What were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDuring my internship at TJX, I was responsible for analyzing past and current sales reports to provide data-driven recommendations that contributed to e-commerce growth for TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Each week, I extracted data from reports and created detailed pivot tables to deliver clear, concise summaries of business performances for three or more departments. This information was presented to the buying and planning teams, providing them with valuable insights for their decision-making process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to my regular duties, I was placed on a rotational program to gain a comprehensive understanding of the beauty business across various departments. I delivered both verbal and written reports to ensure seamless communication and alignment with our team goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of a larger intern project, I collaborated with two other interns to conduct competitive shopping, where we analyzed industry trends in competitor stores and compared them to our offerings at TJX. We also completed a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis for both in-store and e-commerce channels, ultimately presenting new product ideas to senior merchants for consideration. This experience strengthened my analytical and presentation skills while giving me a holistic view of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was your favorite part of your time as an intern?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy favorite part of the internship was the speaker sessions and the opportunity to explore my curiosity about the business. The recruiting team organized sessions with senior leaders, including one week where the chief executive officer spoke to us in person. It was an incredible experience to ask questions directly and learn why they chose to work at TJX. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, I was paired with a great buyer who encouraged me to explore other areas of the business. I connected with people in marketing, trend forecasting and various buying teams, which gave me a well-rounded understanding of the company\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did this experience impact your college plan\/career trajectory? Do you still want to pursue the same types of jobs?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis opportunity opened my eyes to the diverse career paths within the fashion industry. At TJX, I discovered that it’s not just about merchandising: there are roles in planning and allocation, product development, IT, finance and more. My experience not only reinforced my passion for fashion, but it also broadened my perspective on the industry as a whole. Now, I\u2019m exploring various areas beyond merchandising to find where I can make the most impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gracey Ripley <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer<\/strong>: Glen Raven<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Marketing Intern<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Burlington, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy day-to-day responsibilities included engageing and collaborating with the marketing team while cross functionally working with the sales and customer care representatives to develop marketing methods for Trivantage\u2019s 5 markets. My work focused on the curation of marketing materials, targeted research and analysis of strategies that best aligned with company initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy time with the Wilson College gave me not only a strong background in brand management and marketing, but also a background in textile technology that I was able to apply in a real-world setting. I was equipped with the textile knowledge and terminology to understand important aspects of Glen Raven’s business that I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for my time as a student at the Wilson College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was there anything during your internship that surprised you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nOne of my favorite memories from my internship was getting to tour the Burlington Yarn Plant at Glen Raven’s headquarters. As a student, we frequently visit the Spinning Lab in the Wilson College. However, with my internship experience, I was able to see an industry scale spinning facility and yarn production plant, and it gave me a glimpse into just how intricate, large scale and fascinating the textile industry is. I have always been amazed by the Wilson College’s facilities and lab spaces, and getting to see these machines on a large scale was very exciting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gentry Rogers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Merz Aesthetics Social Media and Communications <\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Global Social Media Intern <\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Raleigh, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned a lot about my ability to adapt quickly and take initiative in a fast-paced environment. I improved my project management abilities by working on multiple tasks at once. I also gained practical experience with various social media tools. Additionally, I strengthened my communication and presentation skills. These experiences boosted my confidence in navigating professional environments and set a strong foundation for my future career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy time at the Wilson College has been so beneficial in preparing for my career. Specifically, my brand management and marketing concentration courses have prepared me for success in a global social media role like Brand Management with Dr. Jin and Textile Brand Communications and Promotions with Dr. Matthews. Additionally, I have had many opportunities that prepared me for a professional work environment outside of the classroom through my experiences as a Dean’s Page and a Student Ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was your favorite part of your time as an intern?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI had such a supportive team who I really enjoyed working with. I have been trusted with projects that will help build my resume and prepare me for my career beyond graduation. I really enjoyed getting to learn from highly experienced professionals and gaining hands-on experience in corporate social media! It was fun getting to learn outside the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily Wilson <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Shelton Leadership Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Marketing and Communications Intern<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Raleigh, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy day-to-day responsibilities included updating the company website, planning and executing social media content, formatting e-newsletters, creating graphics, and developing brand guidelines and presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was your favorite part of your time as an intern?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAfter working at the Shelton Leadership Center for three years, my favorite part was meeting Chancellor Woodson for the first time at our 20th Anniversary Gala during my first year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did this experience impact your college plan\/career trajectory? Do you still want to pursue the same types of jobs?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis experience has solidified my desire to have a career in brand management and marketing. My internship broadened my horizons in marketing as well, teaching me the skills to market an educational and leadership program compared to textiles and apparel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nate Wolfe<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Kontoor Brands<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title: <\/strong>Direct to Consumer (DTC) Merchandising and Planning Allocation Intern <\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Greensboro, NC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDuring my paid internship at Kontoor Brands, I worked as a merchandising and planning intern for the direct-to-consumer team. I specifically worked with Wrangler and Lee. Some of my responsibilities included creating lookbooks, pricing and sales analytics. I also set up new styles and SKUS within the company\u2019s database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout my time at Kontoor Brands, I also researched and gave an in-depth presentation on AI in marketing to top executives and managers within the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a day-to-day basis, I attended various types of meetings from sales analysis to line reviews to best support the brand. Working alongside the merchandising team, I assisted in decision-making on third-party designs such as material selection and clothing fit and relayed this information between vendors. I also created order contracts and reserved inventory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had the opportunity to participate in a two-day leadership conference held by Campus Greensboro over the summer as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe science and technical-based courses really aided me in my understanding of the manufacturing and costing side of the industry. My marketing and brand management classes also gave me an edge as I possess a lot of knowledge regarding how a brand functions, innovates and navigates the complex textiles industry. Even past group projects prepared me to work together as a team while conducting a research project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDuring my internship this summer, I learned so much about communication and leadership. Working in a corporate environment fine-tuned my soft skills, and I learned how to successfully navigate a new workspace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I learned that I know more about the industry than I give myself credit for! What we learn in our classes at Wilson is so important and gave me an advantage when it came to applying my skills in a professional environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fashion Development and Product Management (B.S. FTM)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Maylan Maxwell <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2027<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Crypton Home Fabrics<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Apparel Development Intern in US Sports<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Cliffside, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAs an intern, I assisted with design processes like artwork selection, pattern editing, developing color lines, sampling and administrative tasks. The design office was located at Crypton’s full-scale manufacturing facility, so I worked a lot with weave blankets that came straight off the looms! One of my special projects was to organize the mill’s archive. I sorted through decades of artwork for the design team to use on new projects, some of which dated as far back as the 1800s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned so much about the design, manufacturing and marketing processes that make up the\u00a0textile industry. I now feel so much more comfortable networking and talking to employers. I feel like I can work in a variety of professional settings thanks to my internship.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe Wilson College invests so much into helping their students feel prepared for internships and other industry opportunities. Countless resources like resume workshops, mock interviews and career preparation helped me gain the confidence needed to pursue an opportunity like this. I also learned important technical skills in my classes that helped me become an impactful member of the Crypton team!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claire Scadron<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Kohl’s<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title: <\/strong>Production for Men’s Tops<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Milwaukee, Wisconsin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned I love working on a team and collaborating with others from different departments. I learned so many new skills, like writing more professional emails and communicating successfully with industry members around the globe. During my time as an intern, I gained a stronger understanding of the apparel supply chain as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did this experience impact your college plan\/career trajectory?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis experience has me feeling even more excited about my classes because of the hands-on experience I gained in the industry. I would still love to work in the product development area and utilize both the creative and logistical problem-solving skills I have developed at Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe variety of courses at the Wilson College of Textiles definitely prepared me for my internship. I had an understanding of the development phases of material, how textiles and different fabrics function and costing methods, which were all applicable to my position with Kohl\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ryan Schaffroth <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> December, 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Caterpillar, Inc. Marketing and Brand Division<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Corporate Marketing & Merchandising Intern<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Peoria, Illinois<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy day-to-day responsibilities included researching the workwear market and how to further appeal to the Gen Z audience and approving products submitted by our licenses in accordance with our branding guidelines. I also worked on a special e-commerce project involving the cat.com merchandise landing page, where I collaborated on enhancements with marketing technology and team data for website optimization. I utilized over 25,000 customer product feedback responses and generated key findings and recommended strategies for the brand\u2019s website. I also developed presentations and reports on my findings in order to propose new strategies for the company.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During my time as an intern, I had the opportunity to travel to Bozeman, Montana to tour one of Caterpillar\u2019s licensee headquarters, Summit Resource International. All of the company\u2019s apparel product development and designs happen at this office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe most impactful professional skills I developed over this internship were my communication and writing skills. Before my internship, I wasn\u2019t sure how exactly workplace communication looked. My managers threw me right into the professional space, and gave me a lot of hands-on experience to learn from.\u00a0 Getting thrown into this environment really helped me grow my confidence in not only my public speaking skills, but also my textile background and professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was definitely intimidating at first jumping into a predominantly male sector of the industry, especially one that creates some of the largest buildings and construction products in the world. However, by the end of my internship, my team helped build my confidence to take on future opportunities in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe Wilson College provided me with\u00a0technical fashion, textile and apparel language that students with a broad marketing or business degree would not know or fully understand. I was able to effectively communicate and gather information and data, and utilize industry standard software like Adobe Illustrator because of my coursework and experiences at Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bethany Thai <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> December 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Adidas<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Apparel Development Intern in US Sports<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Portland, Oregon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy day-to-day responsibilities included assisting the apparel development team with developing apparel samples, organizing products and working with different teams on various projects. I participated in daily meetings, where I got to learn about the industry behind closed doors. I worked on a special project where I created a baseball apparel line for East Asian fans, where I did market research, concept development, material sourcing, apparel design, prototyping and costing to bring my idea to life. I also had the opportunity to cut-and-sew my own pair of samba shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned how to adapt and be proactive. I grew more comfortable in my own skin, gaining confidence in myself. This experience taught me the importance of taking initiative, whether by seeking out feedback or creating conversation with people around me. Additionally, I developed valuable professional skills such as effective communication, time management and problem-solving, all of which enhanced my ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did this experience impact your college plan\/career trajectory? Do you still want to pursue the same types of jobs?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis experience has opened my eyes to new opportunities in the apparel industry. Truthfully, I did not think I would enjoy working in the sports world, but after spending my summer at Adidas, I have a new appreciation for sports and what it means to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christa Zakhary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Eleanor James Brand<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Assistant Intern<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Raleigh, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDuring my time as an intern, I discovered I want to have my own brand and focus on unique, sustainable products. I learned so much about the outsourcing process and all the little details that go into making a memorable product and experience for the customer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy time at Wilson has prepared me for this internship by giving me a foundation of textile and material knowledge as well as a deeper understanding of the outsourcing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was there anything during your internship that surprised you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI did not realize the number of issues that would arise from communicating with manufacturers in different countries, such as miscommunication issues and time zone barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My internship was so much fun! I worked there for a year and gained so much amazing experience. Eleanor let me have a lot of creative freedom and included me in so many of her brand decisions. Like I mentioned earlier, I told her I loved photography and she let me capture all of her website photographs and I even got to set up an entire shoot and find models! It was an amazing learning experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fashion Design (B.S. FTD)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlli Jo LaFevers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> Spring 2027<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Hyster Yale Materials Handling<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Brand Management Intern <\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Greenville, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI worked on multiple research projects that focused on best website practices for a house of brands company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned that I am a fast worker and can stick to deadlines given by supervisors. I also learned\u00a0that a creative environment is more enjoyable for me in the workplace. I was able to do a lot of training throughout my internship, and I became efficient with all the Microsoft platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at the Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMy time at the Wilson College helped me with my presentation skills and how to ask questions properly in order to complete my projects correctly. Wilson also gave me the knowledge on how to create a proper presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bella Reeves <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Aeropostale, SPARC Group LLC<\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Aeropostale Design Intern – Girls Light-Weight Knits<\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> New York, New York<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn the mornings we would have fabric meetings with our internal production and fabric teams, which would then lead us to fit with our technical design team and our fit model. The afternoon was typically free from any meetings so that I could continue working individually or helping my team on mood boards, internal and external research, sketching, computer-aided design (CAD) work and entering data for any systems for our manufacturing partners. I was always super busy, so I was always learning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did this experience impact your college plan\/career trajectory? Do you still want to pursue the same types of jobs?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis was my third internship with SPARC and throughout each internship my teams have expressed their gratitude for my work and told me that they would appreciate me coming back as a full-time hire! I think a corporate experience is important as it provides you with a skillset that prepares you for wherever you may end up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was there anything during your internship that surprised you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDuring my internship I was surprised by how much social media and current trends affect the design and marketing processes. I would spend a significant amount of my afternoons doing research on apps like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen Remington<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer: <\/strong>Raleigh Little Theatre <\/li>\n\n\n\n Title: <\/strong>Costume Shop Intern <\/li>\n\n\n\n Internship Location:<\/strong> Raleigh, North Carolina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat were your day-to-day responsibilities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI cut and sewed garments for the stage production \u201cSomething Rotten!\u201d I was tasked with creating the full costume look for Portia, the main love interest of the musical. While I assisted on other costumes, Portia was the character look that I worked on and completed alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you learn about yourself and what professional skills did you develop?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nI learned that I am a fast learner and that I want to pursue a career in costuming. I developed communication skills, new sewing skills and the ability to adapt to the fast-paced environment of a real costume shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you think your time at the Wilson College helped prepare you for your internship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe Wilson College gave me the skills to understand and interpret patterns given to me and sew high-quality pieces quickly due to my sewing projects for classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anna Lia Ritchie<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIntended Graduation:<\/strong> May 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n Employer:<\/strong> Needle and Thread Company <\/li>\n\n\n\n Title:<\/strong> Design Assistant Intern<\/li>\n\n\n\n