Senior Sizes Up Ralph Lauren Internship

Senior Ashley Jones (left) has spent her summer interning at Ralph Lauren in New York, working with (from left) Rebekah Raffaelli; Sonya Jones; Jenny Lin, from the Hong Kong office; and Kurlann Edwards-Wright. Submitted photo.

Any college student would probably jump at the chance to do an internship in New York City. For Ashley Jones, the possibility of living and learning in New York was sweetened by the offer to work at Ralph Lauren, a top fashion designer with offices all over the world.

Jones worked with the company in 2003 but in her hometown of Houston. Her experience helped earn her a spot as one of the 17 out of 200 students who applied for and got the job.

"In order to stand out," she said, "I kept in contact with Ralph Lauren over the years and kept all of my information from my last internship with them."

Jones said she highlighted new accomplishments during the phone interview by sharing what she had been doing for the last few years.

She had also researched the position and knew what requirements and responsibilities she would need to fulfill. They offered her the job on the spot.

Jones most enjoys taking part in conference calls with the Ralph Lauren offices in Hong Kong and Columbia, but a lot of her work is done on computer.

"My main responsibility is to maintain and update the Spring 2007 Pre-Confirmation chart, which is where all the factory negotiations are recorded," she said.

Jones explained that the chart helps the company keep track of necessities for the upcoming line, such as fabrics and arrival dates.

While this part of the job is challenging, she appreciates learning this additional element of fashion design.
"I feel that in order to succeed in fashion, you have to know all aspects of it," said Jones, who would like to have a collection of her own some day.

The internship is the last step in fulfilling her goal to graduate in August with a degree in merchandising and general business.

For Jones, living in New York is also a new experience.

"Being from Houston, Texas, I am very far from home, and it has definitely been an experience," Jones said. "New York is wonderful, but it is nothing like the South at all. It has been very convenient for me to get around, mainly because everything is very close together in the city."

She has really enjoyed the shopping and sight seeing, including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

Jones even took part in a broadcast of Total Request Live, or TRL, on MTV.

"I am very grateful to have received this internship," Jones said.

She added that she felt better prepared for her work at Ralph Lauren thanks to her classes at Sam and that the internship was a very positive experience.

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SHSU Media Contact: Kelly Garrison
July 27, 2006
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