Behind the Curtains: NYFW

Since the moment I stepped foot in New York City, I understood why it is called the global fashion capital. Fashion and style pulses through every corner of the city, with every street showcasing its own unique creativity. But I always wondered: Where do these inspirations come from? What fuels the creative energy that makes this city a fashion powerhouse? All my questions were answered when I attended New York Fashion Week—not just as a spectator, but as the personal backstage assistant for Tsakani Mashaba, founder of Hamethop. 

All clothes we see on the runway are artistic statements which convey specific themes. Some designers wish to portray their culture, people, community, or even a social concept. Tsakani combines the concepts of design, architecture and fashion that she feels familiar with both physically and mentally, expressing her sense of individuality and joy. As a member of the African Fashion Council, which represents and uplifts African brands to the international stage, she promoted brands such as Neimil, GUGUBYGUGU, MUNKUS, Hamethop, and Manthe Ribane Liebmann. Every designer had their own people and cultures to represent, and they did so beautifully through the collections they designed. With so many designers and models, the backstage was buzzing with excitement, and I was fully immersed in the experience.

The chaotic backstage scene was filled with designers and interns rushing from one place to another, models giving measurements for their outfits and practicing their walks, and photographers yelling for poses. The frantic rush and the sounds of clicking heels were invigorating and inspiring, especially for someone like me, who grew up flipping through magazine covers. There was only one word that appropriately captured the scene: Chaos.

Once I had spotted Tsakani, it was endless hours of laborious work. In my first hour, I was handed the responsibility of overseeing the dresses for last-minute touch-ups and steam-ironing. My second task was to run down to Macy’s and choose shoes for one of the models. Interns are generally at the beck and call of their designers, but even a contribution as small as selecting pieces that would walk the runway at one of the most iconic shows of the year meant the world.

As showtime approached, I was assigned to help the other designers and models alongside the other interns. While the backstage scene is an eye-opener to the world of fashion, it is also a valuable space to learn and network with your peers, designers, and managers about upcoming fashion opportunities—especially if you are in New York and seeking a career in fashion, you cannot afford to leave any stones unturned. During rush hour, it was all chop, chop, chop. We helped models change into their outfits, directed them in the right direction to prepare them for their next walk, lined them up in order under the pressure of time…and repeat. (I even became a mock model for Tsakani!)

With such a life-altering opportunity at hand, designers have little room for mistakes, and it is understandable for them to seem tense and condescending. Mishaps are bound to happen in a time crunch, though, and this is when you hope that your employer (or designer) goes easy on you. Let’s just say I got lucky! At one point, I was told to get shoes in a UK size 5, but mistakenly brought back a UK 4.5–making the model squeeze her feet into them. I braced myself for a humiliating scolding in public, but while Tsakani seemed disappointed, she let the mistake go without a scene. I have heard stories of interns being treated as servants just because they are unpaid, which discourages many from taking up volunteering opportunities in the future. Fortunately, my first experience was different, and it truly altered my vantage point of the fashion industry.

If you are someone who wants to dive into fashion as a career, volunteering offers a great opportunity to do so and reveal show fashion goes far beyond just dressing up. If you are that someone, let me share some tips and tricks on how to get started:

Step 1: The schedules for NYFW get posted approximately a month or more before. Get on Eventbrite and Craigslist to apply for volunteering positions. If you are looking to work closer with a specific brand, go on their websites and look for their job postings. 

Step 2: Even if websites don’t have the job postings you are looking for, consider reaching out directly. Cold email their marketing or PR or HR team, or even try cold messaging on LinkedIn. 

Step 3: Keep your message straight and short. Introduce yourself and why you are interested in volunteering and if there are any similar volunteering opportunities. Be sure to also detail your time slots of availability. 

Brands are usually busy during this time, so they might take time to respond–or even not respond at all. Contact as many brands as possible to increase your chances of volunteering, and start early. This is a hectic time for them, and a helping hand is always appreciated!

Some helpful tips: 

Tip 1: Always self-check the work assigned to you. (Don’t make the mistake I made!) 

Tip 2: Network and connect with as many people as you can, especially if you want to participate in upcoming events. 

Tip 3: After the event, write a message to thank them for the opportunity and that you are available to connect further if they are in need of help. (In my case, I had dinner with the Tsakani after the show.) 

Tip 4: As exciting as it is to work for big brands, you always learn more when you work for the smaller ones–this is where the magic happens. 

Life is all about taking up new challenges and opportunities, and New York City offers  tons of chances to do just that. Make the most of it, as many people don’t have this advantage! Most importantly, use this opportunity to learn about yourself and what you want to do in the future—fashion is not for the faint of heart. Behind the polished, aesthetic pictures you see on billboards and online, there lies a lot of hard work and months of meticulous planning. The process is slow and tedious, and you start from the bottom and work your way up. The competition is doubtlessly cut-throat—but that is what makes it so fun.