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[ahrawithptb]

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[ahrawithptb]

REFLECTIVE SUMMARY

Film Unit

The Film Unit has been the most creative journey for me this year. Going into a new direction was challenging for me and I knew I had to learn much more after constantly working on editorial shoots.

My initial idea was to tell a story in relation to my culture - it’s always been a priority to bring my traditions into my work. Rather than choosing prominent Indian designers, I picked a smaller brand which was working more with patterns and bright colours than embellishments and bridal wear. House of Masaba was a great fusion between traditions and modern garments. It brought me out of my comfort zone to work and create ideas for a brand that wasn’t established like big brands.

In general, I was struggling to find the perfect outfit and even models. My idea was to have two women, supporting each other and fight against socially constructed standards of the Indian society. After contacting multiple Indian dancing school in and around London, one girl was ready to dance for my fashion film.

The dance was filmed in the studio, which was the easiest part. Everything was set from the equipment’s to the lighting, though when I shoot the rest outside, I struggled to organise myself. I had to calculate the weather, time schedule because we shot during winter when it would be dark really quick, and the coldness. Choosing models I had no relation with, is something I’ve been doing from the first year. Personally, I feel it’s important to always work with strangers because I want to extend my network but also experience how it would really be after graduating.

In the end, I need to highlight why it’s crucial to work as a team and equally split the task to fulfill all the ideas for your work. Without my study buddies and additional help of my sister, her friends, and models this film wouldn’t become this successful as I thought it would be. Through this unit I’ve learned to become a team player, never lose the big picture, and even extend my network.

PR & Social Media

Despite the fact, I’ve learned to be more creative with the Film Unit, I’ve evolved in the PR site of this course as well. To be honest, I haven’t been keen to start and research about the brand, but after finishing this unit I came to the conclusion how important the PR and Social Media unit was in relation to providing a successful fashion film.

In order to create a product for a brand, you need to study it inside out – meaning the brand’s identity, audience, and goals. I’ve analyzed their social media platforms, strengths, weaknesses and their brand’s expression. By choosing a small brand, that wasn’t really developed into the full extent, I’ve struggled in the beginning but took a positive turn after realizing how much freedom I’ve gained throughout the unit.

In the end, I’ve seen how serious research needs to be done in order to understand and create a vision not only from your own ideas but from another perspective.

Industry Awareness

When it came to the Industry Placement, I was confident to find a place on time. After applying to over twenty placements before and after the Christmas break, I slowly gave up finding an internship, I actually was interested in. After many already started working, some placements contacted me for an interview. While failing some, I finally had an offer as a Sales Intern at Preen by Thornton and Bregazzi.

First, I thought it would be easy, but looking back at my internship and how much I have struggled in the beginning to find one and settle in – I have to admit, that failure doesn’t always mean you wasted your time. I haven’t been in the best working environment and I knew how I was handled, nonetheless, I had to handle myself in a professional way and even though I’ve sought help from my surroundings and tutors, I didn’t quit – I wanted to experience it all and take my own conclusions out of it.

I have discovered a lot: How showrooms work, the task you need to do in a Sales Team, how a brand works from inside, how much preparation and time you have to put into an event in order to successfully satisfy and reach new clients. After working for eight weeks, I have been able to understand the brand's identity and fulfill the amendments from the team and my supervisor without further help.

I had the opportunity to help out for personal evening events, their showrooms in London and even went to Paris for a week for their Paris showroom. It’s not only the work experience I have gained that helped me get through this internship! While working there, I have met many other interns and extend my network with new friends and connections. They’re quick to help and constant support played a huge part in my dedication and motivation for this placement.

In the end, I can proudly say that I did it! Although it’s not always been fun and good work and I had sat most of the time in the office to create Product Books, organize Sell-Throughs and create contacts clients for their Target Lists – I had the full experience with many up and downs, but at least I’ve gained enough experience to know what I want to achieve in my future and where that I am definitely not made to be in Sales after I finish graduating.

Research Proposal

The research proposal has been the hardest part for me, although I like to invest my skills in writing, whether academic or creative – I always tend to struggle the most.

My initial idea was to go with sustainable fashion but thinking about all my essays before I’ve always been keen to invest my research into feminism and fuse it into fashion. That’s why I choose to write about media and how it influences the self-image of women – how can we fight back against body-shaming.

While it’s been talked more and more on social media, I started to research on books, to get an idea how the body-image changed throughout history, when media started to influence women and why we’ve been giving into socially constructed beauty standards to impress society. It was important for me to include modern media and research what has already been done to fight against body-shaming on media and what we still have to do in order to extend more body-positivity.

For next year, I’ve been considering to write a dissertation in relation to women, culture and the fashion industry. It’s such a broad subject and I want to invest all my research in order to understand and even bring it into my creative work. Over the summer, I’ve been planning to start my research on South-Asian culture and the fashion industry, how evolved they are and how I can include a women’s perspective into the dissertation. By using books, journals and invest my time into academic research, I am confident I will bring out my best writing skills I can offer and learn throughout the past years.  

Portfolio

My portfolio from this year was a chance to evolve my style and rebrand myself into the direction I want to go. Through this internship, I have an experienced that I want to be more creative and bring my own ideas into work.

I strive to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone by sharing my ideas with other creatives and extend my network. Especially, the enhancement projects helped me to think more about my future goals and what I may want to achieve in the future. Throughout this year, I’ve been more open to work inside London, work under pressure and any location I was given – which I proudly included in my portfolio to represent my work in the best way I could.

The year, overall

To come to an end, this year has been a self-sufficient journey outside of the university. Although we had the first unit and always been supported by our tutors whenever we needed feedback, most of the work had to be done independently.

It’s been good, every year I grow and learn something new not only about the industry but about myself. My never-ending curiosity and excitement to learn more have helped me many times to just go out of my comfort zone and test my own boundaries. This university has taught me to be more open and takes all those opportunities otherwise I wouldn’t be here and can proudly say, how much I’ve learned, memories I have created and all these people I met throughout this journey.

The support I’ve been given by family, friends, and tutors was the most vital part which helped me to solve academical and personal problems, to push me further and not give up under pressure. Even my own well-being has been my priority for this year, which I honestly been putting back in order to achieve my goals, but I’ve experienced and come to the conclusion that I cannot please everything that I set my mind to. To accept and prioritize what’s really important at the moment.

To come to an end, the skills I have gained and can use with confidence, share with others and learn from them has been a blessing. I know in which direction I want to go and will do my best to extend my interest and skills over the summer. Next year I need to work more creatively by focusing on art direction, photography, styling but most importantly fully invest in research in order to master my own creative ideas.

[ahrawithptb]

TUESDAY - 30/04/2019

Last week I told them, I would only come on Monday to finish my last day. I had to be back in uni because I need today and tomorrow to end my essay on time and hand-in for the deadline. With that, I was finally done with my internship struggles. 

[ahrawithptb]

MONDAY - 29/04/2019

MY LAST DAY AT PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI

Today was my last day at Preen. Throughout the whole day I redid the Preen World Collage all over again, the new Sales Executive told me that the designer didn’t like some aspects, so I had to change some sections - but I couldn’t find the raw file anymore, so I had to re-do everything and that took the whole day.

In the end, she still wanted to change some things, but I organised everything in files and send them to my study buddy. It will be her task to finish, but I made it as easy as I could for her.

This was my final outcome after the Sales Executive’s amendments. 

In the end, they gifted me a Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Book about their history and journey from the last ten years, they also gave me a Preen phone case (which is like £80 worth, but it’s just a basic phone case with their SS19 Print and brand logo) - I didn’t expect anything from them but it was a nice gesture.

I’m just happy that I am finally done. While having my up and downs I have gained enough experience to know about the Sales part in the Fashion industry. When I didn’t know before what the purpose of showrooms are or how an office runs for a fashion brand - after almost two and a half months, the only part I will miss are all the other interns. Without them, I would have probably quit, I have not only extended my network base but found friends and a great support system during this internship.

[ahrawithptb]

TUESDAY - 23/04/2019

Instagram Stories I have created for the next day for my intern buddy.

Today my morning task consisted of organising my supervisors Sell-Through sheets, again into Main Collection and Preen Line.

Afterward, I asked my intern buddy if there is any task I can take over for her. So I had to basically research boxes for a collaboration they will do with Matches-fashion in the future. The box had to be big so they can fit a tea set, card set, napkins - basically a gift set. My supervisor gave me similar inspiration images to look for.

At the same time, I was creating Instagram Stories for today and even did the ones for tomorrow (because I knew my supervisor was planning Wednesday as if I would come in tomorrow as well). I created the ones the next day, so my intern buddy doesn’t have to add any more tasks to her already long list.

At the end of the day, I had to bring one of the collection pieces to the dry cleaner because whenever the Sales Team goes for store visits or meetings they have to wear Preen clothes and they have to be dry cleaned afterward. After coming back from the cleaners, my supervisor talked about a lot of task for tomorrow, but I had enough.

Throughout the whole internship I have done my best, when I asked the Sales Manager when it would be the best days to come in so I can help them out part-time, she said herself Monday and Tuesday - It’s not my fault we had Easter Monday, it doesn’t mean I will come Wednesday then to add it up. At this point, I was done running behind their rules - and my supervisor understood.

[ahrawithptb]

MONDAY - 22/04/2019

This week I only have to come in on Tuesday, because it’s Easter Monday - so I took the time to catch up on my uni assignments. The whole day I took the opportunity to finish my essay on time for next weeks deadline.

[ahrawithptb]

TUESDAY - 16/04/2019

Today started the same as yesterday because I’m only doing part-time from now, I get to do a small task that can be finished by the end of the day.

First I did some Instagram Stories, then I had to research some venues for the London Showroom in June. I had to find a suitable location with three rooms: Two rooms for the collection, the appointments with the clients and installation and one room for the backstage materials plus model changing room. After finding some, I’ve sent some requests and put all links in one email for my intern buddy, because she would be looking further into it for this week.

In the afternoon I was looking for Airbnb in Paris close to the Paris Showroom. This place was for the next interns who will have the opportunity to go to Paris and help out for the Showroom in June. I had to find a good place and something that would be close to the Showroom as well. After finding some places - I put them (again) in one email for my supervisor and intern buddy.

In the last half an hour, my supervisor gave me the task to create Place Cards. To be honest, I didn’t really understand why she gave me this task at the end of the day when she knew I would only be back next Tuesday, but to make her happy, I tried to do as much research as I could. So I had to find inspirations and send some mood boards to her. After I did that, she basically told me it’s for an event as well, and the cards are similar to playing cards/tarot cards - the back would have one blank space for the name, the background is one of Preens signature collection prints and the card has to have the dimension of an actual playing card plus laminated. I had to find a printing company, that would print them either front and back separated, or if possible together and then laminated.

So, the last part was too complex to complete it in half an hour. I did my best and (again) put all my research in one email for my supervisor and intern buddy - I feel like today was the most productive day at the office… although they knew I was only part-time, they give me so many tasks to do, though they knew my intern buddy has to complete them in the end, because most of them were too complex.

[ahrawithptb]

MONDAY - 15/04/2019

Today I have been doing the Instagram Stories of the Mainline. It took me the whole day because I had to do several posts and before posting every single one, it had to be approved from my supervisor and the Sales Manager first before it can be posted. 

In the end, when we almost finished for the day, I also had to organise my supervisors Sell-Through Order into the Mainline and Preen Line Files. 

[ahrawithptb]

FRIDAY - 12/04/2019

This was my final outcome fo the Preen World Collage 2019

Today’s been about finishing the Preen World Collage with the last amendments of my supervisors, I had to change some of the placements of the magazine and celebrity sections, but overall they liked and I did a good job.

Although it was only small amendments, it still took me half of the day and after lunch, I was back on doing Product Books. This time I was far quicker than usual because when you’ve been doing over six product books you already have some of the layouts, images and texts finished - some stores order similar items or even the same ones, so it’s basically a copy and paste task.

After finishing the day with the Preen World Collage and Product Books, I had an hour left and instead of asking any new tasks, I wanted to organise their USB Sticks. They had three unorganised USB’s and it would always drive everyone insane when we couldn’t find something because that means we had to go upstairs to the graphic design or media team to ask for new images, which would’ve probably been in one of the USBs. So for the rest of the day, I took all the files and organised them by season and in the correct order. Whenever I would find a video I would put them in one file and as soon as I found content I didn’t understand the meaning of… I would put in “others” - I wouldn’t dare to delete anything, it may be something important for the brand.

[ahrawithptb]

THURSDAY - 11/04/2019

While continuing the product books for the first hour of today, the Sales Manager gave me the task to do their Preen World Collage. First, I was a bit confused about it, but after she sent me several Collages from the past few years, it got clearer.

A Preen World Collage basically consists of the Main Collection Sections, Magazine Section, Celebrity Section and a whole section about the History of the brand and what they stand for. 

[ahrawithptb]

WEDNESDAY - 10/04/2019

The whole day was a repetition of the yesterday - I had to continue the Home Target List and as soon as I was done, I had to finish some Product Books for the whole day.

I know it’s now always going to fun in an internship, but the only interesting times were during personal events and the showrooms - everything else happened at the office at the table from 10AM to 6PM - one of the most boring days.

[ahrawithptb]

TUESDAY - 09/04/2019

Same tasks as yesterday, continue with the Home Buyer Lists. While I was researching yesterday, I wrote all numbers down from the UK buyers - so I could call them today and even got some contact details. Most of them would say, that they are not looking to extend more brands in their stores - that’s where I never knew how to respond.

My supervisor would tell us to just communicate further until they are “impressed” to have us as a brand, but I guess being a recruiter for their brand is one of my weaknesses… Often, I would think it’s the way I approach them or talk in general and I would put so much effort to fulfill my task in a successful and professional way - only to find out that the Sales Manager would brush this task off after I told her I couldn’t find any more Buyers.

[ahrawithptb]

MONDAY - 08/04/2019

Today they gave me a new task, create and fill the Home Buyer List, but to be honest I’d rather do the Product Books. one thing, I will definitely not miss are these Target Lists, I just don’t like to research potential stores and the worst part is to find the buyer's contact information! Every time I don’t find one or they wouldn’t reply to our emails, I have to call them… and that’s something I’m really uncomfortable with.

Even after all these weeks, talking to several strangers in person and on the phone, I thought I would get used to it, but it’s just this moment when I don’t know how to answer or be professional in a certain way. Especially, if it’s a brand from abroad.

After failing to find more contact details, I helped my intern buddy out. She had to find stores that are selling similar brands to Preen, unknown brands which are not in our Store Target Lists yet. That task was easy and I was more keen to finish it for her than my actual task.

[ahrawithptb]

FRIDAY - 05/04/2019

Finally Friday! Today’s been way too boring, I guess that’s always part of work, right? The whole day I was creating Product Books again while reducing the store's priority lists, I had to keep awake for the whole time. I would lie, if I would stay I did this whole task with enthusiasm… I feel asleep several times, the good part is, that no one was sitting in front of me. I’m 100% sure, they would have told me off…

At the end of the day, we had to clean the kitchen up, again but this time I stayed a bit longer for my intern buddy - she would usually sit on the desk in front of me because they didn’t have a Sales Executive yet. From next week Monday on, there will be a new Sales Executive, so I helped my friend to clean up the whole desk and even get all the important information from the computer and restart it for the next Sales member.

[ahrawithptb]

THURSDAY - 04/04/2019

One of the stories I created. 

Today I’ve been mostly busy creating Instagram Stories for Bloomingdales and Stephanie’s, while my supervisor gave me magazine references where the models work the Preen collection, I had to connect them to the stores and present a story that makes potential customer but the item (which is sometimes not sold very well at stores, so we kind of promote it through social media.

Rest of the day: Product Books, of course.

[ahrawithptb]

WEDNESDAY - 03/04/2019

The day started with me asking the Sales Manager for a private talk because my supervisor wasn’t in that morning.

I’ve told them that this week will be my last complete week with them, my initial idea was to leave them after this week. I’ve learned as much as I can and don’t feel like I can extend my knowledge any more than that. Moreover, I’ve been saving my money to afford an internship this year, but it just adds up and I can’t afford it anymore to come every day.

Luckily, the Sales Manager understood where I come from - and that we are all unpaid interns, which she totally understood than everything else. So, of course, being professional about it, I wanted to compromise with them. I offered to come twice a week (part-time) to help them out and leave in good terms. She agreed and offered to come on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For the rest of the day, I created Instagram Stories for their Mainline account and after my supervisor came in, I told her about my decisions as well, to let her know. She, on the other hand, didn’t have an understanding look when I told her about it but in the end told me that it’s fine, because I’ve been talking to the Sales Manager before, luckily.

[ahrawithptb]

TUESDAY - 02/04/2019

Some Invitations I did, but the Sales Team wasn’t satisfied with my outcomes. 

Today was the same as yesterday, I had to create some more stories for the Main Line account while linking them to the websites that selling the items like Net-A-Porter or Matches Fashion.

Throughout the day I also managed to finish two Product Books, every time we finish the texts we have to print them in black and white plus double-side and give them our Sales Manager to proof-read.

I also had the opportunity to do another Invitation for all their London, Paris and New York Showrooms in June. Unfortunately, they didn’t like the layout.