14 Aug Fashion Internships for High School Students: Your Guide to Starting Early
Do you dream of watching models walk the runway, wearing garments you designed and planned yourself? Are your thoughts occupied with images of fabric bolts, sewing patterns, and design elements?
If you’re having trouble focusing on your schoolwork because all you can think about is fashion, then pursuing a career in this industry might be a good choice for you. A lot of high school students assume they need to wait until college to get a jumpstart on their careers, but that’s not the case.
In fact, fashion internships for high school students present the perfect opportunity for you to get your feet wet and gain exposure to the fast-paced world of fashion.
What Do Fashion Interns Do?
Fashion internships are like stepping stones into the glamorous world of fashion. As a fashion intern, you could be involved in a number of activities that help you understand the industry better. Here are some things fashion interns typically do:
Assisting Designers
Imagine helping a fashion designer sketch out new ideas or choose fabrics. Interns often get to work directly with designers, assisting them in various tasks like organizing materials, preparing samples, and even contributing to design concepts.
This kind of hands-on experience will prove to be invaluable, giving you a much-needed glimpse into the creative process behind fashion collections.
You might help with mood boards, fabric swatches, color palettes…you name it, all of it helps bring a designer’s vision to life.
Event Planning
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a fashion show? Interns often help plan and execute fashion events. This could include setting up venues, coordinating schedules, and managing guest lists.
You might also help organize fittings, arrange seating charts, and liaison with models and other participants. All of these responsibilities require an immense attention to detail as well as excellent organizational skills.
Social Media Management
In today’s digital age, social media is a big part of fashion marketing. As an intern, you might help manage social media accounts by creating posts, engaging with followers, and analyzing online trends.
Through this process, you’ll learn the overwhelming importance of a strong digital presence and how it influences brand perception. You may even be involved in collaborations with influencers!
Market Research
Understanding market trends is crucial in the fashion industry. You might conduct research on what’s hot in the market, who the competitors are, and what your customers are looking for.
Ultimately, good market research will help you develop a keen eye for emerging trends and customer preferences, giving you valuable insights that you can bring back to design and marketing meetings.
Styling
Interns sometimes assist in styling photo shoots or fashion shows. This involves selecting outfits, accessorizing, and making sure the models look their absolute best.
Administrative Duties
Like any other job, there are some less glamorous tasks too. Interns might have to handle paperwork, answer phones, or run errands. But these tasks are important in keeping everything running smoothly.
Why Are Fashion Internships Important?
You might be wondering why you should consider a fashion internship while still in high school. Here are some compelling reasons:
Real-World Experience: Textbooks can’t teach you everything. Internships provide hands-on experience in the real world.
Skill Development: Fashion internships help you develop essential skills like communication, teamwork, and time management.
Networking Opportunities: The fashion industry is all about who you know. Interning gives you the chance to meet and connect with industry professionals and make connections that are incredibly valuable when looking for job opportunities later.
Portfolio Building: A strong portfolio is crucial in the fashion industry; the projects you work on during your internship can be added to your portfolio, showcasing your skills and experience to potential employers.
Clarity of Career Path: Interning can help you decide if a career in fashion is really for you.
College Applications: Having an internship on your resume can make your college application stand out!
Tips for Landing a Fashion Internship in High school
You don’t have to wait until college to start getting experience in the fashion industry. Here are some steps you can take to find a fashion internship while still in high school:
Research Opportunities
Start by looking for fashion companies, designers, or boutiques in your area that offer internships. Many big fashion houses have formal internship programs, but don’t overlook smaller businesses where you might get more hands-on experience.
Create a Resume and Portfolio
Even as a high school student, you can create a resume that highlights your skills, interests, and any relevant experiences. A portfolio showcasing your design sketches, sewing projects, or fashion-related school work can also be beneficial.
Network
Talk to your teachers, family, and friends to see if they know anyone in the fashion industry. Attend fashion events or expos to meet professionals and learn about potential opportunities.
Apply and Follow Up
Once you find internships that interest you, apply with a well-written cover letter and your resume. Follow up with an email or phone call to show your enthusiasm for the position.
Be Persistent
Finding an internship can take time and effort, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the first one you apply for. Keep looking and applying until you find the right match.
Don’t Wait Until College to Get a Fashion Internship
Here’s the deal – the vast majority (72%) of fashion internship placements are reserved for people who’ve already graduated college, or for juniors or seniors who are desperate to gain experience as they finish up their degrees.
But that doesn’t mean you should wait. There are organizations out there that aim specifically to help high school students just like yourself – case in point, Absolute Internship.
Absolute Internship offers internship experiences in fashion all around the globe, and for high school students, we provide virtual internships so you never even have to leave home to start immersing yourself in the world of fashion. The sooner you embark on this journey, the better – you’ll be all the more prepared to land the most competitive internships and paid jobs later on.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a fashion internship with Absolute Internship today!
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