How to Successfully Navigate a Fashion Internship

by Jessel Brizan | VALSAYN, Trinidad and Tobago | May 31, 2023

 

PREAMBLE

In my 51 years of life, I have learned several invaluable lessons, of which the following are two of the most profound: relationships are about giving; gratitude is an innate gift. Regarding the former: what you want out of life is intrinsically connected to what you invest in it; what you want out of a relationship is inextricably linked to what you bring to the table. Likewise, what you want out of your internship is inevitably related to what you contribute to the company. Ultimately, "you reap what you sow."

Following the end of my first academic year in the Menswear Design programme at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) at the State University of New York, I sought a paid internship given my dire financial circumstances. Needless to say, the pickings were very slim. Having befriended a second-year student, I was fortunate to discover the prestigious summer internship programme at then Federated Merchandising Group (FMG). FMG, now Macy’s Merchandising Group, was a subsidiary of Federated Departments Stores (FDS), now Macy’s Inc. From a cadre of three thousand applicants nationwide, I was privileged to secure a paid internship as one of twenty-four successful candidates for the Summer 2004 programme. I would go on to serve as a product development intern with the Tasso Alba, Club Room, Alfani, and Savile Row private label menswear brands. The following is an anecdotal account of the intuitive process I experienced to successfully procure and navigate the said internship. As you will discover below, I must admit that favour did factor greatly in my fortune.

BEFORE APPLYING FOR AN INTERNSHIP

Do Your Due Diligence

Not all internships are created equal. Even though listing a reputable company on your résumé could resonate exponentially within the fashion industry, there is no guarantee that an internship will afford you the key exposures and experience requisite for your personal and career advancement in fashion.

In compiling your list of prospective internships, you need to do your homework and carefully assess each internship based on the following criteria: programme structure; corporate culture; community; diversity and inclusion; mentorship; capacity-building; learning and development; research and innovation; potential for future employment; growth and expansion; global connectivity; and remuneration (based on your circumstances).

Of course, such insight is not readily available. Most internship descriptions do not disclose such criteria. You can gain some insight from the company’s website, however, do not be afraid to contact former interns and/or employees who might be willing to provide some measure of insider information.

Personally, I am not a fan of unpaid internships and deem them as unethical. I believe in a fair exchange of money for time and labour. I equate unpaid internships with a ‘legal’ form of slavery. Yes, ‘they’ will say that you have to pay your dues, but what dues do you owe to any company? Yes, ‘they’ will say that the experience is invaluable, but so are your uniqueness, talents, innate creativity, skills, work ethic, time, and labour. And, honestly, do you really want to work at a company that overlooks your worth, and takes your talents and labour for granted?

I purposefully sought out paid internships at the opportunity cost of applying for unpaid internships at some of my favourite brands. As aforementioned, my financial needs were a determining factor. Fortunately, I harbour no regrets. The internship at FMG proved invaluable as much as influential, and contributed beyond measure in my career as an entrepreneur and educator.

However, it would be remiss of me to overlook the inherent value of serving an unpaid internship at a highly-reputable company that meets all or most of the above-mentioned criteria. Ultimately, the decision is yours based on your circumstances and/or needs.

Assess Company-Fit

Most companies are inclined to recruit individuals who: demonstrate a genuine desire to function at the company; can assimilate the corporate culture; add value and effectively contribute to the goals of the organization; and will be future leaders and/or design changemakers. Seasoned interviewers can detect when someone is being disingenuous and merely wearing a façade.

Possessing an innate passion for the prospective company will genuinely translate during the interview, and if successful, within the internship. I recommend seeking internships at companies that you esteem as much as patronise, as opposed to merely applying for a job to gain industry experience.

For me, FMG was a perfect fit. Prior to applying for the internship, I was already a loyal aficionado as much as a frugal customer of Macy’s department stores, particularly the 34th Street and Fifth Avenue location at Herald Square. My frequent visits were typically as a window shopper with the occasional purchase, mostly from the clearance racks.

My closet contained a few pieces culled from the shelves at the New York City landmark including dress shirts under the Van Heusen and Club Room labels, and a pair of black Alfani cap toe oxfords. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the latter two brands were part of FMG’s portfolio of private label brands which I only discovered during my perusal of the FDS corporate website while preparing for my interview.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Research the Prospective Company

I must concur with every article on the subject; conducting research on the company is of utmost importance since it lends credibility to the interview process. Having knowledge and insight about the company - corporate structure, ethos, culture, history, mission, vision, values, goals, design market, customer focus, products, latest news, etc. - displays a keen sense of awareness, and a genuine and vested interest in the prospective organization, in addition to resourcefulness and strong researching skills.

As previously illustrated, I became intriguingly enlightened when I perused FDS’s website, particularly gaining insight on FMG and its private label brands which proved very useful during the interview process.

Plan Your Portfolio

Given the competitive nature for internships in the fashion industry, your portfolio is your ultimate marketing and/or sales tool. Essentially, your portfolio should:

  • express the unique qualities and strengths that set you apart from others;

  • communicate your understanding and application of the fundamental knowledge specific to the fashion industry;

  • highlight your strengths including demonstrating the range of skills, techniques and expertise you've acquired;

  • provide visual evidence of your creative, design, organisational, and technical skills, drawing ability, and awareness of fashion trends;

  • display your best and strongest work;

  • show your versatility to work in various capacities in the fashion industry.

Your portfolio should be tailored to each prospective company. This is where your research comes into play. It should reflect the market level and culture of the company. Select pieces from your body of work that align with the aesthetic of the company. Where necessary, you may need to create new work if your existing portfolio does not align with the company.

As a first-year student, I did not possess an extensive body of work to draw from, however, I was able to compile a strong portfolio of my best work underpinned by my FIT transcript highlighting my 4.0 GPA.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

“Manners Make It Man”

Please don’t try and “Me Too” me. ‘Man’ as used here is not a gender reference; it is the original word by which all of humanity—male and female—is divinely inspired. But I digress.

Upon entering the interview room, be mindful of your manners. Be respectful, courteous and express yourself in a dignified and professional manner. Greet the interviewer(s) with a professional handshake. Don’t assume an air of forwardness. Follow the cues of the interviewer(s), and wait to be offered a seat. When responding, make eye contact, enunciate your words and speak in an eloquent manner.

Make a Good First Impression

Be punctual. Nothing makes a bad first impression like showing up to your interview late. Arrive to the interview at least fifteen to thirty minutes in advance. This will afford you sufficient time to get comfortable, calm your nerves and compose yourself in anticipation of a great interview.

I did not leave it to chance. The subway system in New York is notorious for unforeseen delays. In preparation for my interview, I previously hopped on the ‘D’ train and calculated how much time it took via subway from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where I lived, to the 34th Street station at Herald square, particularly during the work week.

‘They’ say you must dress the part of the job you desire. Likewise, you should dress the part of the company. Remember company-fit. Your attire should reflect the market level and culture of the company. Be mindful of your personal hygiene and pay attention to every grooming detail.

Other than my custom-made trousers, I strategically outfitted myself with one of my Club Room shirts and my Alfani oxfords. My intuition initially came to fruition with the interviewer’s first fortuitous question: “Why should you be selected for this internship?”

With a broad smile painted across her face, the interviewer seemingly shared my enthusiasm as I carefully described my attire along with my window-shopping excursions to the world’s largest department store. I further reinforced my case by expounding on my knowledge of the company’s operations. Yes, I succeeded in making a great first impression. My nervousness dissipated, and the rest of the interview was all downhill from that point.

Honesty is the Best Policy

You are applying for an entry-level position. As a student or recent graduate, the interviewer is already aware that you may lack industry experience. Resist any inclination to fabricate or exaggerate your educational and/or professional background. In addition to ruining your chance of earning an internship, you can potentially tarnish your reputation and any chance of potential future employment with the company.

Leave a Lasting Impression

Remember, you are competing with a multitude of potential candidates each vying for a limited number of internship positions. In addition to making a good first impression, it is just as equally important to leave a favourable lasting impression.

As a complementary tool, a thoughtful, tasteful, cleverly-crafted, and visually impactful ‘leave-behind’ piece can help the interviewer(s) remember you and your work following the interview, and/or generate more interest from the potential employer. Keep in mind that it should be appealing and communicate your style, special skills, and talent as a designer.

Whether you call it foreshadowing or not, I do believe I had favour in my corner. Fortuitously, my classmates and I (who were unsuccessful in our bid to attend Magic in Las Vegas) were assigned a research project as part of our Menswear Design 2 course during FIT’s Spring 2004 semester.

Following my portfolio presentation, I strategically presented the interviewer with my Macy’s Menswear Market Research report which had earned me an ‘A’ grade along with kudos from the second-year students – apparently, my instructor was so impressed that she felt compelled to share the project with my senior peers.

As she scrutinized the report, again, the interviewer’s smile was very telling as I detailed how I ‘shopped’ (of course with permission from the respective floor managers) the menswear departments on Macy’s 1-1/2 mezzanine and 2nd floors of the Manhattan landmark in compiling detailed fashion sketches and trend forecasts.

I felt a strong sense of accomplishment when the interviewer requested to borrow the report (with the promise to return it in a timely manner, of course) so that she could share it with her superiors. I would later learn that my report made it to the desks of the executives.

A couple weeks later, my confirmation came in the mail when I received a formal letter extending an offer for the position of Product Development summer intern commencing June 2004.

The Gift of Gratitude

Regardless of the outcome, be gracious for the opportunity. Immediately following the interview, make it a priority to forward a ‘thank you’ letter addressed to the interviewer(s). If there are multiple interviewers, make sure to note their names along with the proper spelling and salutations, and forward a ‘thank you’ letter to each member of the interview panel.

If you are fortunate to learn the names of the interviewer(s) prior to the interview, prepare ‘thank you’ letters in advance. At the conclusion of the interview, simply present each interviewer with their respective ‘thank you’ letter. This goes hand in hand with leaving a lasting impression.

DURING THE INTERNSHIP

So, you have successfully landed the internship. Congratulations! You have gotten through the front door, and are well on your way to earning invaluable experience along with key exposures that will help shape your career in fashion. Given human nature, the average person might be inclined to adopt a relaxed attitude. However, now is not the time to rest on your laurels. You now have to show and prove your worth.

Again, Make a Good First Impression

You are now in the corporate world. In addition to dressing the part, you have to act the part - be professional; be punctual; be proactive. Being a fashion professional means not only showing up, but showing up on time and maintaining a positive attitude.

From the first day to my last, I made a concerted effort to report to the FMG offices at 11 Pennsylvania Plaza on a punctual basis. As aforesaid, pre-planning my route and calculating my travel time afforded me the assurance of always being punctual.

You never know who is watching, listening and/or talking. Word-of-mouth spreads very quickly through the corporate grapevines. As an intern your every action is being evaluated. Oblivious to you, your immediate team members along with company employees are taking mental notes of the way you conduct yourself within the corporate environment. And that information gets easily disseminated throughout the corporate structure, even to the executive level.

During my internship, I was taken aback by the continual commendation offered by my supervisor and team members for my decorum, work ethic and overall deportment. I came to learn about a previous intern who eventually dropped out of the programme, not before having left an indelible impression of negative attitudes and behaviours.

I was not making any extraneously concerted effort to be something that I was not. I was and am an honest manifestation of my upbringing rooted in a tradition of respect, discipline, obedience, and reverence for those in authority – a vestige of my childhood now lost and despairingly absent in the youth of our modern society.

“An internship affords you the opportunity to develop linkages, share knowledge and further strengthen your networks which can potentially be crucial to your personal and career growth and development.”

Be a Sponge

An internship is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry - design and production, sourcing and supply, marketing and merchandising, sales and distribution, administration and management - particularly if your goal is to one day own and operate your own fashion label, or even take over the helm of an existing company.

It is prudent that you take advantage of the opportunity to absorb and learn as much as you can. Stopping short of becoming a nuisance, ask questions about anything and everything. I recommend keeping a daily journal of the various activities and duties you perform in addition to the company’s daily operations. Take copious notes.

Observation is a great teacher. Pay attention to the business model, infrastructure, systems, procedures, logistics, software applications, organizational structure, roles and responsibilities. Trust me, it will all inevitably come in handy in the future.

Fortuitously, FMG offered a well-structured internship that afforded me key exposures in the fashion business model, design, production, sourcing, marketing, merchandising, sales and distribution, and management. Twenty years removed, I still possess and apply, albeit in an updated format, all of the materials and information garnered from that internship.

As aforementioned, the FMG internship played an integral, foundational component in my career as an entrepreneur, educator and fashion professional.

Be Proactive, Take Initiative

Yes, some internships are nothing more than frivolous in nature. However, it is not uncommon for companies to test your resolve by intentionally assigning menial tasks. Remember, you are being tested. This presents the ideal opportunity to demonstrate your innate qualities, strengths and skills – initiative, resourcefulness, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, communication, collaboration, teamwork, strong work ethic, and so on.

Given the nature of the fashion industry, there will inevitably be periods of downtime. “Idleness is the devil’s workshop.” If there is a lack of work within your immediate department, I recommend taking advantage of the opportunity to attain key exposures in another area. The onus is on you to be proactive and take the initiative to demonstrate those qualities that are highly desired within the fashion industry.

Personally, I hate being idle, particularly in the workplace. Whenever I found myself in a bout of downtime, my first line of initiative was my immediate supervisor. My interactions would go something along the following lines:

  • Me: I currently have no work in progress. Is there anything I can help you with?

  • Supervisor: Thanks for asking. Not at the moment, but check with the team to see if anyone is in need of assistance.

  • Me: Hi, do you need help with anything?

  • Team Member: Unfortunately, I am all caught up, but thanks for offering.

  • Me: I asked around, but everyone seems to be fine. Is it okay if I go to [insert department name here] to learn what they do?

  • Supervisor: Sure, no problem.

Ten times out of ten, the response was always “yes”. And the other departments were always receptive to my offer of assistance.

Engage in Relationship-Building

An internship affords you the opportunity to develop linkages, share knowledge and further strengthen your networks which can potentially be crucial to your personal and career growth and development. It is a great place to build and nurture relationships, be it employees, fellow interns, customers, or company trading partners.

You should actively create and/or seek opportunities where you can facilitate capacity-building and/or add value to existing networks by strategically building alliances and nurturing relationships with individuals who can potentially attest to your character, talents and work ethic in attainment of your future goals.

Upon returning to my homeland, Trinidad and Tobago, in August 2004, my first priority was seeking gainful employment. I did not hesitate to contact an FMG employee who was more than accommodating in furnishing me with a letter of recommendation.

Leave an Indelible Impression

Remember, you are competing with your fellow interns. Most companies are inclined to recruit individuals who have distinguished themselves during the internship - individuals who can be immediately impactful, highly productive and effectively contribute to their goals.

Don’t be afraid to exceed expectations and go above and beyond your job description. Make a conscious effort to stand out. Do not limit yourself to the confines of mundane responsibilities. Take advantage of the opportunities to express your creativity, versatility, and the unique qualities and strengths that set you apart from the competition.

Around the midpoint of the FMG internship, we were assigned a competitive shopping report project which entailed conducting market research on FMG’s competition including identifying stores/brands, key trends, key items, action points, and notable resources along with price points.

I purchased a digital camera on credit, and dedicated an entire Saturday combing the streets of mid-Manhattan. With my starting point at East 58th Street, I traversed southward along Fifth Avenue dashing in and out of menswear stores including Ermenegildo Zegna, Brooks Brothers, Hickey Freeman, Façonnable, Gant, Kenneth Cole, Armani Exchange, Hugo Boss, Etro, Club Monaco, J. Crew, French Connection, and Mexx. Being a man, I inconspicuously took photographs in the fitting rooms under the pretense of trying on garments.

Presented in a transparent, letter-size, blue sliding bar report cover, I compiled a concise yet detailed five-page report complete with images, and a cover page replete with a pictorial collage of all the stores I visited. The following Monday, I submitted my report to my supervisor, and went about business as usual.

The following week, I was called into a meeting. Totally oblivious, I was offered guaranteed employment at FMG upon my graduation from FIT. Again, what I perceived as merely a simple project found its way to the executive level. Allow me to reiterate, you never know who is watching, listening and/or talking. Clearly, I made an indelible impression, and the internship was only half complete.

AFTER THE INTERNSHIP

The Gift of Gratitude

Again, regardless of the outcome, be gracious for the opportunity. Upon completion of your internship, make it a priority to express your gratitude to each and every individual who was pivotal to your internship experience. This goes hand in hand with four of the above-mentioned principles: “Manners make it man”; leave a lasting impression; engage in relationship-building; and make an indelible impression.

In conclusion, I sincerely hope that the information provided here offers you some measure of insight for your personal and career development. I extend best wishes in your future endeavours as you advance your fashion career.

Peace and blessings.


A native of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Jessel Brizan is the founder and managing director of Jessel Brizan Design Group Ltd and Blue Basin Department Stores Ltd. He is an experienced entrepreneur, educator, author, and philanthropist with over eighteen years demonstrated history of working in fashion, creative industries, and tertiary education. Jessel is responsible for introducing education in computer-aided fashion design to Trinidad and Tobago. He coined the term 'Technical Package Development' having conducted workshops, and subsequently publishing a book on the subject in October 2020. As a leader and fashion design changemaker, his networking portfolio includes collaborations with stakeholders encompassing local and regional educational, private and government entities. Through his business ventures Jessel promotes the concept and philosophy - “Philanthropy through fashion” - dedicated to nurturing a culture of giving in all aspects of life and business. In line with his personal giving philosophy, his philanthropic efforts include active volunteerism with at-risk youth.

 
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