| SEM 6.5 | Fashion Design Technology Final Project 1 |

Ting Shi Yann_0348682

Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology (Honours) 

Internship 

Company Name: Love Gown Couture

Location: Kuchai Lama, Malaysia
Duration: January – March 2025

Introduction 

My 12-week internship at Love Gown Couture—a boutique bridal studio blending Eastern and Western elegance—was a transformative journey in design, craftsmanship, and client relations. Under the mentorship of founders Sylvia and Estee Tan, I contributed to Cheongsam collections, bridal fittings, and a major showcase event while overcoming personal communication challenges. As an image consultant and seamstress, I honed both technical and creative skills in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.

Week 1 (6-12 Jan 2025):

My first week was an exciting dive into bridal and traditional wear. After training on company processes, I took on hands-on tasks like repairing a Kua and studying embellishment placements, learning the importance of precision. I also designed a new Cheongsam and created social media content, blending tradition with modern aesthetics. Additional training on fabrics and client consultations deepened my understanding of craftsmanship and customer needs. Though adjusting to the meticulous pace was challenging, completing my first design left me eager for more.

Week 2 (13-19 Jan 2025):

This week balanced technical and branding work: patching lace onto a Cheongsam, preparing partnership hampers, and decorating the studio for Chinese New Year (CNY). I conducted quality checks on new gowns, sharpening my attention to detail, and attended image consultation training to refine my styling insights. Juggling design tasks with event prep was demanding, but I grew more confident in handling delicate fabrics and contributing to festive setups.

Week 3 (20-26 Jan 2025):

I meticulously cut and hand-sewed lace onto the train for the new Cheongsam collection. As part of market research, I visited studios—Wonkyu, Amadale, and Meliora Storia—to gather insights. After these visits, I streamlined customer fitting sessions, ensuring clients could try on all five gowns within an hour, significantly improving time efficiency. The research also deepened my understanding of how cultural trends influence design. Before the CNY break, we celebrated with a year-end dinner.

Week 4 (27 Jan–2 Feb 2025): 

With most of the week on CNY break, I reflected on prior lessons—like embellishment techniques and client communication—and returned refreshed. Though tasks were minimal, I reviewed past work to identify improvements, such as speeding up the lace application.

Week 5 (3–9 Feb 2025):

Back in action, I altered men’s suits, attached lace to a Cheongsam train, and assisted in fittings. Crafting social media content honed my digital storytelling, while image consultations strengthened my ability to match designs to personal styles. A key challenge? Removing a pen ink stain from a gown—teaching me quick problem-solving under pressure!

Week 6 (10–16 Feb 2025):

This week, I blended creativity and precision as I sketched new Cheongsam designs, altered a gown's hemline, and guided brides through image consultations. Researching lace patterns sparked fresh inspiration while adapting to design revisions strengthened my flexibility. The highlight came when my design Cheongsam proposal earned the team's approval, perfectly capturing our brand's elegant fusion of tradition and modernity.

Week 7 (17–23 Feb 2025):

This week focused on lace attachment and quality control—repairing a torn gown panel and prepping skirts for events. Introducing the brand to walk-in customers boosted my public speaking confidence, while troubleshooting ink stains on a coat taught me resourcefulness. The team’s growing trust in me was evident as I handled more client interactions independently.

Week 8 (24 Feb–2 Mar 2025):

I collaborated on the new Cheongsam collection, placing beads on lace and planning the showcase event. Serving customers and trimming lace reinforced my multitasking skills. A key takeaway? Event logistics demand as much creativity as design—like brainstorming how to display garments for maximum impact.

Week 9 (3–9 Mar 2025):

I patched beaded lace onto Cheongsams and crafted thank-you cards for the event, blending technical and artistic work. Social media content creation and customer consultations kept me engaged while finalizing event details underscored the importance of deadlines. The week ended with a finished card design—a small but satisfying contribution.

Week 10 (10–16 Mar 2025):

The showcase event became my main focus this week - I prepared all the attendee cards, thank-you cards and model cards, helped dress the models, and carefully arranged each gown for the runway presentation. After the exciting show, I and two other colleagues handled post-event tasks like cleaning and organizing the garments while still assisting customers. Though completely exhausting, nothing compared to the incredible feeling of seeing our designs finally come to life on stage - every hectic moment was absolutely worth it for that magical experience.

Week 11 (17–23 Mar 2025):

This week showed my growing confidence in handling clients independently. I styled brides, explained fabric and design differences, and addressed their concerns with ease. Between consultations, I worked on the final Cheongsam lace details and JH Pixel shoot alterations. My hand-sewing became faster and more precise, while each fitting taught me how to better adapt designs to clients' visions.

Week 12 (24–31 Mar 2025):

  In my final week, I assisted in fitting sessions with a Vietnam tailor, patched lace, and participated in team-building activities. Unpicking a gown for alterations reminded me that even deconstruction requires care. As I wrapped up, I left with newfound expertise in traditional wear design, client relations, and event execution—ready to apply these lessons beyond Love Gown.