If you’re a fashion fanatic, studying in Italy is like being a kid in a candy store. You can stroll along the world-famous Via Condotti where Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, and Louis Vuitton boast luxury boutiques.
You’ll enjoy two rounds of Rome Fashion Week, in January and July, in which the city comes alive with runway shows, exhibitions, talks, and conferences.
Or, you can just sit back and scope out Rome’s always impressive street fashion by people-watching at a local café.
But what if you want to take your passion a step further, and lay the groundwork for a career in fashion? You’re in the right place!
Here are just a few ways you can break into Italy’s fashion scene while you study abroad in Rome at John Cabot University.
1. Choose Fashion-Friendly Electives While You Study Abroad
Students at JCU can give their fashion career a boost by enrolling in electives like “Retailing Applied to Fashion Industry” that teach students how to manage product life-cycles, operations and logistics, and measure store performance.
Even electives that aren’t fashion-specific can help students develop related technical and creative skills. If you want to become a fashion photographer after graduation, for example, then taking an elective in photojournalism on location in Rome is definitely a smart first step.
2. Join JCU's Fashion Club as a Study Abroad Student
Whether you decide to study abroad for a semester or for the duration of your degree, joining a student-led club can be an ideal way to build a social network while feeding your passion for fashion.
Perfect for fashionistas of every background, the JCU Fashion Club offers members opportunities to:
- host a fashion show
- attend fashion-related conventions and conferences in Rome
- build a network of professional contacts in Italy’s fashion industry
- develop a professional portfolio
And there are other clubs that offer fashion-lovers outlets for skill-building, such as the JCU student-run newspaper, The Matthew, to which aspiring critics can submit reviews of fashion shows and related industry events in Rome.
John Cabot University’s Art History Club is another excellent option for students looking to explore shared interests in design, artistic expression, and creative production. Studying beautiful and diverse works of art has always been a source of inspiration for budding fashion designers.
3. Apply for an Internship While Attending University in Italy
For many international students in Italy, getting practical hands-on experience abroad provides a tremendous career advantage.
The JCU Career Center helps connect students with internship opportunities in their professional field of choice, including fashion. The Center has built relationships with over 350 collaborating organizations, and is dedicated to helping students hone practical skills, gain course credit, and build professional contacts.
Competition for top internships is tough, though, so be sure to meet with an expert JCU advisor to review your CV, cover letter, and go over interview techniques.
Do you want to study at an American university in Italy?
Visit JCU to discover how studying in Rome changes lives, and learn more about admissions!
