Lower Eastside Girls Club

Jayola
Merchandising

Tell us a bit about yourself…
I am from the Bronx, New York. I like to spend my free time creative writing and advocating for environmental justice.

Career interests right now?
Climate science and herbal medicine—I can see myself being a naturopathic doctor or studying climate-change prevention through sustainability methods.

What's one lesson you've learned during the mentorship program?
The importance of the brand and customer relationships. In both the merchandising and planning and buying departments, the Veronica Beard customer always came first. Whether it was deciding what kind of dress customers will gravitate toward in the fall or what kind of sweaters a customer in Dallas would be more likely to purchase, the consumer's happiness affected every decision. I learned that each level of customer and brand interaction is vital. This includes customers expressing how they feel about a shirt to a VB sales associate as well as the analysis of how a product has sold in the last season. Moving forward as a conscious consumer, I am now aware of how my choice of purchase will impact the decisions that a clothing company makes. 

Most memorable part of your internship?
When I was given the opportunity to add to the Veronica Beard merchandising calendar. Engaging in that project was fun and informative. It felt good to put together current article clippings and fashion photos and ultimately contribute to the inspiration for Veronica Beard’s seasonal collections. Afterwards I had an open and detailed discussion with the merchandising team about the fashion trends that I had included as well as the importance of the versatility in all of them. I was very fascinated by the way fashion trends are tweaked so that they can become signature pieces for the Veronica Beard customer.

Maryeme
Sales

Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m from France but came to New York in 2019. I love exploring, meeting new people, traveling and learning about new cultures. I also love cooking—I'm trying new recipes and baking. And I LOVE fashion.

Career interests right now?
I’m interested in becoming a model and also a diplomat.

What's one lesson you've learned during the mentorship program?
That it's never too late to find your path. A lot of my mentors didn't major in anything related to fashion and didn't think they would work in the fashion industry, but today they are. They are using skills that they learned and found their path in fashion. I was scared to choose a major in college because I thought it was the choice of my life, but I know now that there are so many opportunities and possibilities in life.

Most memorable part of your internship?
That I was able to see how clothes are chosen and how orders are made. It was truly interesting.