Getting Ahead in the Garment District Julia Kaczmar '19 spent a summer in New York City, learning the logistics of the latest fashions.
“Without internships, it’s hard to see what you like and don’t like. For me, an internship is like a trial run. If I like it, then I continue to look for things in that specific field…”
Julia Kaczmar ’19 spent a summer in New York City, learning the logistics of the latest fashions.Majors: Business Administration, German
Hometown: Wayne, PA
Q. What did you do this summer?
I was a Planning and Operations Intern at Rebecca Taylor. I worked at their corporate office in the Garment District in New York City.
Q. What is your favorite part of being in the Big Apple?
I loved how there was always so much going on and so many new restaurants to try out.
Q. What did an average day for you look like?
Every day was different. Some days, I was in the office working on spreadsheets and others I’m out taking care of things at the Rebecca Taylor retail locations in NYC. I worked on two large projects all summer: preparing for the annual Store Managers Conference and auditing all of the retail locations for the first and second quarters.
Q. What was the most rewarding and fulfilling part of your experience?
One of my favorite parts of my internship was taking care of the damages. I logged them in as they were mailed in from all the retail locations. The best part was I got to take home some of the clothes sent back. Another cool part of interning at Rebecca Taylor is that you get to see the designer herself around the office. She is a laid-back personality coupled with effortless style. She can be seen playing with dogs and walking barefoot around the office. It feels like working with a celebrity. She brought her dog Chewy to work…he is the absolute cutest!
Q. Who has served as a mentor to you this summer, and what have they taught you?
My boss, Liz Nash. She is the director of all Rebecca Taylor retail operations. I loved working with her and she taught me so much in terms of management and working with people. She also has taught me the usefulness of setting specific goals and reaching them. I’ve learned the back side of retail, how even the smallest things like ordering the correct packaging and talking weekly with store managers can contribute to the success of the store.
Q. What have you learned at W&L that helped you in this endeavor, and what will you bring back to your life on campus?
Practical skills learned in the Career Development Center, like how to boost your resume and network, helped me to land the internship
Q. Has this experience impacted your studies or future plans in any way?
I’ve absolutely loved my time at Rebecca Taylor. Looking forward, I would love to have a career in fashion and plan to apply for another fashion-focused internship next summer.
Q. Why is this kind of experience important to W&L students?
Without internships, it’s hard to see what you like and don’t like. For me, an internship is like a trial run. If I like it, then I continue to look for things in that specific field and if I don’t I know to avoid that type of career in the future.
Q. Describe your summer adventure in one word:
Spontaneous
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