MANILA, Philippines - For many of Manila’s youth, fashion is where it’s at. High school and college students are obsessed with careers in fashion, aspiring for jobs as photographers, stylists, makeup artists, designers, bloggers and editors. And pop culture has much to do with it, thanks toTV series Jane by Design and the just-debuted Fashion Star, a Project Runway-like reality contest that teams aspiring designers with retail outlets, helmed by Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson and John Varvatos.
But no, the fashion industry is not all glitz, glamour and show business. British stylist and designer Victoria Bartlett tells the New York Times, “People see fashion from the end result, which is kind of a false facade. They only see this beautiful, glamorous world, but I don’t think they realize it is one of the hardest careers out there.”
Fifteen young individuals of this year’s League of Fashion, the RSSI summer fashion experience workshop, learned just that. They get to work behind-the-scenes at Topshop, Topman, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins and Ben Sherman this summer — from fixing the mannequins to offering style advice to customers. They were given a quota of P10,000 a day, with three to four interns assigned to the different branches of the stores. Read about their experience and learn some tips of the trade: on becoming a good intern, dressing appropriately and most importantly, keeping your cool.
Chari Trinidad, 21
Ateneo de Manila University
Grand prize winner, The Next Global Style Icon
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
The best thing I learned this summer is that you can’t please everyone. Everybody just has different taste. An approach that worked for one customer might not work for another.
Intern horror stories?
There was one customer who was being very rude to me. I really felt looked down upon. She wouldn’t even look at me, and she would toss the clothes at me after she was done with them.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
I have an online store, so it helps that I learned so much about good customer service: how to attract clients and how to keep them happy. But it gets difficult to manage my time because I have summer class.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Just stay calm. Don’t stress. Be professional.
Janine Co, 16
Immaculate Conception Academy
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
I learned the importance of customer satisfaction and good customer service. Also, we have to respect the working society, especially sales representatives in stores. They work so hard and try their best.
Any intern horror stories?
One customer got so upset because the store couldn’t find her reserved item. She was raising her voice, but I just kept quiet and apologized profusely.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
It really teaches you to be business-minded. It preps you for work! But I get so sad when the store has zero sales at the end of the day.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Keep smiling!
Louie Gabaldon, 18
Ateneo de Manila University
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
I learned how to stand up for hours! (laughs). I also learned how to be versatile with people.
Any intern horror stories?
There was one customer who bought shoes and already exchanged it twice, which is the maximum according to our return policy. He got so upset and started to swear at our supervisor in a loud voice. He was so rude to her. I felt so bad for her!
Pros and cons of being an intern?
The exposure and knowledge you get here can’t be found online or in books. And you get to update yourself with the trends and apply them. But it’s hard to manage my time because I have summer class. It’s tiring.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Enjoy what you’re doing, and don’t be afraid to pursue your passion. I’m a very shy person, and this whole thing is uncharacteristic of me, but I got to do it and so can you!
Diego Alvarez, 21
San Beda College-Alabang
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
Here, you get to put yourself in other people’s shoes. It’s very humbling and it’s eye-opening, especially for someone like me who’s looking into starting his own business in the future.
Intern horror stories?
Nothing major. Just rude customers.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
You really get to see how everything works. Sales reps, for example, might seem insignificant because they’re just sales reps, but they’re so important to the business! It’s exhausting, though. You’re not allowed to sit down during your work shift!
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Learn to block out your emotions. If you’re annoyed or tired, don’t let the customers see. It affects the image of the store.
Marianne Matic, 20
UE Ramon Magsaysay
Memorial Medical Center
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
Know what you’re selling. It’s important to know your product because customers will trust you more and you can offer them credible advice.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
You learn a lot more about retailing, and you learn to deal with different kinds of people. But it’s a time-consuming job. Like me, I studied the products, the collections and what visual merchandising was about.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Have passion for fashion! It’s so important to love what you do in this business, because it’s so hard. Always be yourself.
Remar Gutierrez. 19
De La Salle University
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
How to deal with different kinds of people: from the staff to your boss to your customers. And how to be convincing! I think that’s the most important thing in sales.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
You’re more immersed in the field you’re working in; in this case, the fashion retail industry. And since you deal with different kinds of people, you get to hone your social skills. It’s just so tiring to stand for hours!
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Enjoy the job! If you love what you’re doing and you’re having fun, it will reflect on your work.
Adrian Guadalupe, 19
San Beda College-Alabang
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
The importance of customer satisfaction and that there’s a lot more to fashion than putting on nice clothes. I realized that it really does help if you’re having fun on the job. When you’re enjoying yourself, it won’t feel like work.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
You get to meet a lot of people, but it’s tiring. I’m more tired than most of them, because I volunteer to work overtime. (laughs) I enjoyed working!
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Be yourself. Learn from your mistakes, and always ask questions so you make fewer of them.
Fay Pua, 18
Ateneo de Manila
University
Best thing you’ve learned in this experience?
Aside from the whole ‘seeing retail from behind-the-scenes,‘ it’s important to study other people’s styles, so you can give them advice. I observe them when they come into the store and bring them items that match. They loved it!
Pros and cons of being an intern?
I really enjoyed giving the customers style tips. But the thing with customers, they don’t fix clothes after shopping! Now when I shop, I make sure to fix clothes after trying them on, because the sales reps work so hard.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Don’t be a diva. In fashion, you really start at the bottom. Do the work!
Chynna Lim, 15
Immaculate Conception Academy
Intern at 15? Why so early?
I wanted to make my summer productive, and I really love fashion. It really doesn’t matter what age you are, as long as you love what you’re doing.
Best thing you’ve learned from this experience?
I learned the behind-the-scenes in retail. They put so much effort into it; like how the mannequins need to tell a story and at the same time keep with the trend. It requires so much inspiration.
Pros and cons of being an intern?
It has so many opportunities! I got to meet one of my favorite bloggers Patricia Prieto. I also get to be around clothes all day! Waking up early in the summer sucks though.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Dress appropriately. Even though this is a fashion competition, I make sure the clothes I wear to work are comfortable because I’d be standing all day, reaching up the shelves for clothes and assisting customers.
Sam Policios and Sarah Policios, 19
De La Salle University
Best thing you’ve learned in this experience?
Sam: You learn to appreciate the hard work of sales reps.
Sarah: And to respect them. Now when we enter clothing stores, we greet back when they say, “Good afternoon ma’am.”
Any intern horror stories?
Sam: Standing for five hours without sitting down.
Sarah: We think that’s the scariest part here. (laughs)
Pros and cons of being an intern?
Sam: Even though we’re familiar with the fashion industry already, the experience of the actual internship is still different. It really makes you aware of the nitty gritty of the retail business.
Sarah: You get to meet new people. We got to know everyone else in the League of Fashion and grew to become friends with them. But it’s an exhausting job.
Tips on becoming a good intern?
Sam: Work hard, and know your limitations.
Sarah: I agree. Know when to be fun and silly and when to be serious and professional.