four students from Billy Blue College of Design had the chance to intern at Vogue thanks to our ongoing partnership. First, interiors student , then up-and-coming fashion designer Holly Villagra was thrust into the fashion world at .
Excitement, joy and elation are a few words to describe how Holly felt when she checked her inbox and discovered her internship application had been successful. “I got into Vogue,” she recalls screaming in a café alongside her friends.
Why Holly chose Fashion Design as her career
For Holly, design, fashion and the magazine itself have been a constant in her life. “Some of my fondest childhood memories circulate among the pages of Vogue,” she recalls. “I’d spend countless hours collaging and creating a world of my own through its glossy pages. I remember growing up when we were allowed a special treat, my brother would request McDonalds but I always requested Vogue.”
Pursuing a was always Holly’s goal. Fast forward all these years and she’s now enrolled in a at Billy Blue.
“Fashion is a part of my identity, and it allows me to express who I am through the medium of fabrics and threads,” says Holly. “Within fashion we hold our memories; it is this intrinsically human relationship between ourselves and our fashion that makes the process of design so thought provoking, intentional and limitless.”
As an emerging designer, Holly is committed to making a difference, and wholeheartedly believes . She’s not the only one; research shows that of the environmental impacts of their clothing. This is good news for Holly, who is committed to ethical design practices and making a positive impact on the industry.
“Being able to create and craft intentional designs for the future is what makes my contribution to the industry so rewarding and fulfilling,” says Holly, who also advocates for diversity and inclusion. “Designing with well-placed moral intentions will continue to push forth an industry that is welcoming and accepting of all genders, sexualities, nationalities and bodies.”
The value of a Vogue Australia design internship
Iconic, influential and inspirational, Vogue Australia has been the bible of fashion for aspiring designers like Holly, whose dream of working at the magazine dates back to when she was just nine years old.
At , we love providing our students with opportunities to take their learnings outside of the classroom and into the workplace. Nothing compares to building hands-on, practical experience that they can use in their future careers. According to , internships like these provide an “incomparable glimpse at the inner workings of the fashion industry”.
Holly made the most of her opportunity, learning new skills, broadening her knowledge and building industry connections.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of gaining industry experience as it allows you to gain a glimpse into the industry,” she says. “Having this knowledge allows you to be better prepared for your future in design. Following my experience at Vogue I can confidently say I am a better designer for it. “Being placed in an environment surrounded by the greatest voices of the Australian fashion industry teaches you that no dream is too far out of reach.”
Holly’s learnings during her internship
Every day at Vogue was different and unpredictable, but that’s what Holly found most exciting. Over the course of her internship, Holly gained invaluable experience and established important relationships as she was called on to:
- Assist the editorial team with future campaigns for the magazine
- Organise looks on sets of shoots for the styling team
- Fit talent in preparation for upcoming editorial spreads
- Source looks for a range of briefs
- Liaise with various professionals and companies on shoots and site visits
Holly’s standout? Contributing to future issues of the magazine. “Being part of seeing a vision come to life was truly one of the most awe-inspiring experiences within the internship,” she says.
Having made an impression during her two-week internship, Holly was asked to stay on at the magazine for the remainder of 2022. While interning at Vogue is a dream come true, it turns out Holly is a dream to work with.
