Student Internship Spotlight: Emma Shouse at Esteban Cortazar
Where is your internship? Who is it for? What is the company known for?
I am the press assistant at Esteban Cortazar here in Paris. Esteban Cortazar is a Colombian fashion designer, and he opened his own house after working as the creative director of Emanuel Ungaro. He was the youngest person to present a collection at NYFW, showing his first collection at the age of 17. Colombia and the Colombian community in Miami are some of his major influences, mixed with Parisian elements.
What are your roles within the position?
While a large part of my position is shipping samples to celebrity stylists and magazines, I also am in charge of shipping out online purchases. As it is a small team, I get to help out with wholesale and marketing when needed. I have also assisted private clients and will work in the showrooms during fashion week.
How long is your internship? What are you hoping to learn during this time?
My internship lasts for six months, and I am hoping that this will be a fantastic crash course into the business side of fashion, as my previous internships and research has been focused more towards fashion curating.
What is the coolest/ most intriguing part of your internship?
I haven’t been here for very long, but my favorite aspects so far have been communicating with stylists from all over the world and getting to work with private clients.
How did you find and secure the internship? What was the process? What was ideal within your resume for the position?
The internship was listed on FashionJobs, which is where I applied directly through the website. I submitted my resume in French and English (only English was necessary) along with a cover letter explaining my admiration for the brand and why I thought I would be a good fit for the position, which was especially important due to my lack of previous experience in communications. It was more about explaining how I could use my skills from working in museums in a creative way to bring something new to this position.
What advice would you give to others looking for an internship at this company or in this industry?
Do not be afraid to apply for a position that might not be an exact fit, as long as you are prepared to explain your qualifications (especially when few people know what a degree like Fashion Studies includes).