A Level subjects, including multiple courses in art, design and media.
So, whether you’re aiming for university, industry, or hands-on experience, Gower College Swansea is your stepping stone.