Internship at TOI – Mitali from IIT Kanpur

Girls, if you want to have insight in the fashion world, read it out. From taking interviews to experiencing exclusive parties, to run around for news to sit and think for the story, Mitali has done it all. She never imagined that she would land up in one of the India’s top magazines, but she rested her case in faith and now she is leading a great life.

I interned as an Editorial Intern for a fashion magazine in Mumbai. The magazine, Grazia, is one of the top Indian magazines and is part of the prestigious Times of India Group.

Coming from a family that had no connections in the world of fashion, I knew no one and nothing about the trade. I was aware superficially, thanks to what I had heard from my professors at college. I’d been fascinated by fashion since I was 15. Writing had always been my top skill, and so I decided to give Editorial work a shot.

A friend had been following the features writer of Grazia for a while and informed me that she’d tweeted about a need of interns at the Grazia office, in Mumbai. I jumped at the opportunity and wasted no time in applying. While applying, I sent few samples of my past work (fashion styling projects, fashion articles, publication design etc) along with my resume. I think a relevant portfolio essays your skills perfectly and gives the recruiter an excellent idea about what you’re capable of, and what potential you could possibly have.

I was interviewed over the phone and given verbal confirmation. I was honestly not very happy with the stipend offered, that too in a city like Mumbai. But I knew I had to give this a shot and get a clear view of how the Fashion Publication industry works, and gladly accepted.

I still remember my first day, as I stood outside the Times Group Building. I felt tiny as I stood in its front porch waiting for my turn to entering. There’s something very enthralling about the walk from the Victoria Terminus platform to the main Times Group building. It was fascinating to watch employees go in and out, talking about news columns, some signatory who needs to be featured and few simply discussing the Mumbai weather.

Times Group houses many magazines (including Femina, Hello, Lonely Planet, Filmfare, Good Food etc.) along with the TOI newspaper. So it’s no surprise that every second person you encounter may be coming from a completely different team. Grazia is the Indian edition of the Italian women’s fashion and celebrity gossip magazine called Grazia, covering fashion, health, and current events, and is targeted at affluent urban women.

My internship began with secondary, and sometimes primary research for upcoming magazine stories. While one day, I interviewed an upcoming musician, the next day I was to get quotes from a popular chef or makeup artist. Most of my work centered around back-of-the-book stories, and beauty products related stories. I was expected to compile the article/piece given to me and send it to the features writer, who would then edit and send it to the Managing Editor for approval.

Along with this, I assisted on Grazia Young Fashion Awards, the magazine’s initiative to promote young fashion talent in the country. It’s a part of the magazine Anniversary Issue, which is released every April. As part of the Fashion Awards, my work started with research about upcoming young designers in the country, their design sensibility, and unique attributes. This was followed by personally getting information from each designer about his/her work, coordinating getting their garment samples and making sure they’re not ruined despite and time (and space) crunch. Further, I got a chance to attend the session where industry experts judge the best designers and discuss these new designers. I will not deny that one of the guilty pleasures was getting to accompany the senior professionals of the magazine to 7-star hotels and getting a taste of a life I’d have never imagined. I even got to assist in fashion shoots, where I learned hands-on about art-direction, sourcing, few styling tricks and studio photography.

I felt extremely lucky to be a part of the coveted Anniversary Issue, since it exposed me to the best of stories and projects that go into making a fashion magazine, from the cover-shoot to trending fashion stories to celebrity interviews and much more!

My internship ended with getting a chance attend the Young Fashion Awards in person, where I saw Bollywood’s who’s who, along with many fashion designers, brand pundits, bloggers, stand-up comedians, stylists, and socialites.

By my fourth month, I was well aware of what goes into making a fashion magazine, which is far more than what I’d thought before going to Grazia. Those glossy pages that one reads in the comfort of their homes, truly have endless hours of hard work, brainstorming and endless responsibility. It showed me how simple ideas can be transformed to inspire modern women to embrace their physiques and dress better.

This internship experience is particularly close to my heart because it landed me my first job. I believe the folks at Grazia were happy with my work because they hired me as an Editorial trainee soon after my internship. Further, it’s my personal example of chasing my dreams, no matter what the odds. Never as a teenager had I thought I’d get a chance to chase my dreams of working in the field of fashion. I’m glad I didn’t shy away, and that’s exactly what I would tell other people reading this too.

If Mitali’s experience motivates you, you can check the latest internships in Mumbai and latest Media internships.

Editor’s note- If you also have an interesting story to share, you can now participate in Your Internship Story Contest 2016 and win cash prizes and goodies worth Rs. 1 Lac!