Fashion-Focused Public Relations

How did you get your internship?

I secured this internship by reaching out to friends and family expressing my interest in fashion and public relations. Through reaching out and talking to close friends and family I was introduced to someone who lived in my area who works for a small fashion PR company. I was given their contact and reached out to see if they were looking for an intern this summer and I was happy to hear they had an opportunity available and received an offer. Throughout this journey I realized how important and effective it is to reach out and talk to people about your career interests.

What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?

Throughout my internship with MKW-PR I gained hands-on experience with event planning, influencer outreach, and product coordination. I packaged and shipped PR products and clothing, tracked our inventory, and researched new influencers for product promotion partnerships. I assisted in planning an event for the brand Medicine Mama by coordinating a floral arrangement for their event in New Orleans, which helped strengthen my communication skills. I also curated influencer and celebrity PR lists, created fashion holiday gift guide spreadsheets, and curated and supported international shipments. A highlight of this internship was attending and setting up my first event in LA which gave me insight on what goes on behind the scenes of hosting an event. Overall this experience was very rewarding and gave me insight to both the fashion and PR industries.

What skills did you develop during this internship?

During my internship, I strengthened my communication skills by coordinating with vendors and reaching out to companies over the phone and via email. I practiced my organizational skills and developed my management skills through organizing inventory, creating spreadsheets, and managing shipments. One skill that I strengthened considerably was my attention to detail. I had to make sure I was shipping the correct product, size, color, and style to the correct person and address. Being a part of the behind the scenes of PR and event planning, I had to stay organized and learn to adapt to a fast-paced environment.

How was the internship related to your Applied Humanities degree?

The applied humanities center human connection, storytelling, and how cultural context can shape meaning, which are all essential components in the fashion industry especially when building a brand. Within my degree, my emphasis is in fashion studies where I learn about consumer behavior, cultural impacts on fashion, textiles, design, etc., all of which can inform PR strategies. With knowledge of critical thinking and communication through my Applied Humanities degree, I enhanced my PR strategies like storytelling, defining a target audience, and trend forecasting.

What did you find most challenging about your internship?

One thing I found challenging throughout this internship was paying close attention to every little detail when creating labels, managing spreadsheets and inventory, and handling all the PR packages. Within fashion PR, even the tiniest little error like inputting the incorrect address or misspelled name can impact the brand, the shipping time, or customer perception of the brand. This challenge has taught me to double check my work and helped me grow a more detail-oriented mindset, which are two skills that can help me in my future professional endeavors.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

There were several amazing parts of my internship, but one that stood out to me the most was when I got to go up to LA with my mentor to set up and help host an event for the brand Medicine Mama. Through this hands-on experience I gained insight on what it takes to host an event and all the behind the scenes things that go into play to bring the event to life. I realized attention to detail is a crucial skill when planning an event because you consider even the smallest details. This was a very meaningful experience because not only did I get to help with the event, but I got to grow my relationship with my mentor and expand my network.

What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?

Advice I have for other students when searching for an internship is to reach out to your close ties and talk about your professional interests. It is a very small world and talking to the right person can potentially connect you to an internship experience and possibly your future career. Another piece of advice I have is to keep an open mind. Throughout your internship you may be given tasks that seem small and pointless but those responsibilities may teach you valuable skills that will help you in the future.