CREDENCE, a recruitment agency specializing in the fashion industry, held a talk session titled "Fashion People+ LIVE Vol.1" in Sendagaya, Tokyo, on May 28th for those looking to advance in the fashion industry. This event was a live project of "Fashion People+," a community run by CREDENCE that primarily disseminates information about the fashion industry on Facebook. Aiming to "rediscover the joy of the fashion industry," the event featured fashion director Ayumi Gunji and stylist Yukari Ota, facilitated by design business producer Jouji Amano. The theme of the event was "How can you advance your career in the increasingly difficult fashion industry?" Drawing on their own career paths, the two shared tips for success in the fashion world. After graduating from university, Gunji worked as a freelance writer for ViVi for 15 years, laying the foundations for girl culture. She later helped found GLAMOROUS and, as its fashion director, created a market for "ageless" women who continue to wear casual fashion even as they age. She currently serves as creative director for VOGUE girl. Based on her belief that "it has to sell. It's what sells that makes it fashion and what trends are born," she commented on recent trends, saying, "Japanese girls' closets are already full of clothes. They're finally starting to see what's around them, and are now focused on how they'll live their lives while wearing those clothes. That's why we should now view fashion as a whole lifestyle." Regarding the talent the fashion industry will need in the future, she said, "The talent the fashion industry needs in the future is not someone who only views fashion in isolation and fragmentedly, but someone who can see it from a bird's-eye view as part of the entire industry. Without that, it's impossible to imagine a business model that sells. During interviews, I try to ask questions like, 'What is the gist of Abenomics?'" Ota transitioned from a sales associate at Shibuya 109 to a stylist assistant, where she met Gunji. She has worked on styling for magazines like Vivi, Glamorous, and Vogue Girl. "Even when I was a sales associate, even if I earned the same hourly wage whether I sold 100 items or 10, I always believed that I needed to sell 100 items before I could move on to another career. That's why I gained trust and was blessed with opportunities to be introduced to others, which led to my career as a stylist. I think this experience was similar when I tried to become a top stylist at Vivi and focused on just that magazine at age 25. There are always people watching your results, so instead of thinking in the short term, first achieving results where you are now will lead to the next stage," she said, reflecting on her career. She also offered some encouragement, saying, "To boost your motivation, use the power of clothes to portray the person you want to be, so that you appear 10% more than you actually are. By changing your clothes while imagining the person you want to meet, you will be able to meet them in real life." Following the talk session, an after-party was held, where guests and participants could mingle.