Name: Alyssa Negron
Class Year: 2017
Hometown: Woodhaven, NY
Major: Fashion Merchandising & Retail Management (FMRM)
Job/Internship: (Current Job): Footlocker, Inc. – Buying Assistant for Men’s Apparel Footlocker Division; (Current Internship): JED Group, LLC – Sales & Merchandising & Marketing Intern; (Recent Internship): Jordache Enterprices, Inc. – Marketing Intern
Extracurricular activities: Graduate Student Activities & Programming Board (GAP)
CM: Why did you choose LIM to complete your graduate degree?:
LIM was the best option for my graduate degree because the curriculum was designed to teach career changers about the industry as well as sufficiently prepare students for the workforce.
What has been your favorite moment of attending LIM?
In the classroom, my favorite event has been working with my group to create a Fall ’17 line for Rag & Bone as a final project. Outside of the classroom, I have enjoyed planning and attending GAP events.
CM: Can you tell us about how you landed your internships and your experiences at Jordache and JED Group?
AN: When I first enrolled to LIM College, I was pretty eager to jump start my new career. I am, or was a career changer, and so I wanted to gain as much experience as possible. As you know, you get anywhere in life in any industry by working from the bottom up, as well as by your networks, and interning is a great way to do both objectives in one experience. Before the semester started, I emailed EECM’s Tara Buckley and asked her about internships. She was able to inform me where to look for internships prior to getting access to Simplicity. At Jordache, I interned in the Marketing department. I did this because I wanted to explore outside my major, since I was new to the fashion industry. I learned so much about marketing for a brand that relies heavily on its heritage, as well as being free spirited and utilizing that to relate to your consumers. My favorite experience was working on the social media shoots. By the end of the semester I was already scheduling the concepts of each shoot and sourcing the props and samples without supervision. I found JED Group through Simplicity. JED Group, so far is a different experience because it is a luxury knitwear startup. I was used to walking into a big corporate building and seeing so many different people. At JED, everything is a lot smaller, which means that every person no matter the title, contributes to the company’s vision. So far, I’ve learned so much about the knitwear production process, as well as technical knowledge on knits. Next week, I’m going to the Edit trade show with JED Group, which is exciting since it will be my first show. Startups are a great way to experience the fashion industry unravel. You literally see all the pieces of the puzzle put together.
CM: You’re also working as an assistant to the buying team for Footlocker! What’s that like?
AN: Yes, so, I assist the men’s apparel buyers in the Footlocker division, which by the way I was able to learn about this opportunity from an HR rep at Footlocker I met at the career fair. So, definitely go to the Career Fair, and come prepared with resumes and business cards! Anyway, I didn’t realize how huge the company is and how many brand extensions it has. Before, athleisure was just a casual interest of mine. I’m a person who favors comfort, and so I tend to wear sneakers a lot. Other than that, I had no experience with the product category. At first it was tough to adjust too because I was used to working with women’s contemporary ready to wear. Luckily, I’ve been learning every single day and I’m starting to love the industry so much more! Footlocker is a fun environment to work at. Everyone is laid back and shares the same amount of enthusiasm for what they do, which is great. What I love most is the fact that it’s a great company that allows you to embrace your true self.
CM: You have your hands in so much! Any tips to how you balance work, school and your internship ?
AN: Um, honestly I don’t think about it I just do it. I have always been super involved and part of so many activities and groups. I recommend having a planner. Try to get yourself in the habit of writing down all your appointments, reminders, and to dos. Personally, I have everything on a physical planner and on my phone calendar, so that way I actually remember everything. Also, you have to know yourself. Know what you have time for. Some people are able to handle more than I currently handle. I know my limit. The key is to know yours. Once you have that established then everything falls into place. There are days when I’m tired, so if I have time for a day off, I take one. If not, I take a deep breath and keep it moving.
What do you hope to do post-grad?
I hope to either move up in my current company as a Associate Buyer, or a Planner, or become employed as an Associate Buyer or Planner at a different company. Eventually I would like to officially launch my own hosiery line.
CM: Do you have any advice for prospective students?
AN: Take absolute advantage of all the resources that LIM has to offer, especially if you are a career changer. If you are unsure what field you are interested in, that is perfectly fine, just ask EECM for advice. EECM is extremely helpful with making tough decisions. EECM is a helpful resource for finding jobs and internships. If it wasn’t for EECM, I wouldn’t be wear I am today. Be involved with the LIM community, or the fashion industry. Extracurricular activities are favored by many companies because it shows leadership skills that are highly recommended for prospective applicants.