MY INTERNSHIP AT NET-A-PORTER

The name Net-A-Porter is synonymous with cutting-edge style and comprehensive offerings in high-end fashion e-commerce. I am naturally attracted to fashion and the digital marketplace, so interning at such a notable player in the industry was an absolute dream. I was eager to start this internship, experience luxury retail and work in a fast-moving environment. My internship goals were clear: I wanted to discover more about fashion and e-commerce and develop a skillset I could apply in my future profession. I was also curious about how Net-A-Porter combines fashion and technology and their new strategies and operations. I never anticipated this might go beyond my expectations and influence my professional goals in such a profound manner.

Daily Responsibilities

While interning at Net-A-porter, I carried out several roles to get a feel of the company’s activities. I was mainly involved in product curation, assisting the buying team in picking out the products that fit the standards of the brand. I also worked on marketing campaigns — notably Net-A-porter’s Live Out Loud Room — where I helped idealize and produce content. I worked daily with other teams, especially with the editorial and logistics departments. From that collaboration, I learned about cohesive teamwork and how different departments within the company work together to achieve common goals.

Challenges and Learning Experiences

As with any worthwhile endeavour, my internship had its challenges and learning experiences. Most importantly, I had to adjust to the fast-paced nature of the fashion industry — decisions are made quickly, and expectations are high. I also had to learn new software tools and platforms for managing tasks and analyzing data quickly. These challenges, however, provided a variety of growth opportunities. My colleagues and mentors helped me get over these hurdles. They guided me and shared their experiences, which helped me adapt to this environment. Those experiences taught me flexibility, quick learning, and staying composed under pressure — skills that will definitely help me in my future career.

Highlights of the internship

It was a great Internship full of memories that reinforced my interest in the industry. Some highlights were attending high-profile meetings and witnessing how strategic decisions are made in the company. Furthermore, attending fashion events gave me insight into industry trends and networking that I had never considered. I enjoyed contributing to successful projects like a product launch because of the practical nature of the task. The skills I gained during this time in digital marketing and product curation will be invaluable when I continue developing my career in fashion.

Impact on my career goals

My time at Net-A-Porter has definitely shaped my career goals, both in the short and medium term. My initial interest was broadly fashion-based, but this experience refined my goals towards the intersection of fashion and sustainability. Watching Net-A-porter invest its resources in sustainability inspired me to further inspect how luxury fashion can lead the way for ethical consumption. I now more than ever want to work in fashion and sustainability. I have also had the chance to be exposed to the firm’s e-commerce platform and now want to study digital marketing and business management in detail. This has also inspired me to be a business owner — I can see myself launching my own sustainable clothing label at some point, making a treasure of the information and expertise I gained at Net-a-porter.

Conclusion

My time with Net-A-Porter was a valuable learning experience, both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the opportunity and the lessons learned. To anybody thinking about similar internships, I suggest you go for it and find out all that you can. It might impact your life in ways you never could have dreamed.