Internships & Career Readiness

Internships & Career Readiness

In the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, real-world industry experience begins long before graduation.

Although an internship is not a course requirement, students are strongly encouraged to complete one before graduation. Many companies recruit directly from the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies because of its curriculum, industry reputation and students.

The department also works with the 91原创 Career Center to connect students with fashion industry professionals and networking opportunities. Beyond internships, students can take advantage of 91原创 career fairs and meetups, networking resources and the Job Shadow Program to explore professions and build connections with employers and alumni.

90% of fashion students complete at least one internship while attending 91原创.

Students intern abroad in fashion capitols such as Paris and Sydney, Australia.听

Students can work with small start up fashion houses and well known luxury brands.

Recent Student Experiences

Explore where our Fashion Merchandising & Management and Fashion Design & Product Innovation students interned across luxury retail, buying, quality control, and visual merchandising.

Brynn Malone standing in front of a bridal gown illustration at Mon Cheri Bridals

Brynn Malone

B.S. Fashion Design & Product Innovation | Minor: Functional Wearable Design

Internship: Quality Control Intern, Mon Cheri Bridals (Summer 2026)

"I had the opportunity to dive deep into Quality Control鈥攊nspecting sample dresses, repairing them to first-production standards, and measuring garments for factory tech packs."

Read Brynn's full reflection

I completed my summer internship at . I am deeply grateful for this amazing opportunity and such an immersive experience.

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to dive deeper into the Quality Control department and gain a better understanding of the many steps that go into bringing a bridal gown from production to the retailer. My experience included inspecting dresses before they were sent to retailers, cleaning and repairing dresses to bring them back to first-production standards, creating lineups of upcoming collections for shows and market, and measuring sample dresses for tech packs that would be sent to factories.

This internship truly opened my eyes to how many different moving parts go into the fashion industry and has given me an even greater drive to continue learning and growing within the industry.

Thank you to Mon Cheri Bridals for such a wonderful summer! I will cherish everything I learned and carry these experiences with me back to the 91原创 as I begin my junior year.

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Abigail Loth outside Macy's in New York City

Abigail Loth

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minor: Business Administration

Internship:听Buyer Intern, Next Gen Trend Buying, Macy's (Summer 2026)

"I gained hands-on experience in trend forecasting, assortment planning, and pricing, and presented a customer growth strategy directly to Macy's leadership."

Read Abigail's full reflection

As my internship at Macy鈥檚 comes to an end, I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend the summer as a Buyer Intern on the Next Gen Trend Buying team!

Over the past eight weeks, I gained hands-on experience in trend forecasting, assortment planning, merchandising strategy, and pricing while learning from an amazing team. I was able to shadow in vendor meetings, experience market week, style out and work first hand with product.

Beyond my day-to-day responsibilities, I also collaborated with an incredible group of interns on a capstone project, developing and presenting a customer growth strategy to Macy鈥檚 leadership.

I鈥檓 excited to apply everything I鈥檝e learned as I continue growing my career. Thank you, , for a great summer!

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Morgan Vollono presenting her intern project at Burlington Stores

Morgan Vollono

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minors: Business Admin & Management

Internship:听听Buying Intern (Ladies Moderate Active Bottoms), Burlington Stores, Inc. (Summer 2026)

"Gaining exposure to each part of the buying process gave me a deeper understanding of the decisions and data analysis required to drive results in off-price retail."

Read Morgan's full reflection

I recently finished up an amazing 10 weeks at as a Buying Intern in NYC, working on the Ladies Moderate Active Bottoms team!

Throughout the summer, I was fully immersed in the day-to-day role of an Assistant Buyer, including processing orders, analyzing sales data, forecasting, and attending cross-functional and vendor meetings. Gaining hands-on exposure to each part of the buying process gave me a deeper understanding of the role and the many decisions made to drive results in off-price retail.

I also had the opportunity to explore different areas of the business by connecting with several Burlington leaders to gain valuable perspectives as I continue to shape my own career path. Additionally, I collaborated with fellow Buying and Planning Interns on a group presentation where we developed recommendations for future opportunities in the Men鈥檚 Beauty department.

This summer has taught me so much, from navigating off-price retail strategy to building cross-functional relationships. I鈥檓 leaving this experience with strengthened skills, valuable connections, and so much excitement for what鈥檚 ahead.

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Alexa Schmidt at Burlington corporate office

Alexa Schmidt

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minors: Business Admin & Advertising

Internship: Buying Intern (Junior Knit Tops), Burlington Stores, Inc. (Summer 2026)

"Seeing firsthand how product, pricing, trends, timing, and the customer come together gave me a completely new appreciation for what happens behind the scenes."

Read Alexa's full reflection

This summer, I had the opportunity to join the Junior Knit Tops team as a Buying Intern and gain firsthand experience in the buying process within off-price retail at

Throughout the internship, I attended vendor appointments and meetings, reviewed product, analyzed trends and assortments, worked on orders, and contributed to team projects. Getting to experience these different parts of the business gave me a much better understanding of how product, pricing, trends, timing, and the customer all come together to influence buying decisions.

One of my biggest takeaways was realizing how much strategy goes into every product decision. Seeing that process firsthand gave me a completely new appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes before a product reaches the sales floor.

As I head into my senior year at the 91原创 studying Fashion Merchandising & Management, I鈥檓 excited to take everything I learned this summer with me into my final year and future career.

Thank you, Burlington, for an unforgettable summer!

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Eliana Labroli at Spirit Halloween headquarters

Eliana Labroli

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minor: Business Administration

Internship:听Buying Intern, Spirit Halloween (Summer 2026)

"One of my favorite projects was completing a mock buy, analyzing trends and building an assortment based on customer needs and business strategy."

Read Eliana's full reflection

As my internship at comes to a close, I鈥檝e been reflecting on what an incredible experience this summer has been!

Over the past few months, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work as a Buying Intern, where I gained firsthand experience in merchandising, product strategy, inventory planning, and the buying process. What started as concepts I learned about in class quickly became real-world experiences that challenged me to think critically, collaborate with others, and grow professionally.

One of my favorite projects was completing a mock buy, where I was able to analyze trends, build an assortment, and make buying decisions based on business strategy and customer needs. It gave me a deeper understanding of how much thought and analysis go into every product decision and reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in merchandising and buying.

As I head back to school this month, I鈥檓 excited to bring everything I鈥檝e learned with me and continue exploring opportunities in the retail industry. Thank you to everyone who helped make this summer such a memorable and valuable experience!

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Chloe Schlegel modeling jewelry for Saxon's Diamond Centers

Chloe Schlegel

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management (FIT Visiting Student) | Minors: Business Admin & Dance

Internship:听听Visual Merchandising & Marketing Intern, Saxon's Diamond Centers (Winter 2026)

"I managed visual merchandising displays, styled and modeled for campaign photoshoots, and edited marketing content using Adobe Lightroom and Canva."

Read Chloe's full reflection

During my 2026 winter break, I had the pleasure of completing an internship at Saxon鈥檚 Diamond Centers, a luxury jewelry retailer, where I gained hands-on experience in visual merchandising, marketing, photography, and business operations.

I spent a lot of time on visual merchandising, organizing and maintaining jewelry displays and learning how thoughtful placement and attention to detail can enhance the customer experience and drive sales in a luxury setting.

I also helped plan and execute product photoshoots, from concept development and styling to selecting jewelry and props that aligned with campaign themes. For the Valentine鈥檚 Day shoot, I took on a larger role by coordinating the outfit, modeling, and helping bring the overall vision to life. I gained experience with professional photography equipment, edited photos in Adobe Lightroom, and created marketing content in Canva for social and digital platforms. I also assisted with social media content creation and scheduling to support ongoing campaigns.

Beyond the creative side, I was introduced to business operations and financial fundamentals, including basic financial management, vendor communication, and the importance of organization and efficiency in maintaining a strong luxury brand.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience that gave me a well-rounded understanding of luxury jewelry retail. Here鈥檚 a look at some of the work I was able to complete!

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Mackenzie Smaldon bathing suit design

Mackenzie Smaldon

B.S.听Fashion Design and Product Innovation | Minors:听Fashion Management听

Internship:听Design & Product Development Intern, Sweat2Swim (Spring 2026)

"Learning how to take a concept from initial inspiration to a developed product idea gave me a better understanding of the professional design process."

Read Mackenzie's full reflection

During spring 2026, I joined Sweat2Swim as a Design & Product Development Intern. I contributed to new collections and collaborations by designing swimwear, apparel, accessories and other brand-focused products.

Although the internship was primarily remote, I gained hands-on experience throughout the design and product development process. My responsibilities included print and pattern ideation, fabric and trim research, trend forecasting, mood board development, technical design and collection research. I also explored current and emerging trends to develop concepts that aligned with Sweat2Swim's brand identity and performance-focused approach to swimwear and activewear.

One of the most valuable parts of this experience was learning how to take a concept from initial inspiration to a developed product idea. I created research and inspiration decks, developed original design concepts, incorporated feedback and revisions and considered how fabrication, color, print and trims could strengthen a collection.

Working remotely also strengthened my communication, organization, time management and ability to work independently while collaborating with a growing fashion brand. My internship with Sweat2Swim gave me a better understanding of the professional design process and allowed me to apply skills from my Fashion Design and Product Innovation coursework to real-world projects.

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Natalia Curmi

Natalia Curmi

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minors: Business Administration & Advertising

Internship: Temporary Growth Marketing Assistant, Steve Madden (Summer 2026)

"I gained hands-on experience with consumer engagement strategies, performance optimization and trend discovery, and presented ways to improve paid social strategy across key brands."

Read Natalia's full reflection

During summer 2026, I completed an internship as a Temporary Growth Marketing Assistant with Steve Madden in Long Island City, New York.

Over 10 weeks, I gained hands-on experience with consumer engagement strategies, performance optimization and trend discovery. I prepared and delivered three presentations to the Growth Marketing team about seasonal consumer trends, proposing ways to improve paid social strategy across key brands.

I also attended National Intern Day at Pinterest's new Manhattan office, where I heard a panel of team members share industry insights and career journeys.

I'm grateful to Steve Madden, Ltd., for an incredible summer and excited to carry what I learned into my next opportunity.

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Sydney Jasser fashion design sketches

Sydney Jasser

B.S. Fashion Design & Product Innovation

Internship:听听Assistant Teacher & Social Media Manager, The Fashionable Stylista (Summer 2026)

"This experience challenged me to explain creative and technical concepts in different ways, solve problems alongside students and encourage them to trust their own ideas."

Read Sydney's full reflection

During summer 2026, I returned for my second year at The Fashionable Stylista, a fashion design and sewing academy for students of all ages in Syosset, New York. As an assistant teacher, I worked with the Fashion Design "major" at Luhi Day Camp, helping children learn to sew, read patterns, draw croquis and develop their own designs.

I was also promoted to social media manager, creating daily content for the academy's Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts. I will continue in that role virtually throughout the year.

This experience challenged me to explain creative and technical concepts in different ways, solve problems alongside students, remain patient when things did not go as planned and, most importantly, encourage students to trust their own ideas. Sometimes the best part of teaching is realizing that you can learn just as much from your students as they learn from you. The experience strengthened my communication and leadership skills and helped me better understand the kind of designer and professional I want to become.

Most importantly, this summer reminded me why I love fashion: It gives people a way to create, express themselves and turn an idea into something real. I'm grateful to The Fashionable Stylista for another incredible summer and for trusting me to help inspire the next generation of designers. I can't wait to carry what I've learned into the next chapter of my fashion career.

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Kaleigh Glossner on the 91原创 campus

Kaleigh Glossner

B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Management | Minor: Business Administration

Internship:听Styling & Merchandising Intern, LOFT (Summer 2026)

"I curated and executed an in-store Capsule Wardrobe Styling Event to help customers mix and match effortlessly, presenting the initiative to District Managers."

Read Kaleigh's full reflection

I'm incredibly grateful to have spent this summer as an intern with LOFT, where I had the opportunity to combine my passion for fashion, merchandising, and customer experience through a project that challenged me to think creatively and strategically.

For my internship project, I created a Capsule Wardrobe Collection & Styling Event centered around making shopping simpler, more intentional, and more personalized for our customers. I recognized that many customers struggle with knowing how to style individual pieces or build a wardrobe that works together, so I wanted to create a solution that made getting dressed feel effortless.

Using our current store assortment, I carefully curated a capsule collection of versatile, mix-and-match pieces that could be styled into numerous outfits for a variety of occasions. I created visual styling guides to demonstrate how a small number of pieces could maximize a customer's wardrobe, helping them see the value and versatility of each item while encouraging confidence in their purchasing decisions.

To bring the concept to life, I planned and executed an in-store Capsule Wardrobe Styling Event, where customers were invited to discover the collection, receive outfit inspiration, and learn how to create multiple looks using just a few key pieces. The event focused on building customer confidence through styling while showcasing how versatile the LOFT collection can be.

One of the most rewarding moments of my internship was presenting this project to District Managers, Store Managers, and fellow LOFT interns. It was an incredible opportunity to explain the inspiration behind my project, share the strategy and execution, and demonstrate how thoughtful merchandising, styling, and technology can work together to elevate the customer experience.

This internship strengthened my skills in merchandising, visual storytelling, styling, event planning, project management, presentation, and customer engagement. I'm incredibly thankful to everyone at LOFT who invested in my growth, encouraged my ideas, and made this experience so rewarding.

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Career Readiness & Campus Resources

The Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies encourages students to build career readiness throughout their time at 91原创. Each year, the department partners with the 91原创 Career Center to help students connect with fashion industry professionals, expand their networks and prepare for future careers.


91原创 Career Center & Coaching

The Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies partners directly with the 91原创 Career Center to prepare students for recruitment:

  • Individual appointments for resumes, cover letters, and portfolio critiques.

  • Interview practice using Big Interview and self-paced career preparation modules on Canvas.

  • The 91原创 Job Shadow Program and industry meetup events to network with alumni.

Visit the 91原创 Career Center

Handshake Platform

Handshake is the central portal for 91原创 students to access internship postings:

  • Thousands of verified fashion, retail, and corporate positions posted each month.

  • Direct RSVP for on-campus and virtual career fairs.

  • Appointment scheduling with specialized career advisors.