It can be challenging and somewhat overwhelming to know where to start when looking for a fashion design internship abroad. The best time to intern abroad in the fashion industry is at the beginning of every semester. Although, the fashion industry is always looking for interns, since there are fashion weeks year round all over the world. The fashion world never sleeps, and neither should you when it comes to finding the perfect fashion internship abroad.

Fashion design internships abroad will educate interns on business transactions between suppliers and distributors, design processes, production, marketing, merchandising, and public relations. All the necessary components needed to have a successful career in fashion design.

Designers. Those interested in working with a designer will find that internship placements focus on marketing, sales, and of course, clothing design. Some fashion designers may have a need to expand their designs into department stores, which would require interns to also assist with retail management, stocking, and shipping. Fashion designers look for interns who have an intermediate understanding of their native language and a background in fashion. Although a lot of these responsibilities and tasks will be hands on, don’t be surprised if you are asked to grab coffee for your boss at least once a week.

Marketing & Sales. Once the clothes have been designed, they will need to be sold. Interns hoping to learn more about how clothes get from the manufacturer to the customer should focus on marketing and sales focused fashion internships abroad. It will be imperative for interns in this type of fashion internship to have some sort of marketing background. Interns may need to use sales tracking data, focus groups, and other consumer preferences to provide feedback to designers and manufacturers. Most importantly, interns will need to figure out what the consumer wants, as this is an essential part of success in the field of fashion design.

Fashion Shows & Special Events. The fashion industry has many special events, including fashion shows, PR parties, and product launches for new products and designs. Fashion design internships in this area of the industry may mean interns will be preparing and distributing invitations, informing media outlets about event details, and helping with various organizational tasks related to event planning and management. Some interns may also be tasked with handling models during runway shows and assisting with all parts of the show.

The more widespread and high-end a fashion company is, the more competitive internship placements will be. Aspiring fashion interns may therefore need some expert knowledge or experience in the field to help them stick out from the crowd. However, many fashion design internships abroad will only require that you are a current fashion design student with an interest in the field. Whatever fashion internship abroad you decide to apply for, just keep in mind that there is always a possibility that it will turn into a full-time paid job after you graduate.