Alright Let me first state that yes there are other threads explaining peoples past experiences and etc. so if you could perhaps link those threads to this one that one be great.
Now, I'm Marc I'm only 17 and already I've single handledly landed two internships for two great amazing companies. To contradict my title I would have to say you are NEVER to young to intern. No matter if your 12-16, if you have enough motivation, creativity, ambition and over all a hard working attitude you can do anything you little fashion lovin' heart desires. I'm going to help out ALL of you little fashion lovers regardless of your age in this thread by listing some GREAT chances at doing something in the industry before your actually in it!
1. Many of you live near large cities, this is going to be a great utlity and use it to your advantage. Where there is a large city there is usually a college and lets just hope it offers some sort of design art program. Almost every design college will offer classes to high school students as some sort of "pre-college introduction". I have had first hand experiences with this as I live and hour from NYC. I have taken not one, not two, but SIX high school classes. Yes, thats right six of them. They have ranged from manual pattern-making to fashion art for fashion designer and I can not tell you the amount I have learned. These classes have taught me everything I know and I owe it all to one of the greatest fashion schools (and my campus come next fall!) the Fashion Institute of Technology. These classes weren't as cheap as they come but the skills and knowledge you pick up from them is priceless. Its not just FIT that offers these classes, its Parson's, FIDM, SCAD and the list goes on and on and on and on. If theres a universtity near you go find it and see what they are offering because alot of the times its gonna be great!
2. Internships, oh the dread excuse of being too young. Let me tell you a little story. Me and my friend Jen who is only 15 snuck into New York Fashion Week together. Again yes thats right I HAVE AMBITION! When I had went to go find Erin Fetherston for a picture Jen had started talking to someone who was actually a design assistant at Charlotte Ronson. Jen LOVES CR and wears them everyday she gets (she was evening wearing a CR dress the day she met the design assitant!)! Now lets fast foward to last monday, It was Jen's first day as an intern at CR, and you know why? Because Jen showed that she could take on tasks that would be hard, she was nice, creative, an open spirit! Moral of the intern story..... theres going to be a lot of people that say listen honey, you're just to young, but if every person who has ever been told that stopped at that moment, well then who knows where this industry would be.
3. Have ambition! If this is the only thing I could say it would be. FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND DREAMS, as lame as it sounds it'll get you what you want if its the right time.
Lastly, Dont give up. Its really just not worth it. No one likes a quitter!
My little sucess story, after taking those college classes I got into FIT as well as landed two internships, one at Christian V Siriano and Twinkle by Wenlan, I am my case in point!
! It's going to be great -- the magazine is a really nice and comfortable environment and I was told by the editor that this is a great place for a high schooler like me to get experience in a well-known magazine while still working amongst supportive assistants and editors!
