My experience at SHEWORKs was a wholesome and enjoyable learning journey from the beginning through to the later weeks. Initially, I was curious to understand what slow fashion truly meant and what purpose it served. However, after experiencing the studio environment and workflow firsthand, I realised that the brand’s work goes much deeper. Their process is not just design-based but deeply connected to art, heritage, and the artisans involved. At first, I viewed design mainly as a creative activity, but this placement helped me understand how much planning, organisation, research, and patience are required to create a refined and meaningful product. Working closely with supervisors, artisans, and fellow interns allowed me to see how professional studios function and how ideas are carefully transformed into well-crafted outcomes. This placement shaped me by making me more thoughtful and research-driven in my design approach, as well as more aware of the cultural and ethical responsibilities involved in fashion and textiles.
I also observed clear differences between the product development department at SHEWORKs and my previous internship at Kohinoor Textile Mills, which operates within a large-scale, industrial system. At Kohinoor, I focused heavily on CAD skills, structured research, and working within an organised production framework. In contrast, SHEWORKs follows a slow fashion model rooted in handcraft and heritage-based processes. Here, I learned about motif development, product research, tracing techniques, fabric organisation, sample development, paperwork, and most importantly, communication between departments. This comparison helped me understand that product development functions differently depending on a brand’s values and scale, and it shaped my appreciation for both efficiency-driven systems and craftsmanship-led design.
One of the biggest surprises during my placement was the level of care and time required when working with heritage textiles, especially pieces that were over 100 years old. I learned that even small actions, such as removing stitches or tracing motifs, demand exceptional patience, skill, and respect for the material. I was also surprised by how essential documentation, measurements, and repetition are in a professional setting. This experience also helped me grow in confidence within a professional studio environment. Over time, I became more comfortable asking questions, receiving feedback, and adapting my work based on guidance, which strengthened my ability to learn effectively within a real industry setting. Unlike student projects, where solutions can sometimes be rushed, SHEWORKs follows a slow and thoughtful process to preserve quality, cultural value, and sustainability. This experience transformed my understanding of fashion by revealing the unseen effort and craftsmanship behind handmade and heritage-based products.
This placement has significantly influenced my educational approach as a Fashion Textile Design student. I now recognise the importance of in-depth research before beginning the design process, especially when working with cultural and heritage themes. Creating research boards, studying traditional motifs, and observing product development discussions helped me bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice. I also strengthened my practical textile skills, improved my digital presentation abilities using Photoshop, and developed stronger organisational skills through continuous studio tasks. These experiences will strongly support my future coursework, portfolio development, and final-year projects.
In terms of my future career goals, this placement has helped clarify my interests within the fashion and textile industry. Initially, I aimed to work as a creative or styling intern; however, this experience opened me up to other departments such as product development, materials and supply chain, production, and manufacturing. During my internship, my understanding of textile-focused roles and slow fashion practices grew stronger. I learned that fashion is not about speed, but about how thoughtfully and carefully a product is made. Observing how SHEWORKs balances tradition with contemporary design inspired me to consider working with craft-based brands or pursuing roles that value sustainability and cultural storytelling. This placement encouraged me to deepen my knowledge of fashion and textiles while remaining closely connected to industry practices.
In conclusion, this experience taught me that every company operates according to its own workflow and values. The more I learned about different departments, the more I began to understand fashion as a form of art deeply connected to heritage, culture, and modern influences. This placement helped me become more thoughtful and cautious in shaping my future career path while motivating me to continuously improve my skills and understanding of the industry.
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