Melissa SCRAGG

What was your very first job?

I started working in fashion at the retail level for Canadians/Pants Place. I always knew I loved fashion and finding out what the seasons newest trends were going to be. I still remember being in high school and hating my peer’s clothes and style and would steal my sister’s clothes most of the time and sometimes even my brothers’. I would create my own style to be comfortable and happy.

Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails. 

Oversee all of the digital and print images in and out of Kenneth Cole Productions, whether it is for the ecommerce site, or the Campaign and Collateral images passed through to retouching. All of the cash-wrap packaging, Maintaining brand awareness through our global and domestic partners and throughout the company.

How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today? 

It started from my pre/teen years of having to wear hand me down clothes (the mid-late 80’s). I had to be creative and mix old with new so it wasn’t visible that I was wearing my sister’s or neighbor’s clothes. I loved pairing the hand me down rocker tee with bright colored skinny jeans. I was always curious of how clothing, shoes, magazines, even photoshoots were curated. From a scratch on a napkin to becoming an actual object, always amazed me.

In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant? 

There is inspiration everywhere I look. I find it in an animal, a person or the window trim of an old building in Barcelona. It’s in your face every day and that’s what keeps my mind fresh, open and motivated. It’s always changing.

If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be? 

·    It would have to be when I worked for V Magazine. My boss wanted to have his cover models naked and sexy, but having to be consciously covered up for the newsstands. We had to think creatively. He then came up with the V Magazine logo having the same silver scratch off material as lottery scratch off has. It was surprisingly classy and so much fun to produce.