My name is Claire Cho and I am a Senior Fiber Major. This summer, I interned at Knitwear Lab, a textile company based in Holland specializing in the expertise of knits. They work with students from all over the country and with all types of designers internationally. I have always followed up on the latest knitting news and happened to come upon knitwear lab a couple years ago. Later on I discovered that they were looking for interns which encouraged me to apply for it this summer. After a few interviews and achieving the Goya Opportunity Award for financial aid I was gifted with the chance to work in the Netherlands. While working at Knitwear Lab I learned a lot about the industrial knitting machine most often used in the fashion industry. We worked on a lot of material studies and constantly experimented for the best results that would later birth into a garment or product. My first project was mostly observational learning in Material Research for Alexander Wang footwear. The company works as the knitting base for footwear brand Filling Pieces. This expanded my knowledge of the industry and how to knit footwear that allows for movement, structure, and flexibility.
During my internship the company progressed into
fully fashioned production which means the knit itself is already produced in
the desired shape without having to be cut. The projects involved Peet Duellart
, Viktor and Rolf , RVDK, and Maison the Faux. Other projects that I was
involved in was in the creation of beanies and scarfs for Thijs Verhaar’s new
collection. Most of the time I was learning and creating new designs, finishing productions and putting together pieces. The internship itself was very inspiring to my studies because it focused on a lot of clients that were interested in sportswear as well as the incorporation of knits in a moving matter. I was constantly involved in image branding, social media marketing, meetings with other designers and designing brochures as well.
Some of my favorite parts about this internship is that it didn't just help me to grow in terms of creative and technical knowledge but I became more well informed in networking, communication and the production side of the industry. I was able to attend Amsterdam Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Openings at exhibitions, Pitti Filati, and Documenta 14 as well as research and site visits in Turkey where mass production takes place.
The experience here
has really opened my eyes to what working in the fashion industry really looks
like. I was able to talk to head designers from all over the world who work at
big companies such as Fendi, Chloe and Adidas. Hearing their stories and how they
came to be made a huge difference to me. It really set my focus and made my
visions clearer. The biggest takeaway for me is to not be afraid and really be
a go getter, work hard in not just the big tasks but the small ones as well.
I think also one’s character is just as important as having talent so growing
in both areas is a lesson that I plan to continually pursue.