So on my birthday (24th October 2011) I get the best news ever!...I got an internship in NEW YORK!! with one of my favourite american fashion designers Anna Sui. I was overwhelmed and oh so excited
I quickly started to fill out my visa application forms which took forever. I then booked my flights and my accomodation and before you knew it I was on that plane to New York.
It still didn't quite hit me that I'd be living in a different city a thousand miles away from home, alone for two months. I landed in New York on Christmas Day, it was the perfect way to start my new york experience.
2nd January 2012, My first day at Anna Sui Corporation.
This was THE day I was waiting for. I got dressed up for my first day, heels and all sorts...walked into the building on West 39th Street, asked for Anna Sui and they told me to take the lift to the 15th floor.
I did that, passing the floors my excitement was showing. I had the biggest grin ever on my face. 9th floor, 10th floor...14th floor BANG 15th floor the lift doors opened and there it was BIG BOLD in your face...
ANNA SUI CORPORATION
I went into the office and asked for Thomas Miller and everyone was staring at me!
'OMGARDDD your british we loveeeeeeeeeeeeee your accent' I heard this about a thousand times a day. Its like everyone loved me for my accent and my 'london style'...it was surreal!!
My first day I met everyone in the main office, design team, production team, fabric sample team, packaging team and showroom team. Everyone was lovely!! Just as I was about to go on my lunch I put on my pearl coat and waited for the lift down. The lift door opened and ANNA SUI was just walking out of the lift doors. 'Hey, your coat is just gorrrgeeeeooussssssssss. Are you our new intern'
I was abit shocked she was talking to MEEEE!! Ahhh my heart was racing. I replied 'Hi, yes I'm Jeyda from London. Thank you, my coat is from arrogant cat a store I work in, in London'. She replied 'its beautifuuuullllllll, have a nice lunch'. She really does long out her words!! haha, I just kept smiling and walked into the lift. Anna Sui owns the 6th and 15th floor of the building so as I was going down the lift it stopped on the 6th floor and Charlie got in the lift. I told him about my little chat with Anna and he was so jealous. 'Jeyda I've worked here two years and she hasnt even said Hi to me, she must love you!!' said Charlie. At this point my head was getting bigger and bigger hahahahha. I just couldnt believe how nice everyone was.
My duties for the 1st week were to help with the production team, help organise boxes for delivery, go to contractors to pick up and drop off samples, model for sample fittings, attend meetings, sort out look books and calculate our new stock that was coming in.
The contractors were very close to the office. Contractors were very friendly, even their cats were friendly. haha :)
At the contractors I did see alot of hard work going into all them garments. Workers were slaving over making these garments on time for fittings...it was quite shocking to see so many people working in one room it made me realise that fashion really has no mercy at all!
Fittings would take place every evening from 4.30pm onwards. This would consist of a live model or an intern even sometimes me modelling sample clothing to see if the patterns, fabrics and styles were all fitting in together and to see if there were any problems with the garments.
99% of the time garments would be made right, fabric would be fine, but sometimes the print on the fabric would be wrong or would be faded so they'd have to make sure the fabric was perfect as Anna Sui is all about the printed fabrics!
My second and third weeks were very hectic, in and out of fittings, in and out of contractors and just making sure everything was running smoothly and according to plan.
My last two weeks at Anna Sui was amazing. I was creating look books, making sure all the look books were perfect for the fashion show. Making sure all garments were coming back from the contractors on time as Anna would get angry if anything was running late!! I loved all the printed fabrics at Anna Sui, I was even allowed to take samples of a few; they were all so unique and just so Anna Sui she really does stand out from the crowd. All the models, famous people and all the Anna Sui team were all so nice to me. I learnt so much during the 6 weeks I worked at Anna Sui.
The show was absolutely INCREDIBLE, I went to a few shows at New York Fashion Week that week but by far Anna Sui's show was the BEST!! The atmosphere was outstanding, everyone was squished in the venue, working with the team for six weeks I felt a part of the team. All the Anna Sui team were sat together...I even got a seat!! :) The link to the show is below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA4aOH16_VA
I am planning to work at Anna Sui again in September 2012 to help out at her Spring/Summer 2013 New York Fashion Week show.
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| My experiences at Anna Sui, look books, logo's, fabric samples, tags, and sizes all in 1 picture!! |
