F A S H IO N @
SHANNON EVANS FASHI ON /EXPERI MENTALLEARNI NG PLACEMENT WORDS/2683
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MYJOURNEY
Myj ourneyl ookingforaninternshipwithinthefashionindustryhasbeenfast paced,stressfulandrewarding.WhenIwasfirstl ookingforaninternship,I wasnervoustoappl yforindustryrol esasIhadneverreal l yhadanyreal experiencewithinthefashionindustrybefore.Asanambitiousstudent studyingFashionMarketingandCommunication,Ihaveakeeninterestin visual sintermsofgraphicmanipul ationandsocialmedia,Ihaveakeen interestincreati vedirection,andstyl ing.Ial soam agreatresearcher, subcul turesandmovementspl ayagreatpartinmyinterestinFashion, everythingisconnectedandcreatesabiggerstorythanisinitial l ytol d,to methisiswhatmakesfashion.Ibel ievemyskil l sincl udebeingagood communicator,fl exibl e,rel iabl eandaverygoodl istener,Iam wil l ingtol earn new skil l sandappl ythem accordingl y.Ihaveexperienceincreatingbrand rel atedbooks,thereforeIam adaptingettingtoknow andl i veabrands narrati veandhow toexpressit.Ial sohavegoodexperienceintrend forecasting,understandingtheresearchthatgoesintocreatingatrend forecastandhow issuesandgenerationalchangesgointotrendforecasting, acknowl edgingthatthereisamessagebehindeverythinginfashion.Iam abl e tousebasiccomputersoftwareincl udingWord,PowerPointetc.Iam al so adaptinAdobecreati vessuchasphotoshop,il l ustrator,I nDesignand premierpro,thereforeIusedtheseadvantagestofindanopportunitywithin themagazinefiel doffashion,whichIhaveagreatinterestin.Therefore,I iedtomanymagazinesinhopesofbeingabl etointernwithoneofthem in appl eitheradigitalorstyl ingsetting.Afterastressfulmonthofappl yingto variousinternshipsregardingfashionwithamagazine,Ifinal l yhadthe opportunitytointernwiththefashionteam atDazedMedia.
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DAZEDFASHI ON CUPBOARD
Launchedin1991,Dazed& Confusedisanal ternati vestyl eandcul ture magazine.Themagazinehasbecomeacatal ystforcul turalprovocation andhasbecomesomewhatofamovement.Today,Dazedmagazine advocateradicalfashionandyouthcul ture,definingthetimeswel i ve intodaywithvisionariesandaforefrontofthenextgeneration writers,styl istsandimagemakers.( dazed. com)DazedMediaal so powersaneverchangingnetworkofpremium digitalchannel s incl udingDazeditsel f ,AnOther,AnotherMan,HungerandNowness. AsanavidreaderofDazed,thecompanywasagreatfitforme personal l y. Therol eIwasofferedwaswithinthefashioncupboardworkingwith thethreefashionstyl istassistantsofDazedFashion.Iwentintothe rol eful l ypreparedforfastpaceddaysandtobecompl etel ycommitted totherol e.General l yinafashioncupboardaninternisexpectedto supportthesmoothrunningofthecupboard,aswel lasprocessingal l incomesampl es,processingandsendingbacktoPRandcl ients, communicatingwiththefashionteamsandsupportingwithdail ytasks andadmin,assistingwithshootrun-throughsampl epreparations whenrequired,supportingfashionassistantswithshootpreparation incl uding,research,sampl ingandpickingup,aswel lasgeneralupkeep withinthefashioncupboard. Mypl acementwithinthefashioncupboardatDazedMediastartedoffat arapidpace.Iwasaskedtoworkforthewhol emonthofApril ,5daysa weekfrom officehours10 til l6,yetIwoul dmoreorl essal wayswork overthesehoursasthedepartmentworkedatarapidpaceandtasks wereneverl eftunfinishedorhal fattempted.Uponarri val ,Iwas introducedtomyinternteam andwasgi venatourofDazedMedia,I foundthateveryonewasbusydoingsomething,noonewasfree,the environmentwasl oudandcoordinated.Thewhol efl oorgaveoffasense ofindi vidual ism withal lcol l eaguesindifferentstyl esdoingdifferent j obs.I twasafriendl yenvironmentandIcoul dn’ twaittogetstarted.
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TASKS& RESPONSI BI LI TES
Onmyfirstday,mysel fandtherestoftheinternteam wereaskedtocarryoutreturnsal lday astheyhadshotthecoverforthel atestissuethepreviousweekandthereweremanyreturns toPR,andcompaniesaroundLondontobecarriedout.Returnsweretobeputinsuitcase, takingaround4or5parcel satatime,dependingontheirsize,andthenreturnedeithertoPR companies,thriftstores,actualstoresorspecificbrands.BeringindependentinLondon,I foundmyfirstdaytobesl ightl yintimidatingbutIcarriedoutal ltaskswithapositi veoutl ook, thoughthrowninatthedeepend,Ifoundthisexperiencetogi vememoreconfidenceonbeing abl etofindmywayaroundamoreorl essnew cityandhitthegroundrunningwiththehigh intensitythatisthefashionindustry.IwassetupwithaDazedemail ,andonceIreturnedtoa specificcompanyorPRIwoul dinform oneofthefashionassistants,thiswasreal l yimportant astheyneededtobeawareofwhathadbeenreturnedandhadn’ t.Il ikedandwassl ightl y shockedtheamountofresponsibil ityandtrusttheyoutintotheirinterns,itreal l ymademe feelpartoftheteam.Breaksanddinnertimeswereneverreal l yset,asitwassuchafast pacedenvironment,Iadaptedtoj ustworkingthroughthewhol edayandgrabbingfoodora l yanytimetostop,but drinkontheway,asthereissomuchtodoineachdaythereisnotreal astherewassomuchtodo,thedaysseemedtofl ybyquickl y. Fortherestoftheweek,mytimedi videdbetweendoingmorereturnsandhel pingthefashion assistantsresearchforshootsl inedupinthefol l owingweeksthatIattendedDazedMedia. Researchmainl yconcernedgoingthroughal lbrandsl istedonVougeRunway,anddownl oading al laccessories,incl udingshoes,headwear,eyewear,gl oves,scarves,j ewel l eryandhosiery. Thenupl oadingthem toaspacesharedwiththefashionassistants.Otherformsofresearch incl udedgi venthethemeorstyl eoftheintendedshootandresearchfashionandphoto referencesoftheintendedperiodwhil stal sol ookingonl ineandonsocialmediaforsmal l er brandsthatmightcontributetothestyl e.Sometimesintherightcontext,Iwoul dhaveto researchintomedia,cul tureandfil m forrefencestoowhichIreal l yenj oyeddoing. Anexampl eofoneoftheresearchtasks,wasforashootrevol vingaroundacosmostheme,the internteam hadtofindgl oves,eyewear,headwear,j ewel l ery,shoesaswel lasresearchfrom I nstagram /l ookbooks/websitesthatrepresentedthethemecosmos.Keepingthefocuson metal l icforthisresearchandtryingtofinduniquepieces.Weal sohadtofindfashionphoto referencesuptoaround10 yearsol dandl otsofimageryfrom the80’ s,90’ sandearl y2000’ s. MysecondweekatDazedMediawasj ustasbusyasthefirst.Therewasashoottakingpl acein New York,andthereweresomel astminutepiecesthatthestyl ingteam wantedfortheshoot beforesendingeverythingofftoNew York.Thereforemysecondweekconsistedofmemostl y goingtodifferentthriftstoresandPRappointmentstopickoutcl othesthatIthoughtwoul d fitthethemeoftheshoot,whichwas90’ sprep.Iwoul dcol l ectcl othingandaccessoriesfrom eachstoreandsendpicturesofwhatIfoundtooneofthefashionassistants,theywoul dthen decideiftheywantedthem ornotandIwoul dnegotiatewiththestoreforthem totakethem andborrow them forashootorbuythem tothen beputwithinthedazedfashionkit.ThoughI foundthistasktobequiteintimidatingasIhadgettothedifferentstores,thriftshopsandPR atspecifictimesaswel lascol l ectingl otsofdifferentcl othesIreal l yenj oyedthisweekasI fel tIwasreal l yinvol vedwithinthestyl ingprocessandwasgi venal otofresponsibil ity. Anothermaj orrol ethatIhadtodowheninterningatDazedMediawastoprocessandcheckin al lthePRsampl esandcl othes.Thisconsistedofunpackingal lparcel sandcl othes,hanging them uponrail sinorderofbrand,takingapictureofeachindi vidualitem from eachbrand andupl oadingittothedri vewiththenameanddescriptionoftheitem.Onceanitem hadbeen checkedin,wewoul dthenpackthem upreadytobesenttotheshoots.Checkinginwas probabl yoneofthemoreimportantrol esIwasgi venastherewerel otsofhighl yexpensi ve cl othingandaccessoriesbeingusedandthereforeitwasextremel yimportanttokeeptrack ofabsol utel yeverything.Within2to4daysthecl othingandaccessorieswerereturnedfrom theshootsandwewoul dthenunpackal litems,againputthem onrail sinorderofbrandand checkthedocketstomakesureeverythingwasreturned,checkthem offoncewemadesurewe hadeverythingbackfrom theshootandpackthem backupreadytobereturnedtostoresor PR. Othergeneralrol esweretokeepthefashioncupboardorganised,asitwassuchabusy environmentitwasintegraltokeepthework spacetidy.Thereforewewoul dorganisethe dazedcl othingboxes,l abel l ingal laccessoriesandorganisingthem withinitem andcol our. Anothertaskwastokeepupdatedonparcel sthatarri ved,checkingthem inquickl yand efficientl y.Communicationpl ayedamaj orrol e,afashionassistantwastobemadeawareof everythingthatcameinandkeptinthegenerall oopofwheretheinterngroupwasuptowith thetaskswewereassigned.Team workpl ayedahugerol einmytimeatDazedMedia,Iam pl easedtosaythatIreal l ygotonwel lwithmypl acementteam,andmadetheexperienceal ot easierhandl ingsituationswitheachotherandsupportingoneanother.
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LI VI NGI N LONDON
Asthepl acementwithDazedMediawasbasedinLondonthismeantIhadto findsomewheretol i veinthecapitalforamonth.Asthiswasan opportunityIcoul dn’ tpassup,Imadeeveryefforttofindsomewheretostay inthel ittl etimeIhadtoarrangesomething.Beingfrom asmal lruralarea, andstudyinginChester,Londongavemeasl ightcul tureshockbutIfeelI quickl yadaptedtothel argecity.Commutingisessentialandwithworking withabusymagazineIwasmostl yal loverthecity.Thisal l owedmetoseea differentsidetoLondonratherthanj ustthetouristexperience,ital l owed metoexperienceamorecul turedandedgiersidetothecitythatIhadn’ t seenbefore.Li vinginLondonwasal otdifferentthanIimagineditwoul dbe, Ihadneverreal l yseenthebigdealaboutl i vinginthecapitaluntilIl i vedin thecapital ,Ireal l yenj oyedthecityandcan’ twaittovisitorevenwork thereagain. Everythingisinal oopwithinthefastpacedcity,andIfoundthistobethe casewitheverythingnotj ustthefashionindustry.Workingwithinthe fashionindustryinLondonal l owedmetoseehow intertwinedtheindustry iswiththecity,myinternpeerswereal otmorefocusedandunderstanding ofanindustryIhaveonl ybegantodel vewithin.Li vinginLondonal l owed them ( andmeforthetimeIwasthere)tobecompl etel yfocusedal lthetime onfashionandtheindustryasthecityl argewithindi vidual ism andcul ture al l owedmanymoreopportunitiesthanthesmal l ercitiesIam accustomed with.Ithoroughl yenj oyedmytimel i vinginLondon,itwidenedmyview of l i vingwithinal argercity,Inow canseemysel fl i vingthereinthefuture.I feelmoreawakeintermsoftheopportunitiesworkingwithinacityoffers you,youhavemoreconnectionsandarecompl etel ydedicatedtothe industry,Ireal l yl ikedenj oyedthisaspectofthepl acementandIfeelIhave grownasanindi vidualinbeingopentogrow withinasettingIwasnot compl etel ycomfortabl ewithandhavegrowninconfidencethatIwasabl e todoit.
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REFLECTI ON / FUTURE
Uponcompl etingmyinternshipatDazedMedia,Ifeelithashel pedmegrow with confidenceandmaturityasanindi vidualaswel lasgi vingmearealexperience withinthefashionindustryforthefirsttime.Compl etingmyinternshipIfaced manydifficul tiesthatinthepastIwoul dn’ tofhadtheconfidencetoovercome. Li vingcompl etel yonmyowninanew city,workinginastressful ,fastpaced environmentandbeingabl etogetonwithtaskswitheaseandnoquestions asked.ThereforeIam quiteproudwithmysel fforovercomingtheseobstacl es, eal soimprovingmycommunicationskil l sandworkethic. whil Mypl acementatDazedMediahasal l owedtometogetarealexperiencewithina magazine,asitisanindustryIam veryinterestedingoingintointhefuture. Styl ingissomethingIhadl ittl eexperienceinbutakeeninterest,workingwith thefashiondepartmentatdazedhasal l owedmetoseehow hardworking indi vidual sinthisindustryare,andhow muchworkactual l ygoesintoeach fashionshoot.Iwassurprisedwithhow muchresponsibil ityandtrustIwas gi venwithtaskssuchasresearchandgoingouttofindpiecesthatcoul dfit withinashoot,especial l yconsideringhow highprofil eDazedMediaare.The rol eal l owedmetodevel opskil l ssuchasmul titaskingwithreturns,research andcheckingin.accuratel yfol l owingstyl ingguidel ines,working col l aborati vel ywiththeotherinternsandfashionassistants,devel oping stronguptodateknowl edgeofdesignersbrandsandtrends.Achievingweekl y deadl ines,ensuringthefashioncupboardwaskepttidyandorganisedtokeep theworkspaceeasil yaccessibl e.Ial soadaptedtocommunicateworkfl ow with mypeersandfashionassistants,sourcingideasandgettingrecognitionformy ideas. ThoughIenj oyedmytimewithinthefashiondepartmentatdazedmedia,Idon’ t seemysel fintherol eofstyl istorstyl istassistantinmyfuture.Ifoundittobe agreatexperienceandIgainedmanynew skil l ,butIstil lfeelmypersonal strengthsandinterestl ieswithgraphiccontentcreation.Ial sowassaddened thatinternswerenotgi ventheopportunitytoattendactualshootsasthisis somethingIreal l ywantedtoseeandbeapartof .ThereforeinthefutureIwoul d l iketohavemoreofanexperiencewithadigitaldepartment.Styl ingisstil l l argeinmyinterestasIenj oyfashion,andcreati vedirectionexcitedme,Ifeel theserol estendtogohandinhandaswel lasdigitalcreation.IfeelIneedal ot moreexperiencebeforeIcompl etel ymakemyminduponwhatIwoul dl iketodo withinthefashionindustry,buttheexperiencehasdefinitel yopenedmyeyes totheworkthatgoesintoshootsandtheoveral lproductionofamagazine. I ntermsofmarketl evel ,Ifeelthatdazeddriftedbetweenl uxury,visionaryand vintagewhichdefiantl yfitswithmyownpersonalstyl eandworkpreferences.I feeldazedwasaperfectmatchtomyfashionstyl eandal soworkstyl e.I nthe futureIwoul dal sol ikesomeexperiencewithinavisionarybrand,j usttohavea l ittl evariation,butaftermyexperienceIcannotseemysel fworkinginhigh streetorfastfashion. Therefore,myexperiencewiththefashiondepartmentatdazedmediawasa realeyeopenertothemagazineandfashionindustry,thoughstressfulattimes Ididoveral lenj oymyexperienceatdazedmedia,ithasal l owedmetogrow asan indi vidualandhasshedal ighttoadepartmentIhadaninterestwithwithinthe fashionindustry.