London Fashion Interns

Hi Everyone! I've been taking a mini break from Stray for the past couple of months, getting to grips with my new job, enjoying summer, but most importantly I've been working on a brand new project called London Fashion Interns. 

LFI is a community to come and share your internship experience with others or read about other peoples experiences in fashion internships. The day to day tasks, the ins and outs, in order to let others discover what being a fashion intern is all about. There are thousands of fashion companies and hundreds of different job titles within each one. Interning is a right of passage in most companies, therefore knowing what each one entails, how to get by and get the best from yours is a great way to get where you want to be with ease. LFI can also act as a support system for struggling interns. It’s a very competitive industry to be in, especially being paid next to nothing. Reading about other interns, knowing you’re not the only one struggling, how each person is coping and the option to contact each other is a great way to make it a bit better for everyone.

The idea for LFI came about in a rather simple way. Before starting my internship at Vivienne Westwood I wanted to do a bit of research to see what doing an internship there or in PR would be like, having never done an internship before. After browsing for a good hour on the web I found nothing, and LFI was born. 

A community website where people can share their internship experience with each other.  For those wanting to learn about the fashion industry, for those who’ve never done an internship before and for those who may want to branch out into different fields but don’t know much about it, this is the place for you.

We've already had a few contributors including fashion bloggers, Katie Meadway from http://www.aimabovelimits.co.uk/ and Essy Park from http://www.noirfairy.com on their experiences as fashion Interns. If you would like to read about them, head over to http://www.londonfashioninterns.co.uk. 

We are also looking for more contributors to talk about their internship in fashion. You don't have to be a blogger, or even live in London, but if you've done a fashion internship, we would love to hear about your experience! It's so simple to apply, simply head to the 'Get Featured' on the site, fill in the form and send it back to us via the email: londonfashioninterns@live.com and you'll be on the site for all to see within a few days! All we ask is that you share your post on your social channels to help us spread the word. 

We're very excited about this project and we hope to speak to some of you soon!

https://twitter.com/ldnfashinterns

Vivienne Westwood Internship

You have probably guessed, I've got some rather big news! 

I decided a while back to take the plunge and move to London. 

With the pursuit of getting a job in the fashion industry in mind, I started applying for internships and such, but after a failed interview at Motel Rocks I wasn't having much luck. 

Pretty much the same day, my dad rang me saying "how fast can you get to London to work for Vivienne Westwood?" 

After a bit of explanation, it turns out my Uncle knows someone who's daughter is Viv's right hand woman, well for Press anyway (Laura McCuaig). As reluctant as I was to accept help from others and to make it on my own, this was one contact I just couldn't turn down! 

She put me in contact with Jess Moloney, who also works in the Press Office, and after a few exchanged emails and a phone interview, I was offered the three month internship! 

From what I could gather I will be dealing with samples, helping to organise press days and keeping the showroom neat and tidy. 

I start this wednesday and I am so excited! 

You may have seen what's been said in the news about her supposed exploitation of interns. Well I say, if you want something bad enough, you have to be willing to work for free for it. In such a saturated and competitive market such as fashion, what do you expect! 

And not only that but work hard whilst working for free. 

I am baffled by anyone who goes into a job and does it half arsed. You're there to work, to make an impression, so why not (for want of a better phrase) put 110% into it? It doesn't matter if you're getting 1 mil a minute or tuppence a day! And that also means being more than happy to make the tea, run half way across London for a sample and of course, the photocopying. 

You will only be rewarded for your efforts surely? Instead of being known for your laziness and unapproachable attitude. 

I started out picking up dog poo as a volunteer for the Animal Shelter, just so I could play with dogs. So I am very willing (if not privileged!) to work for an iconic British Designer just so I can get a proper job in fashion! 

I will be working here, at the Press Office on Conduit Street. I will be blogging about my experience there and the things I get up to, and I really hope its a great experience. I have all the faith that it will be! 

Finally, here are some of my favourite Looks from the S/S 14 collection in Paris.