Four years ago, Advertising senior Julia Le joined MSU’s VIM Magazine and set her sights on the fashion industry. Aftering interning for Tom Ford International last summer, her strong work ethic and passion for fashion brought her back to New York City in September 2017 for two separate internships. Amongst the celebrities, editors and avant-garde clothing, she took on fashion week with Tom Ford and market week with The Row.
Behind the Scenes with Tom Ford International
Tom Ford opened Spring ’18 fashion week with ’80s-inspired looks walked by the famous frames of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. The annual fashion week promotes collections through the press and builds excitement for their upcoming launch.
Le took on many different roles assisting the PR team in whatever they needed. On the day of the show, she delivered looks to celebrities around the city for the show and after party.
“Fashion week was extremely hectic, but when the lights shut off and the models started walking, it was all worth it,” said Le. “The next morning it was back to running all over the city because PR does not stop for anyone.”
Market Week With The Row
Le’s success during her previous summer ‘16 PR internship with The Row led to another opportunity with the company. Founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, The Row is a high-end retailer inspired by minimalistic and effortless style. She used her advanced retail knowledge and communication skills to fulfill clothing sample requests to editorial magazines.
She stayed in contact with her manager and peers for two years and got the opportunity to work market week. Following fashion week, market week allows retail buyers to purchase the clothing to put on the floor of their retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys NY and Net-a-Porter. Although Le wants to pursue a career in PR, she assisted the sales team.
“When I interned with The Row, I worked with the sales coordinator as our teams overlapped,” Le said. “She reached out and offered me the internship, which I immediately took. Even though I had little experience in sales, she knew my work ethic and knew I could adapt my PR experience to any situation.”
The Importance of Staying in Touch
Le is the perfect example of the importance of staying in touch and networking after internships. Future opportunities become possible because of the people you now. During her internships, Le demonstrated her knowledge and passion for the industry, which translated into amazing opportunities to expand her resume and knowledge of the fashion industry.
“If you are lucky enough to have the relationship with your bosses to text them to say, ‘Hi,’ then do it,” Le said. “That is what has worked for me. Since I am graduating soon, I plan to send more of a formal email asking for any advice on how to approach the job hunt and see where it goes from there.”
By Brooke Segal