Internship Diary: An Innovative Summer

Photo by Julie Valentine

Interning as a journalist with PATTERN this summer has brought me to many new experiences that I could not have experienced otherwise. I grew up near Indianapolis, so I have always been familiar with the city, but interning downtown on Mass Ave has given me an entirely different outlook on the city and what’s to come of Indianapolis.

When we think of fashion, we think New York, LA, Paris- we don’t think Indianapolis. But, after covering a fashion show, interviewing some of Indy’s trendiest residents and observing photo shoots that have taken place at the workshop, I’ve been exposed to Indy’s up and coming fashion scene.

One of the most exciting events I was able to attend and cover was the Indiana Black Expo Fashion Show. Although I was an avid watcher of The Rachel Zoe Project and saw many behind-the-scene clips from fashion shows, I had no idea what to expect in person. Being surrounded by the beautiful models and the commotion was an experience within itself, but interviewing the designers and artists was a thrill for me.

My favorite experience of my entire summer was interviewing the fashion show’s special guest, Reco Chapple. Owner of House of Chapple in Los Angeles, the designer came to fame through Bravo’s The Fashion Show and his pieces have been featured on celebrities like Toni Braxton, Kandi Burruss, and Phaedra Parks. I had the chance to interview him following the IBE Fashion Show to talk about African American designers in the fashion industry are underrepresented and what can be done to eliminate that. Our conversation was encouraging and I was so honored to be able to interview someone so inspirational in the black fashion community.

On top of the fashion show, I was able to interview interior designer Julie Bova for a story about the correlation between fashion and décor. This was particularly exciting for me because I’m very passionate about home décor and furnishings, along with fashion.

This summer has been one of growth, and having the opportunity to intern at PATTERN has driven that. Not only have I learned a lot about fashion itself in Indianapolis, I have learned about and been introduced to the network that exists among young fashionistas and entrepreneurs in the city, which is an invaluable experience within itself.

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