Dayne’s 2023

Dayne Thompson, a CWC Year 1 Fellow,  has been with us from the start. She serves as an inspiration for all our Fellows, demonstrating the success and impact our program can have on a student's life.

Since joining our program in 2021 Dayne has been a part of every aspect of our program, from pre-college to internships and mentorships, she has been a fixture at CWC. 2023 is a testament to her hard work and continuous partnership with CWC. 

Dayne at a photoshoot

While pursuing her studies at Parsons School of Design, Dayne was actively engaged with CWC this year. She kicked off 2023 by participating in our new partnership program with SKIMS, CAMP SKIMS X CWC. This was an exclusive training initiative for CWC Fellows. Led by industry leaders from SKIMS and CWC, the sessions equipped Fellows with essential skills for their education and careers.

In addition to the virtual camp, one CWC Fellow was offered a coveted paid internship at the SKIMS Headquarters in Los Angeles Over the summer. The student chosen was Dayne. She was  chosen based on her high-level of engagement during the sessions. The internship will not only help boost her  applications when seeking full-time employment, but it will also allow her to make connections at  SKIMS for possible future endeavors. 

Dayne at SKIMS Headquarters in Los Angeles

Before her internship started, she got the opportunity to attend the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger in May 2023. This exclusive event allowed her to meet Awake NY founder Angelo Baque and Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton. Fellows were provided insight into how new corporate brand collaborations work, from concept to creation to amplification.

Dayne during the Miami Grand Prix Hot Lap

Initially hesitant about corporate fashion, Dayne's perspective transformed during her time at SKIMS. The internship exposed her to the aspects of teamwork and the creative atmosphere within the corporate fashion industry.

We got the opportunity to catch up with Dayne, to learn about her experience as an intern at the SKIMS headquarters in Los Angeles. 

What were some of your main tasks at the internship?

“Every day was a little different, I was an intern for “khy” officially, so I would report to the “khy” office every day, but oftentimes I would have extra time to help the other departments so I got to know most of the SKIMS team fairly well. I became especially acquainted with the Lounge Department and the Intimates Department. I helped with organization, cataloging, and prep for fittings. As time went on they started to give me more advanced tasks where I was able to research for a project or learn skills from the different teams. 

I also assisted with the PR/marketing team which was cool because I was able to see the behind-the-scenes thought process for how celebrities and influencers get swag. Additionally, I worked with the color team, which was enriching, because I had never considered all of the intricacies of trying to match colors for different parts of a garment.”

Dayne at SKIMS Headquarters in Los Angeles

What did you learn during your internship?

“Interning for SKIMS helped me improve my listening skills; I became much more aware of when I didn’t fully understand a task. Rather than carry out a task wrong and be too embarrassed to ask for help, I became much more confident in asking questions and making space for myself. 

I also feel like I became more outgoing because I would go around meeting new people and seeing if I could shadow them or assist them with a task most days, and that's not something you can be shy about. Every department needed someone to steam their garments and hang their clothes! I became very good at that, a part of my daily routine was always spent doing that.”

Did the internship change your perspective on anything?

“Before interning for SKIMS I was not at all interested in working in corporate fashion. After seeing the team dynamics and the creative atmosphere at SKIMS, I now see how rewarding working with a team like SKIMS could be. I want to go into costume design which is not very corporate, but I would also like to keep my connection to SKIMS for as long as I can! I also became aware of how important it was to see people of color in my workspace. Los Angeles itself is a pretty diverse city, and that was reflected in the workspace, which was affirming to see and be around.”

Dayne at SKIMS Headquarters during her internship.

Dayne's internship was a resounding success, and she's already been asked to intern again at SKIMS next summer

Now, back at Parsons, she continues to excel in studying sustainability in fashion, while developing her artistic skills. At CWC, we remain dedicated to supporting Dayne as she navigates her path in the fashion industry.