Internship

The assignments one might be given in fashion internships cover a wide range of possibilities. The fashion industry is more than designing pretty clothes. Every aspect of the business world is involved; it simply revolves around the creation, marketing, and distribution of stylish apparel. While women’s fashions dominate the industry, keep in mind that menswear, accessories, sports apparel, and children’s clothing are also significant portions of the market.

Descriptions of fashion internships can include such diverse responsibilities as knowledge of celebrity fashion, fashion design, knowledge of online community networks, marketing, organizing promotional events, human resources, writing press releases, fabric and trim purchasing, shopping, shipping, sales, pattern grading, supervising fittings, organizing photo shoots, studio maintenance, modeling, model selection, office duties, research, merchandising, window dressing, clothing care, writing press releases, etc. The list of tasks is nearly endless but the one single requirement as stated by one description is that applicants must be “fashion-obsessed and design-savvy.”

The fashion industry is, without a doubt, global. Many opportunities will be available to travel abroad and be immersed in learning other languages and business styles. Perhaps, more than in other areas, applicants for internships in the fashion world will need to be poised, self-confident and flexible. Unlike internships in some other industries, there are few niche opportunities and almost all assignments will be in major metropolitan areas.

Many positions are unpaid, but may lead to job offers if the intern delivers the type of work and energy that is expected. In other cases, entry-level salaries are attached to the internship. The type of education requirements are typically listed with the application description. These may be in fields associated with fashion, such as a degree in “Apparel or Textiles,” or they may be more business-oriented degrees. Internships may last from a few weeks on specific assignments to a full year of practical experience.

Fashion internships require high-energy, self-starting individuals with a passion for all aspects of the fashion industry. Many well-known brand name companies actively advertise for hard-working interns. Job hubs such as StyleCareers.com and CreativeJobsCentral.com contain long listings of opportunities for internships and entry-level positions in all aspects of the fashion industry.