Behind the scenes

Q: So where were you working this summer?

A: I was working at a fashion company called Devi Kroell. The company started about six years ago, so the designer is still relatively new and up-and-coming. She’s won a Council of Fashion Designers of America award — a design award equivalent to an Oscars — for accessories, and for the past two years, she’s been doing ready-to-wear.

Q: What was your job like on a day-to-day basis?

A: I was involved with a lot of administrative work. I worked for about three months, and I started to work my way up … It was a very small company with only, like, 20 people, so I was able to help out a lot and prove myself. Eventually, I became the designer’s personal assistant. On a day-to-day basis, I would order her lunch; I had to pre-empt what she wanted, and it was a challenge to find all these menus from around Union Square. Also, I found that a lot of the employees came to me to find things around the office, so I became the go-to person for that.

Q: Why did you choose to work in fashion?

A: I’ve always been interested in fashion. I’m interested in fashion photography, so this was a way in. I didn’t realize that there was so much more behind the scenes at the shows.

Q: So did you get to see many shows?

A: I only got to see her show, and it turned out really well. I got to take a lot of backstage photos, and it was cool to see the mayhem coming together on stage like a jigsaw puzzle.

Q: And you were living in New York?

A: I was living in the East Village. It was good because it was a very short commute to Union Square, and I was staying with a family friend. We actually shared a bed because the rent was so expensive.

Q: How did this summer compare to your previous summer experiences?

A: It was definitely very rewarding. I’ve worked at a graphic design company in Hong Kong, and that was difficult because of the language barrier, and they’d never had an intern before. So I basically watched “Gossip Girl” the whole day because there was nothing else to do.

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Q: And what are you thinking for future summers? Will you continue with fashion?

A: Well, I don’t know how true this will end up being, but I was actually offered a job after I graduate at Devi Kroell. I’m also thinking about going to London and maybe applying to a magazine or going to fashion school.

Q: What do you think was the most rewarding part of the job?

A: Maybe the experience. And a free handbag. The job was unpaid so it was good to get something for all my work. I appreciated that they appreciated me.