At A Glance: THE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF AN FSF INTERN

Kevin Crowley, 2014 Scholar in a letter to Executive Director, Doug Evans

Dear Doug,

My 2014 summer in the city has been such a unique and amazing experience.  I really have to credit all of the amazing opportunities to the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund.  All of the breakfasts and intern social events have really been such amazing experiences for networking and learning.

Because of my scholarship through YMA I successfully gained an internship this summer with LFUSA (now known as Global Brands Group).  I was a menswear design intern focusing on graphics and apparel.  Through the Internship social event back in January, I was able to sit down with Human Resources at LFUSA and show them my portfolio and really convince them that I wanted to intern with them. 

It really was being in the city this summer, though, that allowed me to grow my networking book and meet so many influential people that have shaped the way I view and interact with the industry.  I think I attended 16 "Breakfasts with the Bosses" this summer and they were all very informative.  I personally loved Daniela Vitale (COO of Barneys), Michael Mombello (SVP of Design at PVH), and Mia Dellosso Caputo (Creative Director of Mens at Kenneth Cole).  The bosses were always so encouraging and really responsive when emailed which was great! 

At Global Brands Group this summer, all 40 interns were broken up into six groups and they were to present a final project during the final week of our internship.  I was the only YMA Scholar in my group but I really took every opportunity that was presented and put it into the group project.  Towards the end, my group members were all saying that they wanted to be YMA scholars as well!  My group ended up winning the overall project and in addition to an added $1,000, we were also able to present our project to Senior Executives of the company which was really exciting.  I know that my experiences with YMA were all part of the overwhelming reason why my group was successful.  Speaking with professionals about presentations, the industry, and business skills, were all helpful additions to my group's presentation.

I wanted to thank everyone at YMA for all of their support and constant feedback throughout the summer.  Marie Colletta was always just an email away if anything had gone wrong and really treats us all like one of her own children.  Doug Evans was always there to give us his feedback from a non fashion perspective which was so good to hear.  He really has such compassion and care for all of us scholars.  And Jenna Liss was such a good friend and intern this summer as well.  She really accurately captured what the breakfasts and events meant to all of us.  I can't wait to work with her in the future.

I really loved this summer and am planning on applying again next year and hope that if I win the scholarship again, that next summer can be half as great as this one was!  Thanks again so much to all of the board members and bosses I have interacted with over the last 3 months.  I look forward to my future experiences with YMA.

Kevin Crowley

Marist College

2014 YMA Scholar