We chatted to Quinn, our most recent intern, about his experience and thoughts on his time in the program.
Tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself.
I currently live in Pōneke/Wellington, my biggest passions are fashion and performing arts, and I speak German and hope to live in Germany someday!
What are you currently studying?
I am in my third year of a Bachelor of Design majoring in Fashion Design at Massey University in Wellington. The degree is four years, so I am slowly gearing up to my graduating collection next year which I am very excited for.
Why did you want to apply for the paid internship program with Juliette Hogan and what were you hoping to gain?
I wanted some real-life fashion experience outside of university. Getting an insight into a successful fashion brand, such as Juliette Hogan which values sustainability and the local industry, was the perfect opportunity.
What is the most interesting thing you have learnt during your time at Juliette Hogan, and any new skills, techniques or knowledge?
Seeing the entire process of a garment from the design, sampling, production, marketing and selling in stores. Getting to chat one-on-one with people involved in different stages meant I gained a strong understanding of the process and how different roles operate within the business.
I spent lots of hands-on time with the production team which gave me a great insight into how the garments are made and I learnt so many new industry terms and processes.
Were there any surprises during your experience?
I was surprised that I got multiple chances to chat with Juliette and Alice about their design process and career journeys and even got to see what they are currently working on. A huge highlight of my time there was going with Juliette and Alice to fabric wholesalers where they looked at fabric options for upcoming collections.
Another surprise for me was how interesting I found the marketing and sales side of the business, a part of fashion I hadn't previously engaged with but found quite fascinating to learn about.
Would you recommend this internship to other students? Why or why not?
I would absolutely recommend this internship. Everyone at Juliette Hogan was so friendly and very happy to spend time teaching me about their roles and the business. I felt really welcome there which made it easy to engage with everything I was shown.
How has this internship helped you for your future studies and career?
Already, in the short time back at uni since the internship, I've been able to draw so many connections between what I'm being taught and what I saw at Juliette Hogan. This semester is very industry and production focused, so having been able to see behind-the-scenes at a luxury fashion label has made my learning much more easy to understand.
Getting to see real-world application of what I am studying has helped me look forward to continuing and completing my degree and entering the industry - something which has previously felt quite daunting and abstract.
What is your advice for future JH interns?
Soak it all up! Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions, everyone I talked to was passionate about their job and happy to answer any question I had.
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Applications are currently open for our next JH Short-term Paid Internship, starting 19 February 2024. If you are interested in the program and would like to find out more or apply, please click here. Applications close at the end of September.