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RESEARCH NEWS EDUCATION NEWS RECRUITING NEWS Textile and Apparel Management CONFERENCES |
| INSIDE TATM |
| International Programs - TATM |
| College of Textiles TOP Program |
 Mission
Statement To establish a high quality forum relevant to the needs of global industry and higher education that will provide leadership in the timely dissemination of information dealing with all aspects of textile and apparel, technology and management. |
Design Internships Provide Valuable Experience
Nancy B. Powell, Associate Professor
An internship
experience can be the differentiating factor that identifies the successful
candidate over other applicants for a position in industry.
Many of the NCSU College of Textiles students pursue summer employment
for financial reasons and as an investment in their future placement. Additionally,
students
find an internship influential in giving them a new perspective on their
studies.
 |
Valdese
Weavers’ Sharon
Reid, with interns Katherine Hudson & Branan Hackney, Anni Albers
Scholars |
During the summer of 2003 several College of Textiles students in the design and development field of textile and apparel benefited from internships across the country. Areas of responsibilities for interns in design may include creating concept/image boards for product presentations, sample preparation, designing, market research, product development, fabric analysis and sourcing.
Valdese Weavers, a leading manufacturer of high end woven fabrics, provided an archiving project within their design department in Valdese, N.C. Branan Hackney and Katherine Hudson, Anni Albers Scholars, worked under the direction of Sharon Reid. Assignments varied from labeling and categorizing artwork to researching and organizing existing company fabrics. In preparation for Showtime Fabric market, Branan designed and produced color swatch boards for several new fabric lines. “I now have a broader understanding and appreciation for the work involved from product design and development all the way through to production and sales within a company. It gave me a glimpse into the textile industry and an amazing mentor.”
Short term internships open up the possibilities of doing more than one during the summer months. As part of her award in winning the Surtex 2003 Student Design Competition, Katherine Hudson also interned for one week in New York with Waverly Licensed Products. Katherine worked in the design studio putting together fabric swatch boards and wallpaper sample books for wall covering, printed fabric, and licensed product. “This experience left me with a stronger knowledge of how the design process works within a large company such as Waverly, as well as some great contacts in the design industry.”
 |
Cara
Michelini, Waverly Wallcoverings with Katherine Hudson, Anni
Albers Scholar
|
Internships
vary in length and may be a short term assignment or extend beyond the summer.
Jessica Smyth, an Anni Albers Scholar, continues her internship
work at Cotton Incorporated in Cary, North Carolina. As a Knit Design Assistant
for Jimmie
Grow and Carrie Yates, Jessica generates ideas and designs for circular knitted
fabrics on the CAD system.
“ The ability to see a product from the idea generation stage to the final
result is an effective method of learning about fabrics. While at Cotton Incorporated
I have had the opportunity to get first hand experience in the textile industry.
Following current trends in the textile industry from season to season, has
given me a better understanding of what the textile market is like for textile
designers. Working in a team and brainstorming with colleagues for projects
has taught me communication skills and the ability to work with others. This
experience has helped me immensely in class and everyday life.”
Charlie
Harbison, an Anni Albers Scholar, has created a strong design portfolio which
earned his internships
at Kate Spade and Michael Kors, both in Manhattan
NY. In the design/marketing department of Kate Spade LLC, Charlie worked with
the line's Creative Director, Tim Farah. At Michael Kors LLC, Charlie worked
in the Men's Collection design and marketing departments, working predominantly
with the Design Director, Paul Zumbo. Describing his experience in researching
and developing new products, Charlie comments, “The most rewarding aspect
of the summer was the hands-on experience I gained. Being incorporated into
every stage of the industry's design process, from initial concept to consumer
marketing, was very exciting. It was an intense, tiring, but incredible experience.” Gaining
a mentor and creating a network of contacts through an internship can be
an important launch to a
career.
 |
Bliss Coleman, AASP,
Alice Roi Company, NYC and Norma Kamali, NYC. |
Bliss Coleman, an Anni Albers Scholar, also arranged two internships in Manhattan by researching designers and sending out resumes. “I learned a lot about the fashion industry and myself living in New York. I learned how a collection is created from start to finish. I made a lot of contacts and kept all the business cards so I could start a reference book.”
An intern must be willing and able to work wherever an employer needs their skills. At Norma Kamali, Bliss worked in design and production with Erica Fair. Preparing press kits, tracking and shipping orders, and interacting with quality assurance were all a part of Bliss’s responsibilities. At Alice Roi, Bliss worked in all aspects of the company including design, production, and sourcing for fabrics and trims.
COT Senior Marty Jensen’s internship at Craftex Mills in High Point, NC confirmed her desire to become a textile designer. Working with designers, Kim Grimsley and Allison Hocker, Marty organized fabric samples. Assisting with the Showtime Fabric Market that precedes the Furniture Market in High Point, Marty learned CAD software and edited fabric designs. “I definitely gained a better understanding of what designers do. It was wonderful to see from conception to creation, a picture on a screen become a fabric. An internship will definitely help you figure out whether the job is right for you or not.”
Carli Blackert, a Senior in Textile Technology, received a placement at Quaker Fabrics in Fall River, Massachusetts co-sponsored by the International Textile Marketing Association. Paula Decker of the Jobber division design department was Carli’s supervisor. Carli’s internship focused primarily on creating new colors for existing patterns from complex stripes to florals. One highlight of Carli’s internship was designing her own pattern for Quaker’s Contract division. “I gained a lot of independence. It was a great experience because it took things that I learned in books and showed how they applied in the real work world. I would highly recommend having an internship to anyone in any field.”
 |
Paula Becker of Quaker
Fabrics, and Carli Blackert, College of Textiles NCSU Senior |
During an internship design students discover what designers really do. Being able to see the total process through an industry experience, interacting with customers, and establishing a network of contacts are all valuable outcomes. Increasing professional confidence, personal discipline and independence not only contributes to a new perspective on college studies, but it also provides an important advantage in the competitive job market. Internships are also an opportunity for employers to observe a potential designer’s talent and commitment to a working team.
The College of Textiles Student Services provides an annual Summer Job Forum in February of each year. Kent Hester, Director, maintains the purpose of “introducing students to the internship process, the importance of summer work experience and the advantages of work experience in the entry level permanent job search”.
College
of Textiles
P.O. Box 8301
Raleigh, NC 27695-8301
Telephone: (919) 515-6646
FAX: (919) 515-3733
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Last Site Revision:
November 17, 2003