Her Campus McGill is excited to present this week’s Profile, Erica Ng! She is a U3 Cultural Studies major from Toronto who is an incredibly successful freelance fashion journalist and copywriter, as well as my personal inspiration. Read on to learn about this amazingly talented and stylish person.
Gabrielle Lee Gabauer for Her Campus McGill (HC McGill): So, let’s just get into this. You write for the Fashion Globe?
Erica Ng (EN): Yes, I do. The Fashion Globe is a fashion and cultural publication that intends to enlighten readers about the various areas of the arts. We write about and interview designers, artists, dancers, chefs, artisans, and curators from around the world. It is a publication that wants to showcase impactful and creative individuals who are passionate about their craft.
HC McGill: How did you get started there?
EN: I have always wanted to be a fashion and lifestyle writer, so I decided to search for opportunities to do so in my first year. I really wanted to work somewhere that would enable me to exercise actual journalistic skills and to interview people. Therefore, I reached out to the editor, Elizabeth Deheza and she gave me a chance.
HC McGill: That showed a lot of initiative. Along with that, I know you also do some awesome copywriting. Tell me about that.
EN: I freelance for a marketing and design agency in Montreal. I decided that I wanted to do other types of writing and looked into advertising. They were looking for someone who could create content for an online women’s retailer and I decided to submit an application for it. I got the job and then they started giving me more assignments that involved creating content and writing slogans/phrases for menswear retailers, luxury fashion ecommerce sites, and even a real estate company.
HC McGill: I love that. You are like a modern Peggy Olson from Mad Men. Have you always been passionate about writing and that sort of thing?
EN: I have always loved to write, but I wrote stories as child. However, I preferred to write about real people or events as I got older and decided that journalism was more for me.
HC McGill: That makes sense. Is there anything in particular that inspires you?
EN: The inspiration question is a difficult one to answer because it can come from anywhere. I usually get ideas from my personal experiences and interests, but I also get ideas from books I read or even classes I take at McGill.
For instance, I was always interested to see how ecofriendly and vegan brands thrived, so I pitched the idea to my editor to interview the CEO of Matt & Nat, Manny Kohli. Vegan brands are not as mainstream as TopShop or luxury brands such as Chanel so I was interested to learn about this side of the fashion industry.
HC McGill: I am so jealous about that. Their bags are so amazing. So are there any writer/writers in particular who you admire or look up to?
EN: Cathy Horyn has always remained a favourite of mine because she remains honest in her critiques and opinions regardless of the backlash she may face later on. Besides that, Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair’s editor-in-chief is also someone I looked up to. He founded and turned The Canadian Review into a prominent publication before he went to the United States, where he also built a wonderful career. He worked as an editor for Time and The New York Observer before his current tenure at Vanity Fair.
HC McGill: Cathy Horyn is a queen, so I have to agree. Alright, some fun, quick closing questions: What are your favourite publication, TV Show, and designer?
EN: I love publications like ELLE and Vanity Fair because they don’t just discuss fashion and pop culture; they also write informative articles about politics, health, racism, sexism, and more. The Affair is currently my favourite show. I enjoy the characters’ depth and I like its suspenseful atmosphere. [My favourite designer is] Phoebe Philo for Céline because her minimalist approach to design resonates with my personal style.
Images provided by interviewee.