internships

Why do an internship?

A fashion design internship is a valuable step toward your career goals. It’s your chance to take the skills you’ve learned in class—pattern-making, draping, garment construction, and CAD—and apply them in a real-world setting. You’ll work alongside a variety of industry professionals, learning insider techniques, understanding production workflows, and seeing firsthand how collections and custom designs come to life from concept to consumer.

Internships help you understand production processes and troubleshoot design challenges. Plus, you’ll gain insight into how ateliers and manufacturers operate, giving you a competitive edge in a fast-paced industry. You’ll also create a network of designers, fabric suppliers, and production teams, opening doors for future career opportunities.

How an internship works with your SFD Certificate program

You will be able to gain professional experience while earning academic credits toward your SFD Certificate in Fashion Design. The Internship experience is treated just like a class at SFD. Regular course tuition for an Internship is $1,335, and you will participate in an orientation and have regular check-ins with SFD faculty and administrators along the way. Your internship role and responsibilities will be clearly articulated by the employer, and you will receive an evaluation at the end of your experience. You will also have an opportunity to provide us with feedback on your experience.  An internship may be paid, unpaid, or come with a small stipend – this is up to the discretion of the employer offering the internship.

SFD staff and faculty are available to assist you with obtaining a placement. You should also seek opportunities on your own that align with your interests. Our alumni network and Coassemble Career Resources are a great place to start.

Prerequisites

SFD students will need to have completed the following courses before enrolling in an Internship:

Pattern Making Levels 1, 2 and 3 or 4
Clothing Construction Levels 1, 2 and 3 or 4
Fashion Sketching 1 & 2
Fundamentals of Textiles
CAD Art 1
CAD Apparel Levels 1 & 2
French Draping 1

Requirements for fulfilling an SFD Internship

  • The internship opportunity must be approved by the SFD Executive Director.

  • Duration of 10-12 weeks.

  • Student must complete a minimum total of 90 hours of work over the course of the entire internship period.

  • Students must attend bi-weekly check-in meetings via Zoom with an SFD internship instructor / supervisor.

  • Students will submit a brief written reflection of their experience to review with their SFD internship instructor / supervisor.

  • Internship starts and ends within the given semester.

  • Students must enroll in the Internship course in the SFD class registration portal and complete orientation, check-ins, and final evaluations in Coassemble.

International Students

SFD International students may elect to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) Authorization through U.S. immigration, OR choose to take an Elective course in place of an Internship to complete your Certificate in Fashion Design.

Student Responsibilities

Students interested in doing an Internship must read and acknowledge our Internship Policies and Student Responsibilities.

  • Students wishing to do an internship must register and pay tuition for the Internship.

  • Students should take the time to discuss opportunities with the Executive Director to ensure they have the best experience possible. Internships may be initiated by the student or may be suggested by faculty or the Executive Director.

  • Internships must begin and end within the semester that the course is offered.

  • SFD student interns are expected to comply with any posted SFD policies while employed off site in an internship.

  • Students must meet the minimum required internship hours to receive credit for the Internship course.

  • Student interns understand and agree that SFD will be in communication with the internship supervisor in order to assess the student’s completion of the internship requirements.

  • Students may not intern at the School of Fashion Design.

  • Internships with SFD instructors must be approved by the Executive Director.

 
 

For Internship Employers

We are excited to collaborate with local fashion brands, designers, and industry professionals to offer our talented fashion design students internship opportunities. These hands-on experiences allow students to apply creative analysis, pattern drafting, garment construction and CAD skills they have learned here at SFD in real-world settings—while providing your company with highly skilled emerging talent.

We look forward to working with you to create a dynamic and inspiring internship experience that benefits both your company and our students. 

Learn more about what we ask of our Internship partners:

  • SFD faculty members may not serve as the SFD student internship employer for course credit for the Certificate program without advance approval from the Executive Director.

  • A student’s existing paid employment can not simultaneously serve to satisfy the student’s SFD internship course.

  • The internship employer agrees to follow Fair Labor Standards for Internships as outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor.

  • Unpaid internships create equity issues and put lower income students at a disadvantage. The U.S. Department of Labor requires for-profit companies to provide financial compensation to intern employees. Non-profit organizations are not required by law to pay interns. SFD encourages non-profit employers to consider monetary compensation or a stipend if possible.

  • The internship employers will give both SFD administrators and the student intern a job description, including a start and end date to the internship.

  • The internship employer agrees to provide a safe work environment in a professional setting and cannot be located in a private residence or non-commercial setting.

  • The internship employer must identify an internship supervisor to be the point of contact for the student intern and SFD administration.

  • The Internship employer agrees to acknowledge and comply with SFD Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policies in interactions with the student intern.

  • The internship supervisor ensures that the SFD student intern’s work responsibilities are appropriate for their learning and professional development, and duties may not include personal tasks or errands for company staff.

  • The internship employer provides necessary equipment for the student to be able to perform work involved in the internship responsibilities. The employer also ensures that the student intern is not asked to use their personal car other than their own commute.

  • The internship supervisor agrees to fill out a mid-semester and final student evaluation to SFD administrators.

Have questions or ready to connect with an SFD student intern?
Contact our Executive Director, Jennifer Leclerc, with questions or to post an internship opportunity: jleclerc@sfdboston.org