Being a Fashion Intern

I’m Eleanor, a Fashion Contour student from London College of Fashion currently interning at Lascivious. For those who don’t know, Fashion Contour covers everything from lingerie and swimwear, to nightwear and corsetry and lots more in between. So, what’s it like to be an intern for a small fashion brand? I have been interning at Lascivious for a few months now and this post will hopefully give an insight into what happens and what to expect.

Why is an internship a good thing to do?

Although you may have an idea of what you want to do after you’ve finished studying, an internship can open you up to so many different aspects of a company or of working that you never knew about. Although you may be interested in design and think that that is what you want to do, you could help on the PR or social side of a company and be interested in that too, or the other way around.

It can also help you to do things in different ways. For example, when designing a collection, you may have a certain way to start designing but working with somebody else helps to open up your mind and work in a different way to what you’re used to. This could mean that you have different ideas.

What to expect?

Expect the unexpected. There are lots of roles involved in an internship in fashion and no day will be the same. There are lots of different aspects to the business, especially dependant on what time of year it is and where the company is at. Expect to have to get to know the brand very well. It is a lot easier to design for and to give advice and your opinion on a brand when you know what they are looking for.

What have I learnt?

Being at Lascivious, I learnt so many things in a short space of time. I have been able to go to meetings with lace suppliers and design and fit meetings, things that you don’t get to do while in university that give you a real insight into what actually happens when you finish studying. On top of this, you get to put into practise all the things that you are told about and taught in university, like the importance of quality control checking items and how important it is to keep the brand identity throughout everything that is done, no matter how small. Even if it is a post on Facebook or Instagram, the brand identity should always be strong throughout.


Assisting behind the scenes at a photoshoot 

Worst experience?

There haven’t been many bad experiences whilst at Lascivious, the good has out-weighed the bad. However, dealing with serial thieves at the sample sale was not fun; a situation that resulted in the police being called, Chloe (Lascivious founder) getting screamed at by one of them and in the end, nothing could be done as a female officer wasn’t present to search them.

Best experience?

The whole experience has been amazing, I have learnt so much and had the opportunity to work with the best team. They are so flexible (as I work as well) and very caring. The highlights would have to be the things I would have never been able to experience at a bigger company - going to photo shoots and the lace pop-up showroom. Oh, and meeting Milo, Chloe’s Beagle.

Internships in fashion are a fantastic way to learn how things really work and I am a lot more knowledgeable now, and I have enjoyed every day working at Lascivious.

By Eleanor Furlong

If you are interested in interning at Lascivious please email us at info@lascivious.co.uk