I remember when I was at the beginning of my career in fashion I was considering moving to one of the 4 fashion capitals because I wanted to work in the industry: New York, London, Paris, and Milan. These are the cities where fashion weeks happen; they are exposed to the entire world of fashion and it’s also where most of the career opportunities are. Being Italian, Milan was the easiest option and the closest one, so I packed everything from South Italy to move to Milan to begin my career in fashion after my bachelor’s degree in management engineering and it’s still where I am based today.
Many major global fashion powerhouses originated in Italy, making it the birthplace of some of the world’s best luxury fashion brands. The invaluable “Made in Italy” label and its commitment to craftsmanship make the country an exceptionally sought-after destination for fashion enthusiasts. Italy’s reputation as a hub for producing top-tier luxury goods adds an extra layer of desirability, making it a dream for those passionate about the world of fashion.
Best Fashion Internships In Milan
Whether you are Italian, looking for career opportunities in the city, or you are coming from another state and want to know the best fashion internships and jobs in Milan, in this article we are going to focus on the Italian city and the career opportunities it offers for those who want to work in fashion.
When you are looking for a fashion job or internship, you have to be strategic about the city where brands are located.
Although some Italian fashion companies offer jobs and internships abroad, it’s in Italy where you can find most of these opportunities because that’s where their headquarters are located.
If you’ve ever daydreamed about working alongside the creative minds at iconic fashion houses like Gucci, Giorgio Armani, or Valentino, or if you’re simply craving a taste of the enchanting Italian lifestyle, Milan is the place to be. Nestled in the heart of Italy, where art, culture, and style effortlessly mingle, Milan is a vibrant global hub of fashion innovation, ready to welcome dream-chasers and trendsetters alike.
Milan has been the center of fashion culture since Milan Fashion Week was founded by the Camera Nazionale della Moda (The National Chamber for Italian Fashion) in 1958. The presence of prestigious luxury brands in the city, home to renowned fashion houses like Prada, Versace, and Bottega Veneta, makes it an enticing destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the world of style and creativity. Exploring the fashion scene in Milan can open doors to exciting career prospects and invaluable industry experience.
Let’s explore the best fashion internships and jobs in Milan. We will start by considering which fashion companies are based in Milan and how you can land a fashion internship there so you can embark on this journey with clarity and confidence.
Italian luxury and fashion companies offering internships in Milan
We said that Milan is the heart of the fashion industry. Many of the biggest fashion houses have their offices in the Italian city, for example:
Prada
Miu Miu
Valentino
Bottega Veneta
Loro Piana
Gucci
Giorgio Armani
Dolce&Gabbana
Versace
Moschino
Zegna
The Attico
Missoni
Marni
Fashion companies typically don’t centralize their entire offices within a single city; instead, various departments are often dispersed across different locations.
Production sites, crucial to the industry, are commonly situated outside the primary fashion capitals, with many opting for regions such as Tuscany.
In Milan, the focus tends to lean towards hosting headquarters, and hosting departments such as PR, Communication, Marketing, Buying, Digital, Legal, Finance, HR, and E-commerce.
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule, some brands do also have their design teams in Milan, it’s noteworthy that the design and product development teams of Italian brands are frequently found in places like Tuscany, contrasting with Milan, where various other departments are commonly headquartered.
All these departments are filled with a diverse range of talents, spanning from seniors to interns taking their first steps in their careers, like you will be soon 🙂
For those at the beginning of their fashion career, the key is to pick the department that resonates with you the most and dive into an internship. You can go with an internship in PR internship, Design, Styling, Buying, Merchandising, etc.
Internships serve as your entry point into the fashion industry. And they aren’t just about fetching coffee. You’ll start with the most practical tasks to build up your career in the department of your dreams.
Internships at fashion magazines in Milan
Do you see yourself working at a fashion magazine rather than a brand? If so, you can find opportunities at the magazines’ offices in Milan.
As you may know, top fashion magazines like Vogue, L’Officiel, and Harper’s Bazaar have international editions, including the Italian ones, so you can intern there. There are also 100% Italian magazines.
The most important ones are located in Milan:
CONDE NAST ITALIA (Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair)
HEARST ITALIA (Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire)
Grazia Italia
L’Officiel Italia
Donna Moderna
Amica
IO Donna
You are probably thinking of famous fashion editors like Anna Wintour but naturally, you won’t start your career at a magazine working as an editor.
Instead, your first experience at a publication will likely begin as an intern in the fashion cupboard where you’ll help the magazine team with organizing everything and assist editors on set. You will act as a PA to help with time-consuming tasks or research projects to help things run quickly and smoothly. You may also produce content and get to pitch ideas for feedback and get your name published.
Also, you can also assist editors who produce content for different sections of the magazine (fashion, beauty, etc.)
If you are more interested in building the online presence of a fashion publication, you can become a Digital/Social Media Intern.
I talk more in detail about the different roles of fashion magazines in this article.
Fashion Internships at PR Agencies in Milan
Fashion brands and magazines are not your only option if you want to work in fashion in Milan. There are also many fashion PR agencies based in the fashion capital where you can intern if you are considering a career in fashion PR, Marketing, or Communication.
Many fashion companies collaborate with PR agencies so the latter can represent them and help them shape their public image, safeguard their reputation, generate buzz, attract media attention, and solidify their presence on the market. Therefore, by interning at a fashion PR agency, you will be immersed in the fashion world and be able to assist in collaboration with multiple brands, as PR agencies work with different clients.
These are so well-known fashion PR agencies based in Milan:
ALPR
Beside Communications
Karla Otto
Pilot Room
Ploompr
Luxury and fashion brands located across Italy
Although most Italian fashion companies are based in Milan, they still offer some internships outside of the city at their production sites, especially in – but not limited to – design and product development.
This is good news for you if you are considering a creative career in fashion and want to work closely with the product, as you will be fully immersed in the production process on-site.
However, if your heart lies more on the business side of the industry, rest assured that there are a few internship opportunities outside of Milan in this field as well.
Interning outside of the Italian fashion capital can also be a good idea for those who don’t live in Milan and/or those who cannot afford to live in the expensive city (Milan is indeed expensive so it’s important to have a financial plan in place) and thus are looking to intern in a place with lower costs.
How to get a fashion internship in Milan
If you are not living in Milan yet and you want to move there to pursue your dream fashion internship, before embarking on your journey to the fashion capital, it’s crucial to consider a few factors and one of the most important ones is the language.
Learn Italian
I often get the question of whether a non-native Italian speaker should learn the language to work at a fashion company in Italy, and the short answer is yes. Although fashion is an international industry and English is commonly spoken in Italian fashion companies, Italian remains the official language at work and it is definitely appreciated. I recommend you to learn it as it can give you a competitive advantage and make your life in Italy easier.
If you don’t speak Italian yet, you can still apply. Just indicate on your resume that you are studying the language, and start practicing it asap.
Practice your English skills
If you are Italian, you should not be limited to your native language and learn/improve your English as well because it is required for almost any role in fashion.
I remember that more than 10 years ago I was a total beginner in English. I come from a small city in the south of Italy so I didn’t really need it, but when I decided to work in fashion and move to Milan, I knew I needed to learn English. And guess what – I was even tested on my English skills during my first job interview! Knowing the language thus gave me confidence and I successfully passed the test and landed an internship at Alexander McQueen (thanks to my knowledge of Excel as well) where I had to communicate with teams in London.
Decide on the career you want to pursue
When you are at the beginning of your career in fashion, it’s normal to be undecided between several roles/departments and be open to different fashion internships. However, it’s important to set a direction, so try narrowing your options to 1-3 careers and start looking for internships in these fields.
Begin by identifying fashion companies in Milan that align with your interests and career goals. We’ve given you some examples of luxury fashion brands, fashion publications, and PR agencies, but this is not a limited list and there are many more brands. Consider also other agencies, Italian startups, showrooms, and emerging brands.
Where do you see yourself? At a luxury/fashion brand, a magazine, or a PR agency?
Which department are you most interested in? Do you want to intern on the creative or the business side of the industry?
You should answer these questions before looking for fashion internships, because I guess you don’t want to get just any job and waste your time interning at a department you don’t see yourself in.
After you do this analysis, you are ready to look for fashion internships in Milan.
Ok, but where, Giada?
Where to find fashion internships in Milan?
Look for fashion internships online
Fashion companies offer many internships in Milan; I see offers every week so I can assure you there are many opportunities for you.
Start by exploring the career pages of:
- Luxury and fashion groups like Kering, LVMH, Prada Group, and OTB
- Fashion and luxury brands
- Magazines and media groups
- Social media platforms (LinkedIn and Instagram)
to find information about internship programs and application processes.
I also feature the latest fashion jobs and internships every Friday in my newsletter 365 days of fashion.
Try an unconventional application strategy
If you didn’t find an internship offer you like or you’ve applied dozens of times and still got no responses, my friend, you need to change your application strategies.
I am sure you’ve heard already that fashion is a very competitive industry, and Italian fashion companies are very popular, but it doesn’t mean you have to wait for months or years, or that it’s even impossible to get your dream job in fashion if you didn’t go to a fashion school, have no experience, or don’t live in Italy/Milan.
Applying online is the official way BUT it’s not the only way. To stand out among hundreds of other applicants, my advice is to send a cold e-mail to fashion recruiters, editors, and companies in general.
A cold e-mail is a spontaneous application that you send to fashion companies along with your resume, cover letter, and portfolio, and ask for an internship. This strategy usually doesn’t go unnoticed, on the contrary – recruiters love it because it shows your proactivity and determination to work in fashion. I teach more about the cold e-mail in my free webinar.
I hope this article gave you more ideas and insights about fashion internships in Milan.
Need more help with building a stellar application? Register here for my free webinar.
