Internship at JANUE

Reflection

My internship took place at JANUE, an inspiring Brussels fashion label where I was warmly welcomed by a close-knit team. I worked closely with my internship supervisor Casper and the founder/boss Céline. I also shared the workspace with Babette (communications) and Norah (communications intern), which created a dynamic and friendly atmosphere where creativity and craftsmanship were central.

During this internship I gained an incredibly broad experience within fashion technology. My daily tasks were very varied. On one hand, I spent a lot of time at the sewing machine for alterations and fine finishing: from manually blind-hemming skirts and sewing or replacing buttons on vests, to shortening trousers for customers and repairing sleeve cuffs in delicate, transparent fabrics. On the other hand, I had the chance to develop full prototypes. I worked on toile prototypes of shirts, wide trousers with pockets, dresses and vests in calico. As a creative finale, I was also allowed to design and produce an accessory — a tie that perfectly matched the new collection.

To accomplish all of this, I truly immersed myself in the label's daily operations. I was involved in meticulously cutting and grading paper patterns and cutting the final fabrics. I also gained a unique look behind the scenes of the full production chain and the tight planning that comes with it. Together with Casper, I visited external production studios, such as those of Kerim and De Ruyck, to deliver or discuss fabrics, patterns and models. I also helped with the logistical and administrative side, such as digitising the collection in clear spreadsheets, optimising technical specification sheets for production, steaming garments for the Paris showroom and assisting customers in the shop during stock sales. It was an incredibly engaging and smooth process in which I felt like a full member of the team from day one.

Working in a professional fashion environment inevitably brings technical challenges. When I was confronted with a difficult situation, such as a collar with too little roll or a weave fault in the fabric of a skirt, I worked in a solution-oriented way. In the case of the weave fault, I carefully re-cut the pattern piece to then finish the waistband perfectly; for the collar, I adjusted the pattern piece and sewed test versions until the drape was perfect.

I noticed that I was only truly satisfied when a prototype was not only technically correct, but also visually aligned with JANUE's identity. It also gave me great satisfaction to see that the structure I introduced, such as a new template for technical specification sheets and clear material spreadsheets, made communication with the production company noticeably clearer and more efficient.

During my internship, several of my strengths came to the fore. My technical precision and material knowledge helped me carry out quality checks accurately and finish delicate alterations neatly. I also proved to be strong organisationally: I could set up spreadsheets, map out event agencies and select the best trimmings (such as ribbons) based on a sharp price-quality ratio. My flexibility was also an asset; whether I had to cut patterns, make technical drawings, help customers in the shop or spontaneously step in as a model for the Instagram page and website, I tackled everything with equal enthusiasm.

Of course, learning points, or 'weaker' sides, also emerged. At first I sometimes found it challenging to maintain the boundary between my internship assignments and work for my bachelor's thesis, since those two worlds were closely linked. Sometimes I wanted to do too much at once: cutting patterns, doing research, etc., which meant I had to learn to set priorities.

This internship had a huge impact on me. It showed me how an independent Belgian fashion label balances the creative design process, technical realisation and commercial reality. Being part of the team and having direct contact with the ateliers greatly strengthened my passion for the profession.

My absolute preference is for the combination of technical pattern drafting and actually realising prototypes. It gives me enormous satisfaction to transform an idea on paper into a tangible, perfectly fitting garment. What motivates me most deeply is sustainability and innovation within fashion technology, something I was able to explore perfectly during my research into and development of zero-waste prototypes.

In the future I absolutely want to continue developing in this area. Designing with minimal textile waste and optimising technical specification sheets for a more transparent fashion industry are areas in which I want to continue shaping my identity as a fashion technologist with determination in the years to come.