For LCCA Fashion student Jamey Charles-Coventry, an internship at Juicy Couture was an opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience with a brand they’ve loved since childhood.
We caught up with Jamey to hear about their experience behind the scenes at Juicy Couture, what they learned and how the opportunity has shaped their ambitions as a fashion designer.
What was it like getting the opportunity to intern at Juicy Couture?
I honestly couldn’t have wished for a better opportunity. I’ve always loved Juicy Couture growing up, so being able to actually step inside the company and experience what it’s like to work there was something I was extremely grateful and excited for.
The Juicy Couture team was so welcoming and willing to explain things to me, which really made the experience so valuable. I never felt like I was just there watching. I was encouraged to get involved, ask questions and understand why things were done in a particular way.
There was also a really funny personal moment during my time there. My name is Jamey Charles-Coventry, so my initials are JC, just like Juicy Couture. Someone on the team noticed the connection and said, “Well, it’s meant to be then, isn’t it?” That honestly made me laugh because I’ve loved the brand for basically my whole life – it’s something I’ll remember for a long time to come.
What did you get to work on during your internship?
Every day was different, which I really enjoyed. On my first day, I was given the opportunity to get involved with design development. I created a mood board based around lounge, swimwear and nightwear for a Spring/Summer 2028 collection, focusing on trend prediction. To do this I was able to look through mood boards and reference material that the team had already used and take inspiration from them to create my own direction. The team absolutely loved the mood board I created, which was such a good feeling because it made me feel like my creative ideas and everything I’ve learned so far in my studies has really paid off.
Another big part of my internship was product development. I worked on a large order for a retailer and was able to sit in on a fitting where a model tried on different pieces. We checked everything from garment lengths and pocket positions to diamantes and the positioning of the logo.
What was your favourite part of the internship?
One of my favourite parts was having the opportunity to go to a photography studio for a shoot of the latest collection where I helped with the video content while the photographer worked on the still images. I really enjoyed being involved in that environment because I like being very hands-on and involved in the digital areas of fashion.
I was also taken around the Juicy Couture studio, where the main collections are kept. Seeing the space and all the pieces together was an amazing experience. I also got to see different collaborations and understand more about the processes behind the finished garments.
Another really special part of the experience was when the team surprised me with some beautiful Juicy Couture pieces to take home. They even gave me a little Juicy Couture jacket with tiny bows for my cat, which I thought was such a lovely and funny personal touch! It made the experience feel even more special because it wasn’t just about the work I had done. It felt like the team had really welcomed me and wanted me to have something memorable from my time with them.
What did you learn from working across different teams at Juicy Couture?
I was lucky enough to experience many different sides of the business rather than staying within just one department. I interacted with design, product development, garment technology, marketing and photography/content creation. Seeing all these areas working together really helped me understand how many different people contribute to getting a collection from an idea to an actual product.
It also showed me that fashion design doesn’t just stop once you’ve designed a garment. There is so much checking, developing, correcting and refining that goes into making sure the final product is right for customers.
The overall experience gave me a much bigger understanding of what happens behind the scenes of a fashion brand. It wasn’t just about sitting down and designing clothes, I was really able to see how ideas are developed all the way through to the finished product and presentation.
How did LCCA support you in securing the internship?
I found the opportunity through LCCA, and the Careers Team supported me throughout the process.
I really appreciated having that support because getting an internship can feel quite overwhelming as a student, especially when you’re trying to find an opportunity that actually connects with the type of career you want to go into.
The support from LCCA helped me experience something that was so relevant to my ambitions. Being able to do this as a student made it even more valuable because I could take everything I learned back into my studies and my own development as a designer.
How has the internship influenced your future ambitions?
I learned so much, but more importantly, I learned about the kind of designer I want to become. I want to be a multifaceted fashion designer who understands every part of the process, from the initial creative idea and research through to product development, technical details, photography and the final product.
This experience has really shown me that there’s far more to design than just the creative side. Now, I’ve got real insight on the technical, commercial and visual sides of fashion as well. I enjoy being hands-on, asking questions and understanding how everything connects.
It really was a dream opportunity, and it has definitely made me even more determined to continue developing my skills and hopefully work towards becoming part of a team like Juicy Couture in my future career after LCCA.
Thanks so much for sharing your internship experience with us Jamey, and good luck with the rest of your studies!
At LCCA we work with leading brands to connect our students with real industry opportunities just like Jamey’s. Find out more about studying Fashion at LCCA and book your place on our next Open Day.