Alice Sampson: Shoe Design Intern at Camilla Elphick

Alice Sampson has been a shoe fiend since her tot years, now she's 20 and interning for the shoe designer Camilla Elphick. When we picture this internship we imagine Hillary Swank in P.S I love you, swanning around drawing beautiful illustrations of trendy heels that even Cinderella would woo at! Ok, it might not quite be like that, but we can dream! Alice tells us what it's really all about...

Name: Alice Sampson 


Age: 20

Internship: Shoe Design Internship at Camilla Elphick.

Why are you interning?

For me, interning is the best way to get a true understanding about the industry you are wanting to succeed in. I am interning with Shoe Designer, Camilla Elphick because she is young and lively with a huge creative twist on shoes, which caught my attention. I have never not thought about shoes since a very young age and it was the only piece of luxury I always bought literally every week! 
I then went on to study Shoe design and Business in which getting into the industry and learning first hand from the designer is the best possible education anyone can experience to make them believe they can succeed just like their boss did.

What is a typical day at your internship?

A typical day in Camilla Elphick’s office is firstly I always play with the dogs when I arrive. It really starts the day off relaxed, ready to tackle all the tasks. I would then set up my workspace and ask Camilla for everything she wants me to do so I can show my determination and consistency. Being there, to me, is like being at home - comfortable and familiar.

What is the best responsibility at your Internship?

The best responsibility I have from Camilla is that she trusts me researching key materials, themes and concepts for upcoming seasons. I am able to view their designs in progress and see the magic work on illustrator.

And the worst?

I could not fault anything about my internship, I am so grateful for the opportunity and I think about how lucky I am to have got it everyday.

What do you hope to get out of your Internship?

From my internship I hope to keep in contact with Camilla and always be called upon for any help needed for shows and work. I hope to be remembered by her as a great intern, that would take me further on my design path that I am creating to get noticed.

What are your aims for the future?

My aims for the future are to keep interning/working with shoe and fashion designers. I want to gain full knowledge and inspiration from designers that work religiously to create their empires brand name. I hope to become a shoe designer myself with my own brand, branching into jewellery and fashion design after acquiring the experience in the fast fashion industry.

Do you feel better equipped to take on a job in your field after doing an internship?

Most defiantly, I have a lot more confidence and knowledge than I did before which just seems so basic now that its very easy work to do, you just have to be willing to put the effort in.

What is the best thing you have learnt from interning?

There is always something to do, never stop thinking.

What would be your dream outcome from doing this internship?

Becoming a designers assistant and listening to the stories that took the designers on their path and what brought them to succeed.

How do you think you can get the most out of your internship?

I was originally meant to do a few weeks with Camilla but I asked to stay on for longer as I love being there. To get the most out of an internship you should ask to stay on for longer as the next few days/weeks are always totally different to the ones you experienced beforehand.

Interning, for or against it? And why?

I am all forces go for interning as it lets you into a world under the wing of the creator where you are able to ask direct questions about how they got there, who they worked for previously and how long it all took. You see everything in their process, you immediately feel part of their team and you get to express what you want to do in the future and get noticed.
   
And what do you think about paid/unpaid internships?

I am happy with paid or unpaid, as the true interns willing to go far in life are the ones travelling from a distance to get to the office and pay their own way to get amazing inside experience that could change their life.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone who is about to start an internship?

Always say yes to everything - any task, any errand, any opportunity. This shows your determination/drive to show your capability and proves to the boss that you want to help their company go further.

Do you have a website/skill you would like to tell the readers about?

I have an 2 instagram accounts, 1 pinterest account and 2 twitter pages showing some pieces of my designs, my internship and my day to day activities that keep me entertained.
I studied ceramics from the age of 11 for 7 years throughout my schooling education at Mayfield School where I gained the Ceramics Scholarship which is the cause for my creativity and love for colour that has taken me on the path to be a shoe designer.



Are our readers allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience?

Yes of course!

If you would like to contact Alice, please email fashioninternfiles@hotmail.com and we will pass on your contact information.

And finally, your social handles for our readers to contact/follow you:


Twitter: alice_sampson & alice_belivani 
Instagram: @allysampy94 & @belivani 
Pinterest: alice_sampson

Ellie Rees: Intern at Mary & Milly Boutique

Ellie Rees studies at Uni, is a full time fashion blogger, and still has time to do an internship at Mary & Milly Boutique. This is a new super human breed of intern! We just don't know how someone has enough hours in the day. But instead of pondering, we asked her, along with a whole bunch of other questions (intern related of course!) This internship sounds right up our street, but we'll let Ellie do the talking…

Name: Ellie Rees                 

Age: 20

Internship: Intern at Mary & Milly Boutique

Why are you interning?


To gain experience from all aspects of a business before graduating University. Also to find out what area I like more in so I can further specialize in that area.

What is a typical day at your internship?

Monday: I update all of the company’s social media platforms, on the 3^rd month of every month I get the chance to go on buying experiences to the supplier, I steam all new stock ready to be put out on the shop floor, present the shop and make promotional pieces to draw in new customers. I also source and contact models for the shoot. 



Tuesday: I’m the photographer for the boutique and take out all the new stock that has been bought from the supplier, style the outfits up, location scout & then shoot the outfits with a model. The images then go onto asos market place. 



Friday: I do some market research, seeing what’s on trend and things we need to look out for at the supplier, manage the social media, make sure all the stock is steamed for the weekend and promote the home party and shop party service as well as serving customers in the shop. 


What is the best responsibility at your Internship?


The best responsibility is being the photographer for the boutique as it’s me that’s in charge of styling the outfits, sourcing the models and getting the right shots on shoot day. This is a weekly responsibly and takes a lot of planning as I need to make sure I have the model, my camera charged and emptied SD card as well as a chosen location, outfits styled and in the right size to fit the model. It’s very rewarding seeing my photography on ASOS once the shoot is over, showing off the collection in its best light.

And the worst? 

My internship isn’t paid, so it’s just investing a lot of time & not being paid for it.

What are your aims for the future/what do you hope to get out of your Internship?


I want to increase a following on my fashion blog Your Daily Does of Style and make it more of a brand. I hope my internship will set myself up for when I go into industry so I have a wide knowledge of how a company works successfully. 

Do you feel better equipped to take on a job in your field after doing an internship?  

Very much so, I’ve currently only been in my internship for 2 months so far, and I’ve already learnt so much. It’s brought up some great opportunities and I’ve met a wide range of people including those from industry, which are great contacts.

 

What is the best thing you have learnt from interning?

I haven’t really decided which aspect of my internship I enjoy the most. At the moment I’m really getting into the social media side of it as I really enjoy the promotion element.

Interning, for or against it? And why?

I don’t think I’d ever be against interning! Its valuable experience you’re getting so I can’t see a down side to that, its preparing you to work in industry and giving you all the skills you need. The only downside to it is money, if you can get a paid internship it’s a bonus. I look at having an unpaid intership as helping me be sensible with my money & encouraging me to save more, so in every way I look at it it’s all pros in my eyes!

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone who is about to start an internship?


Believe in yourself & be confident in whatever you do. (Self-belief is essential!)

Do you have a website/blog/ skill/ or talent you would like to share/tell the readers about? 

I’ve got my own little space on the internet which is my blog. It’s a fashion blog about my latest outfits, buys, blogging mail and blogging events I’ve attended. I like to see it as my closet thing to a diary. I’ve only been a fashion blogger for 6 months so my blog is still growing & I’m still learning but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far. My blog is http://www.yourdailydoseofstyle.blogspot.co.uk/

Are our readers allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience? 

Yes, definitely!

If you would like to contact Ellie, please email londonfashioninterns@live.com and we will pass on your contact information.

And finally, Your social handles for our readers to contact/follow you:


Instagram : @ellierees www.instagram.com/elliereess 


Twitter: @ellierees www.twitter.com/ellierees


Facebook : Ellie Rees www.facebook.com/ellierees18

Charlene Campbell: Interned as Fashion Assistant at FHM

Charlene Campbell, director at Style News, has not only interned but has used her experience to give us the inside scoop on how to become a stylist with her aptly named book 'Intern to Stylist'. A beginners guide for interns wanting to break into the fashion world, equipping you with the key tools to achieve styling success, from brushing up on the show seasons to learning about the growing trend of techno fashion, online stores and digital magazines. We caught up with her to chat about her past internships, advice and her book.

Name: Charlene Campbell

Internship: Fashion Assistant at FHM Collections, Assisted at Financial Times ‘How to Spend It’ magazine.

What made you want to do an internship?

I chose to intern because I wanted to get experience working in fashion editorial and the opportunity arose so I snapped it up. I volunteered for several months and it was the best choice I made. I worked under the Fashion Director so I learned all about planning and prepping a photo-shoot, how important press contacts are and the gratification when you see the story in print.

What was a typical day at your internship? 

I had to send sample requests to PR departments via email for photo shoots and on the photo shoots I steamed the clothes, wrote the credits down and also organized the samples that needed to be returned to press.

Did you feel better equipped to take on a job in your field after doing an internship?

Absolutely, every fashion newbie needs to intern. It’s the best way to get the relevant practical experience.

Tell our readers about your book and how it will help them in the world of interning and getting that dream job: Intern to Stylist is the ultimate fashion newbie guide for anyone starting out in the industry. It’s a book that I would have appreciated when I began my career 17 years ago. It features everything you need to know, from the fashion calendar, what to expect on a photo shoot, key industry contacts and so much more. It’s widely available at stockists including Stylenews.co.uk, Amazon and Topshop.

It’s the perfect introduction to ensure you kick start your career in the business fully equipped with all the essentials so you successfully grow from Intern to Stylist.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone who is about to start an internship? My advice would be to ensure you have a notepad and pen ready at all times, pay attention to the detail in any allocated tasks and be sure to make yourself available to assist in all areas so that you get the maximum level of experience in the placement.

Are our readers allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience? 

Yes.

If you would like to contact Charlene, please email londonfashioninterns@live.com and we will pass on your contact information.

And finally, if you would like to purchase her book, you can do here!

Nengi Willie-Pepple: Wholesale/Showroom Intern at Diane Von Furstenberg

Our latest feature is from Nengi, who's internship sounds like the dream we wish we could experience! Working under a massive designer and not a bad thing to say about it, we are very jel! Read all about it here: 

Name: Nengi Willie-Pepple

Age: 22

Internship: Wholesale/Showroom Intern at Diane Von Furstenberg

The best responsibility at your Internship: Styling/Dressing Models

The worst: None

Your day-to-day tasks/ main responsibilities: Dressing models, merchandising the SS15 collection, assisting buyers and clients, organising the clothes.

Why are you interning? I interned to gain experience and to boost my CV even further.

What are your aims for the future/what do you hope to get out of your Internship: I hope to get a well rounded idea of what it’s like to work in a showroom as well as get my foot in the proverbial fashion door. I initially wanted to be a fashion designer, but now I have a few different avenues I would like to try.

Interning, for or against it? And why?

I am all for interning. It gives you an unparalleled exposure to the fashion industry.

Do you have a website/ skill/or talent you would like to share/tell the readers about? I have a website/blog called Runway Ribbons. I showcase my personal style, my travel experiences and the foods that I love.

See it here: http://www.runwayribbons.com

Are our readers allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience? YES. Most definitely

If you would like to contact Nengi, please email londonfashioninterns@live.com and we will pass on your contact information.

Jessica Sheppard: Dresser, Design Room Assistant and PR Intern

Here's the next feature from Jessica Sheppard, who shares her internship experiences at numerous fashion companies. It's so interesting to see how each one differs and what you can gain from various internships. We wish Jessica loads of luck in her future fashion career! 

Name: Jessica

Age: 22

Internship:

1. Dresser at UCA Epsom Interal Show
2. PR Intern, London Collections: Men at Elladror PR
3. Design Room Assistant at In Love With Fashion

 The Best experience/responsibility at your Internship:

1. I loved getting to see the clothes up close and feel a part of the team.
2. Seeing the fashion shows from the side lines and being trusted with important people!
3. Getting to cut out the fabrics and feel like a proper part of the team.

The worst:

1.     My model was really stroppy and had a tantrum in the middle of the show so it was impossible to get her dressed on time.

2.     There was a lot of waiting around between shows.

3.     I wouldn't really say there was a worst bit - it was so much fun!

Your day-to-day tasks/ main responsibilities:

1.     Making sure the outfits were together as a whole and fit to be worn as well as fitting the model properly, practising quickly changing in and out of the clothing, becoming friendly with the model and getting her in the right place at the right time. My model had 11 outfit changes so it was quite fast paced and stressful.

2.     My main tasks were helping to set up the show spaces, ensuring everyone was in the right place to sit for the show and helping it to all run smoothly.

3.     Cutting out the patterns and making sure that I was using the right fabrics. This was probably my most tense internship because I was so worried about cutting the fabric wrong because it was so important.

Why are you interning?

I study fashion design so its important for me to get experience within the industry. We are pretty much forced to intern so we have more chance when we get into the working world.

What are your aims for the future/what do you hope to get out of your Internship:

I am not entirely ruling out any part of the fashion industry so I am trying to get internship experience in all sections - then at least I've tried every avenue before reaching my end goal and I'll know that its exactly what I want to do. My main dream is to have my own menswear line but I know that I'm going to need a lot of experience with designers before I get there.

Interning, for or against it? And why?

I'm totally for internships but I think that they are incredibly expensive and hard to get into unless you live in or close enough to London. However, there are some good jobs in major cities like Manchester - London is the place to be if you want to make it in fashion. I definitely think that they help you with experience and knowledge of the industry and it’s kind of like a taster course before you end up in an actual job role.

Your social handles:

www.copper-garden.co.uk

twitter - @coppergardenx

Youtube - CopperGardenx

instagram - @coppergarden

Are our readers allowed to contact you to talk more about your internship experience? 

YES

If you would like to contact Jessica, please email londonfashioninterns@live.com and we will pass on your contact information. 

And finally, here's Jessica's video on Q&A's about fashion courses and internships, a good watch and some very helpful tips and advice!