TMD Internships
Internships are periods of practical experience in a textile or textile-related field. This experience supplements the coursework and gives you valuable experience in a career. It might also be useful to let you understand what you don't want to do when you graduate. It is unrealistic to do an internship without some background knowledge gained from coursework, so internships are carried out in the junior or senior year. For some areas of internship there are preferred course prerequisites.
If you are interested in an internship, first, determine what kind of an
internship you want. Then approach the appropriate faculty member to arrange the
details (i.e., requirements, placement, application procedure, and
registration). You will need an override form signed by the instructor to
register for TMD 461 and/or TMD 462, the course codes for internships. Consult
the faculty areas of specialization below in making your choice.
Students have interned at sites that include Ford Modeling agency, Echo Design Group, Anthropologie, IMG modeling, Mia Bambini, Interview Magazine, U.S. Navy Textiles and Clothing Research Center, Vera Wang, Joseph Abboud, Union Bay, "Saturday Night Live" Costume Shop, Microfibres, Color Association of the U.S., DiLionardo International , The Gap, Structure, Casual Corner, Macy's, T.J. Maxx, Filene's, J.C. Penney, Kasper, Kenyon Consumer Products,
Summer 2009 internships:
| Jenna Dickerman: Green Envy, Newport RI | Samantha Karmel: Hue, NYC | Amy Loflin: Gossip, Newport, RI |
| Rachel Oxman: Sugar, Newport, RI | Raquel Paulo: Ilene Oren, NYC | Ashley Sayers: Gucci, NYC |
| Laura Weller: Gossip, Newport, RI | Sarah English: Pacific Worldwide, NYC | Elizabeth Weaver: Accessories Magazine, NYC |
| Carly Benedetto: Botega Giuliana, New Haven CT | Alexa Knox: Liz Claiborne, NYC | Joanna Ricciardi: Williams Sonoma, Montclair, NJ |
| Marla Horenbeim: Fitness Magazine, NYC | Meghan Pacheco: Brioni, NYC | Rachel Friedman: John Loecke Inc. Brooklyn, NY |
| Brittney Hogan: David Yurman, NYC | Makara Chan: Banana Republic, Providence | Cheryl McIntyre: Island Issue Inc., Wellesley, MA |
| Ariel Patinkin: Giovanni Calise, West Warwick, RI | Jenna Rae Bohacik: Did You Know? Wakefield, RI | Maureen Murphy: Saks Fifth Ave, NYC |
| Marissa Fisher: Ross Stores, NYC | Kerry Tanner: Melissa Ashley Brides Limited, Westerly RI | Kelsey Duffy: L'Interieur, Westerly, RI |
| Brittany Tepper: Just a Little Something, Foxboro, MA | Allison Togliatti: MK Sportswear, Los Angeles, CA | Alison Agel: Glen Art, NYC |
| Kyley Smithers: Giovanni Calise, West Warwick, RI | Katheryn Whitehouse: Anthrapologie, S. Windsor, CT | Allyson Caiola: Katy Robbins Stylist, NYC |
Summer 2008 Internships:
| Bailey Grossman: Ralph Lauren, NY | Ariel Weinstein: First Magazine, Englewood Cliffs, NJ | Jillian Larson: Paris 68, NY |
| Adrienne Sanford: L'interieur, Westerly, RI | Melissa Scala: Brioni, NY | Kelly Sullivan, The Limited, Marlboro, MA |
| Laura Briggs: Spangles, Narragansett, RI | Nicole Mariconda, Brioni, NY | Samantha Tanzer: Reebok Internaional, Canton, MA |
| Alison Drinkwater: Simplicity Pattern Co., NY | Shannon Fresca: Lanier Clothing, NY | Carly Oppito, Raina Trump Events, NY |
| Nicole Santos: Tommy Hilfiger, NY | Julie Sadick: Chelsea Textiles, London UK | Eileen Llaverias, Oscar de la Renta, NY |
| Stephanie Romano: Agnona, NY | Rachael Rossi: Window Box Interiors, East Greenwich, RI | Nancy Tong: Anthropologie, S. Windsor, CT |
| Despina Tsatsaronis: Karen Denan Interior Design, NJ | Marla Horenbein: McEntire PR, NY | Rachel Lerman: Mark Epstein, NY |
| Amanda Osepowicz: Ralph Lauren, Newbury St. Boston | Brittney Hogan: Yvonne Guest, NY | Janna D'Ambra: Nordstrom's Providence |
| Allison Wortman: Nutty Rice Showroom, NY | Ashley Sayers: Gucci Fine Jewelry, NY | Catherine Conklin: Tommy Hilfiger, NY |
| Sarah Sczepanski: Coach, NY | Dara Felker: Betsey Johnson, LA |
Summer 2007 Internships:
| Allison Senzer: Earnest Sewn Jeans | Dana Czapla: Hearst Brand Management | Alex Healey: Michael Hayes, Newport |
| Elizabeth Tantillo: Lulu Guinness, Ltd., NY showroom | Kristin Orcutt: Patricia Bidwell, Danbury CT | Megan Scherer: Genevieve Biswas, Newport |
| Shayne Dippo, Adrea Lieberman Showroom | Chelsea Carson: Two Cousins, NY | Lindsay Vrabely: Calvin Klein Jeans, NY |
| Samantha Paterno: Reebok, Canton, MA | Shelly Lewis: Nordstrom's, Providence RI | Kate Miller: Donna Karan |
| Meghan Ferris: Lauren Hansen, NY | Michaela Smith: Two Cousins, NY | Emmy Sau: To DYE For, Bradford, RI |
| Christine Puleo: Takeout sweaters, NY | Rachel Lerman: Viewmark, NY | Allison Dobish: Planet Gold, NY |
| Laura Graham: Debenhams, London | Hannah Kester: Express, Providence | Allison Fiore: Mara Hoffman, Inc., NYC |
| Christine Gayant: Chanel, NY | Lauren Calestino: Pet Fashion Show, NY |
Merrilees Leighton: Nordstrom's, Providence RI |
Areas of Specialization and TMD Faculty
Fashion Merchandising/Marketing: retailing, wholesaling, manufacturing, forecasting or product development. Prerequisites may apply.
- Dr. Yvette Harps-Logan, Quinn 309A
- Dr. Sookhyun Kim, Quinn 309B
- Dr Claire Kapstein Quinn 10
Interior Design: interior space planning, furniture, furnishings, or research. TMD 226 and 326 are suggested as prerequisites.
- Gideon Loewenstein, Quinn 302
Textile Science: textile production or laboratory, working in areas such as dyeing and finishing, quality assurance testing. TMD 303 and 313 should be taken prior to an internship.
- Dr. Martin Bide, Quinn 311
Apparel Design/Development: textile and apparel design and construction, pattern making, styling in a textile or apparel firm. Students should take TMD 222 before this internship and other apparel courses as appropriate to the position.
- Dr. Susan Hannel, Qinn 309C
- Dr Claire Kapstein Quinn 10
Historic Textiles and Costume: work in an historical society, museum, or textile conservation laboratory. Students should have at least one course of the historic sequence (TMD 240/440/441) before this internship.
- Dr. Margaret Ordoñez, Quinn 211A
- Dr. Linda Welters, Quinn 303
Note:
- The above faculty have primary responsibility for these areas, but other faculty may supervise internships.
- TMD faculty are expected to contact internship supervisors at least twice during the internship. This contact should be documented by either letter or email.
