I began my DPS year interning at Labrum London on the 9th of September. Labrum This was just 10 days before Spring/Summer 2026 show. I was thrown straight into the deep end, as everyone was so busy, giving me very little time to adjust.
My role as “studio admin assistant” was purely supportive. I spent most of my time packing orders, assisting with the guest list and running errands for the styling team. At first these tasks felt quite minor and I felt unsure of my place in such a busy and important environment. However, I quickly realised how important these details were in supporting the overall production of the show.
On the 16th of September, I was given a mood board of colour swatches and asked to take the company card and source socks for the entire male and female modelling team. I wasn’t given much else than this and I really had to use my own initiative and knowledge of central London to go out and find the best material. This was one of the first moments where I felt trusted within the team rather than supervised. This new found independence pushed me to be more confident in my decision making.
At this point also I noticed the tension between the design and admin team, so I really didn’t want to add to this by not delivering what I was asked for. This made me more conscious of how I fit within the team, I wanted to be reliable and not create additional stress in an already tense environment.
All though on face value the task of finding socks seems insignificant, in the grand scheme of things these little tasks really make up the show. Small styling details that most wouldn’t bat an eyelid over I learnt was important for putting on a cohesive show.
I also created lookbooks for friends and family attending the show so they could select which Labrum clothing they wanted to wear. This task allowed me to apply my design and presentation skills which I have developed my course. I didn’t have to be taught how to create the lookbook, which made me feel confident. This showed me however small the task my academic knowledge can be translated into a professional setting.
Show day on the 19th of September was one of the most exciting workdays I have ever had. The energy around was chaotic but in the best way. It was really rewarding to see everything come together after such an intense period of preparation. I really enjoyed how fast paced the day was. I prefer working in a busy environment where I must make quick decisions on my own. It made me feel purposeful and trustworthy. The main task I was given was to organise the rails for each models look. I also had too seal the envelopes for all the VIP guests thank you cards with a custom stamp. I needed to make sure that my attention to detail was perfect as I was being trusted to this all on my own.
At the end of the month, we had a team dinner where the company director Foday Dumbuya thanked everyone for their hard work over the show period. It was really nice for all of us to connect outside the pressure of the work environment and
Reflecting on September, I initially did feel very out of place but focusing on the task at hand and being reliable helped me to feel more confident. The initial discomfort showed me the importance of adapting quickly to new environments as it forces you to grow. This month in the fashion industry really highlighted the importance of attention to detail, being adaptable and the ability to work under pressure.