Gwen Rippeto is a fourth-year student at Wake Forest, pursuing a major in Communications with a minor in Journalism. This summer Gwen had the opportunity to intern with J.Crew at their headquarters in New York City. I had the opportunity to speak with Gwen about her ten week internship.

What did a typical day for you look like?

Everyday of my internship at J.Crew looked different, which allowed  for a very exciting and comprehensive experience. Each morning, I would take a subway downtown in order to arrive at my desk by 9:00am. I started the day by checking my email and touching base with my manager about what meetings and tasks we had ahead of us. On Thursday mornings, the interns from all across the company would meet with HR to hear from employees and learn about a new facet of the company. This was one of my favorite parts of the week, because it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of not only the company, but also the fashion industry as a whole. In the afternoon, I sat in on meetings and I worked with my manager to plan J.Crew store openings and events across the country and create strategies to enhance in-store customer engagement and loyalty. For example, my two managers planned and organized the J.Crew Pop-Up on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket this summer, so I worked alongside them to plan the event, complete  influencer outreach, and ensure all of the materials made it to the islands.

What do you believe are the positive company qualities of J.Crew?

J.Crew is a heritage brand that values true timelessness, elegance, and community. It is evident  in everything they do and create that J.Crew seeks to make the communities around them better. The revamp and success of J.Crew is a sentiment to Olympia and her incredible talent as Creative Director. She has a profound understanding of the brand and a keen eye for detail and trend, which has allowed J.Crew to experiment with new styles while maintaining its core identity.

In your opinion, how is J.Crew growing with the ever-evolving fashion industry? 

J.Crew is built upon the foundation of timeless style; however, they have the unique and inspiring ability to incorporate trend specific styles and push the fashion industry forward while maintaining their brand identity.

Are there any trends J.crew is ahead of the game on?

I believe that in recent years, generation Z has been inspired to transform their closest from trendy to timeless. As a brand that has prioritized timeless styles since its inception, J.Crew perfectly embodies this transition.

What was the most valuable skill you took away from this experience?

This internship gave me a true comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the fashion industry. Although I worked primarily in brand marketing, I had the opportunity to learn about every step in the retail process from sourcing and production to sales. Additionally, I got to work alongside incredibly talented and experienced individuals with genuine passion for the industry.

How do you feel WFU prepared you for this internship? What do you feel made you stand out among other candidates?

Wake Forest’s liberal arts education has been incredibly helpful in preparing me for the workforce. It challenged me to explore many different perspectives and subjects while emphasizing the importance of thinking critically and strategically, communicating thoroughly, and embracing creativity. Additionally, being a part of organizations like WFU Style has allowed me to exercise my passion for the industry while experimenting with different facets of fashion. 

By: Kyra Marty