Meet the 2019 F.A.M.E. Team…
The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s F.A.M.E. Team is the ultimate experience for up-and-coming hairdressing talent, providing a year of exposure, mentoring and opportunities.
Each year, four stylists are selected to form the team - and over the years, some of the biggest names in the industry have passed through this illustrious scheme. From Adam Reed and Antoinette Beenders to Errol Douglas MBE and Carolyn Newman, the F.A.M.E. Team has always nurtured impeccable talent.
The 2019 team has now been announced, and the four young stylists are set to have an incredible 12 months. Before they embark on the opportunity of a lifetime, we sat down to find out more about the team…
Lora Griffin @loragriffyhair, Simon Webster Hair
What are you most excited about for your year on the team?
“Being mentored by the amazing Nick Irwin. I have always admired his skill and aesthetic; his discipline and attention to detail is second to none.”
What do you want to improve at over the next 12 months?
“I want to refine my skills in high-pressure environments. Being in a studio or backstage means being quick thinking and proactive when the pressure is on, without compromising your standards.”
Why did you want to be on the F.A.M.E. Team?
“Having followed the team over the years, I set myself the goal of taking part. Preparing for the auditions was, in itself, an interesting growth experience, building my confidence and inspiring new ways of working.”
Who do you admire most in the hairdressing industry?
“Siobhan Jones from Headmasters has always been an inspiration to me. She is a fantastic female role model in the industry and I just love her taste and style. I have been lucky enough to work with her previously and she taught me so much.”
What inspires you?
“I love taking inspiration from unlikely sources and combining that with current trends, music and fashion - creating work that poses a question and encourages thought and response from people.”
Tania Faenza @taniuz, TONI&GUY Canary Wharf
What are you most excited about for your year on the team?
“I’m excited to learn from some amazing creative talents and evolve my skills to become a better, more experienced stylist. I’m also excited to develop my career and do more of what I love!”
What do you want to improve at over the next 12 months?
“I want to improve my confidence and ability to present in front of an audience, and I know that this experience will help me with that.”
Why did you want to be on the F.A.M.E. Team?
“I’ve been following the F.A.M.E. Team for years and some of the people that I admire most in the industry have been a part of it. My friend Katie Prescott was also on the team last year, and that made me even more excited - she shared everything after each of her sessions and it was incredibly inspiring.”
Who do you admire most in the hairdressing industry?
“There are so many! Coming from TONI&GUY, my idol in the company is Efi Davies. She has always been so supportive and I have learnt a lot from her. Outside of the company, Nick Irwin, Errol Douglas MBE and Angelo Seminara inspire me, not just for their hairdressing skills but also for their personality and journey.”
What inspires you?
“I take inspiration from everywhere - art, fashion, emotions, travel, nature, history… anything that captures my attention.”
Alastair Jubbs @mrjubbs, VAE Hair
What are you most excited about for your year on the team?
“The opportunity to be mentored and work alongside Nick Irwin. I get excited every time I remind myself it’s actually happening!”
What do you want to improve at over the next 12 months?
“I would love to improve my session work, developing how I approach a look and how to work to different briefs. I think Nick is really going to push us out of our comfort zones and help us look at hair completely differently.”
Why did you want to be on the F.A.M.E. Team?
“I was lucky enough to be part of Project X, which pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me loads. The F.A.M.E Team was my next goal, as it’s the highest-regarded program I know.”
Who do you admire most in the hairdressing industry?
“I have a huge admiration for Ashleigh Hodges, both as a friend and mentor. Despite her amazing and very busy career, she is such a strong and nurturing character and gives so much back to other stylists and the industry.”
What inspires you?
“I believe that the best work in our industry today draws inspiration from all of our experiences and the people we meet. Taking reference from culture, fashion and little details in life to create something fresh.”
Ashley Cockerell @ajcockrellhair, Percy & Reed
What are you most excited about for your year on the team?
“The opportunity to represent myself, the Fellowship and the team on platforms both nationally and globally. I’m also looking forward to developing new skills and sharing them with the team.”
What do you want to improve at over the next 12 months?
“I want to improve my craft, but also learn new skills in avenues of the industry that I haven’t had the opportunity to explore yet. I also want to improve myself, so that I can really make the most of my time on the team.”
Why did you want to be on the F.A.M.E. Team?
“I wanted a platform to accelerate my career, which only the F.A.M.E. Team can do. I also wanted to have the opportunity to learn new skills on the session side of the industry.”
Who do you admire most in the hairdressing industry?
“One person I truly admire in the industry is Gary Gill. I love the simplicity of his work and his ability to create hair that is so strong but yet so understated.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by the underground movements that are glamorised. For example, garage music, urban fashion, graffiti, Dazed and i-D magazine and their rebellious movements.”