Internship Experience

Hi everyone,

Today I thought I would share with you my internship experience at Sass and Bide. 

Models Backstage

Firstly, I should start of with how I managed to get a placement to begin with and the main thing I suggest is to take a chunk of time aside to prepare for this. As my only experience on my CV was that I had worked in a coffee shop, I knew that I needed to gain more relevant experience in the fashion industry, and I really wanted the experience. London Fashion Week was soon approaching and I new this would be the perfect time, as fashion brands are always needing extra help around this busy time. 

My friend at uni, had actually told me that she had got an internship during LFW and how she got it and so I knew what to do. The first step was to make sure that my CV was up to date with all relevant experience, and to write a cover letter explaining what skills I could offer to the brand and simply to show that you are willing to do anything and everything. 

After this was completed I went on the london fashion week website and went through all of the designers, changing each cover letter to make it more personal, and sending an email to them and attaching my cover letter and CV. In the end I had e-mailed 62 designers and had responses from 4 designers and 2 PR companies which I was very pleased with. I chose to do my internship with Sass and Bide as I have always admired the brand and their clothing, and considering they had a new creative director I thought it would be interesting to see his approach on taking on the new role. 

Day One

The Chill Out Room

Everyday was a 8am start for me, which required me waking up at 4am and leaving my house at 5am. Though this was very tiring, it was definitely worth it. 

On the morning of my first day I met a few members of the PR team, designers, the creative director and photographers who had flown over from Australia, as well as two of the other interns who showed me around the studio. 

The Studio

The Dressing Room

The tasks of the morning included getting breakfast and drinks (I felt like Andy from the Devil wears Prada!) and collecting items needed for the day such as garment bags, fabric and tailoring equipment. My top tip here would be to make sure you always carry extra cash on you and to have an oyster card on you at all times if you are working in London - it will be your best friend! 

Once we had returned the afternoon was spent putting models into looks for their casting, and labelling up the looks with their names ready for the show the next day (although this did get confusing at times!). After this was completed we helped to pin up the looks onto a board in order with the models name, so the creative director could overlook and see what looks needed a model and if he wanted to swap any around. The day was then finished with putting together gift tags and lots of pizza! 

The Gift Tags

Day Two

Today was the most exciting of days as it was the day of the catwalk show. The show was not until later in the evening so there were many tasks to be completed beforehand in the morning and it was all a bit manic. Castings were still occurring, and looks were being assigned to different models, which made the process of knowing if the shoes belonged to one model or another very difficult. 

My role in the morning began with helping the head designer to collate all of the looks in order on the rails with the correct number tag next to it. Once models had been definitely assigned I had to zip the looks up in a garment bag, complete with accessories and shoes, and place a larger board over the top with images of the clothing on the model, so the dressers would later know how the model should look. Once this was complete we all helped load up the van, and got in a taxi to the venue (I was very excited at this point). 

Show Venue

When we arrived at the venue, which was absolutely beautiful, we helped to unload the van and put all the looks back on the rails in order and unzipping them. From now on, there wasn't a lot to do as there was other people hired to dress the models, make-up artists, hair artists then there were reporters and photographers  making it very busy backstage so all us interns thought it would be best if we took a back seat. 

Looks on rails backstage

Clothes from the show

The head designer asked us if we could go around and check that dressers had dressed the models correctly, as we knew the looks best, which was nice as it made me feel that they trusted me and the other interns for this responsibility. 

Models waiting backstage 

After all the models were lined up backstage, the show began whilst we waited backstage and chatted to the seamstress, who was so lovely! Once the show had finished, we gave the area a tidy up, had some champagne and then it was time for home for another early start.

Models post-show

Day Three

This was my last day so I wanted to take every opportunity to make the most of my internship and help out wherever possible. The day began with simple tasks such as clearing out the hired studio, getting breakfast and stacking up shoe boxes in preparation from when we arrived back from collecting the shoes. 

When we arrived at the hotel, we went to the penthouse suite and began to undertake tasks such as making sure no accessories had fallen out into the garment bags, removing labels from shoes and packaging them up. We then ensured there was one of every shoe out ready for the wholesale and press appointments, and I lint rolled the clothing to make sure it was nice and clean. 

Wholesale and Press Appointment Preparation

After we had completed our tasks at the hotel we travelled back to the studio, and began to pack up the shoes ready for shipping, as well as the clothing from the show. We were then free to go! 

I honestly have to say that although I only interned for three days, they have been the most exciting and rewarding three days of my life. I could have not asked for a better or nicer group of people to work with, that gave me greater responsibilities then I expected. I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I hope to obtain another internship in the summer. 

Lots of love

Sarah Marie x