Katelyn Kelly ’17

Class of 2017, B.S. in Marketing with a minor in Fashion Studies

In my senior year, I gained experience as a Buying Intern for a company called Steven Alan. I interned in the Women’s Wear division, where I created and revised purchase orders for 24 locations nationwide. I have long wanted to pursue a career in fashion buying, and so this was the perfect opportunity for me!

About

“I have always had a love for the fashion industry, and an aspiration to work in corporate retail and marketing.  As a rising Junior, I interned for Madison Paige, a brand that designs and sells women’s blouses and dresses to retailers. The showroom internship was a great opportunity because I learned all about the wholesale business in the Garment District. Working in a showroom is a very ‘behind-the-scenes’ job because we sell lines of merchandise to stores. Getting to know how stores choose and buy their inventory was a great learning experience, and I was able to network with industry professionals.

As a senior, I interned for Elizabeth and James. I helped them design team unpack the collection for pre-fall, and steam and organize it by style. I also helped them with some work on Excel to edit line sheets and make sure the garment descriptions were correct. My biggest project was working on the market week for fashion buyers. I have been able to assist the VP of Sales at Elizabeth and James in the new showroom! My previous internship experience helped because I knew exactly what tasks need to be completed. It is obviously a little different for a high fashion line, so my main duty was to dress a live model. I kept the back room organized, and sent out models for the buyers to see every look.

During my study abroad semester in Paris, I studied at the American Business School (ABS). The courses I took were International Marketing, Microeconomics, Sourcing and Purchasing, Luxury Merchandise Marketing, and Sales Techniques for Luxury Brands. The fashion classes were really great for me because I was able to enhance my minor in Fashion Studies as well as shore up my major in Marketing. ABS is also a very international school, so I was always working on group projects with students from across the globe.

I also lived in a homestay with an amazing French family. I spoke French in the apartment, ate some of the best home-cooked meals I have ever had, and met people from all over the world, so I was really immersed in the culture. Every day was an opportunity to learn or do something new, and it was an experience I will never forget! 

In my senior year, I gained experience as a Buying Intern for a company called Steven Alan. I interned in the Women’s Wear division, where I created and revised purchase orders for 24 locations nationwide. I have long wanted to pursue a career in fashion buying, and so this was the perfect opportunity for me!

In my final year, I tried to make the best out of my time left at MMC. I really enjoyed my classes, particularly Organizational Behavior and Fashion, History, and Society.”

Presently, Katelyn is an Associate Buyer for Coach, in Trumbull, Connecticut.