Interview with a Fashion Intern.

I decided to interview Vicki Chagger a fellow fashion student who has interned for two completely different fashion brands House of Holland and Motel Rocks. 

There are so many rumours of interns in the fashion industry the hours they work the jobs they do and so on so who better to ask about it than an intern themselves. 

Here are some images of Vicki's behind the scenes tasks at Motel Rocks. 

My Interview

I am here with Vicki Chagger and we are here to talk about interning and what its like to be behind the scene of a fashion intern. So tell me about your self.

I am 22 and live just outside London. I’ve always wanted to work in the fashion industry since a child. So after school I went to work in retail at the airport for a year. But I still had a niggle in the back of my head that I wanted to do more in fashion. So I started applying for internships in fashion magazines such as Glamour. The feedback from my applications where always positive but requested more experience or a degree.

So is it fashion magazines you want to get into?

Its defiantly what I am interested in you see my dad is a photographer which then inspired me to go into fashion editorials. I just love going through the magazines and finding the images themselves so incredible not just due to the clothes but the whole production which goes behind the image. So to achieve those skills I realized I had to go to Uni. That’s why I am now currently in my 3^rd year of Uni studying fashion design.

So when did you start re applying for fashion internships?

Between my first and second year of Uni in the summer holidays I interned for House of Holland. I emailed them around may they said they take interns for three months at a time. So due to when I applied they had already filled the intern positions for summer. But they then later on in the summer got back in touch to tell me one of there interns dropped out and was I available to intern for three weeks running up to the fashion week.

Due to it being the run up weeks to London fashion week interning there was manic. I was on the tube more than I was in the office. Most my days involved getting tea’s and coffee, packing things making sure all the online orders where packaged had the right postage and sent out on time.

So it was all the behind scenes running about.

Yeah it was but was extra busy due to being the run up of London fashion week. We where constantly told. “Don’t talk to Henry, Unless he talks to you first.” It was quite terrifying. There was a constant flow of models and stylists running in and out. For instance we were given this wade of invitations between four of us and told to hand deliver each one there where well over 100 invites. I delivered them to Selfridges head office, urban outfitters so on.

I was always on the tube for either delivering invites , picking up fabrics , samples. There was a time I was sat on the tube with a fully made garment that was actually going to be in fashion week. I was guarding it with my life. It was crazy but good because I got to see the factories where things where made and see where the samples come from. However it was all worth it the show was amazing I got to meet some celebrities I loved feeling a part of it.

I then went back to Uni for the second year. I put interning on a hold as couldn’t afford to intern while doing my Uni course. However when starting my third year I noticed on Motel Rocks website they were looking for interns for web editorials or social media. I applied for both and now intern there every Wednesday.

Compared to House of Holland how different is Motel Rocks?

It’s completely different. The main ethos of Motel Rocks is if you are an intern you are there to learn the job role where as House of Holland as its not highstreet and is a larger brand the interns are just there to do what ever needs doing.

So do you feel in Motel Rocks you learned more about working in the business and was a better introduction to the industry?

They where different as House of Holland does shows in London and Paris. They have show rooms around Europe where Motel Rocks is more online focused. There where completely different vibes at both. House of Holland was more about getting things done but I wasn’t really learning anything business wise. Which was good in once way as I did a variety of different things. But I didn’t learn new skills it just helped me get the insight of behind the scenes of a large brand. Whereas Motel Rocks taught me more. As I am learning a specific job. For Motel Rocks I write blog posts build some of the products on the back office (Online stock room.) Which involves putting the products up by putting the codes in and describing the product.

So in one day at Motel Rocks what would you do?

It varies but when I go in I have a ruff idea of what I am going to do. But get set tasks in the morning that will take me all day. For example when they do competitions they have product shots of the prizes and all that’s done in the studio in our office. So I help out setting up the studio and advising the photography.

Motel Rocks is gratifying to work for as I get to see my write-ups on there blog and website. I can look at them and be proud I did that.

You see where I work for at Motel Rocks is just the web office so is less crazy where as House of Holland is all done under the same roof you would have people sowing in the same room as people doing the social media, marketing and buying.

I have a lot more say at Motel Rocks as they ask for your opinion on things. Make you feel more part of the brand. Which allows you to get more insight into the business.

Do you find internships a good representation of the working world?

It’s varied as high fashion you have responsibility i.e. collecting garments but on the other hand you don’t as they set your tasks and you mostly run around. However it does give you a good insight of how it works though. It helps you realize how fast pace the fashion industry is.

To finish off what advice would you give someone applying for a fashion internship.

Its so difficult to know what you want to do so apply and try as many different things as you can to gain experience and decide in what you enjoy. Find a brand you love and do your research on the brand before applying. Then apply to them directly. Most brands have contact information on their websites. When applying its important to be formal but friendly. Most importantly if you don’t try you wont succeed.