TCU fashion majors seem to have the franchise on glamorous internships. They spend their time wrapped in the hottest and sometimes most innovative design and fashion shops in the world. They study under heavy-hitters like Chanel and Escada. They spend their days at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom or the Gap. You might say they have a “ramped” up education.

And it’s all required. Students in TCU’s design, merchandising and textiles department must enroll in an upper-level course that takes them, literally, around the country as interns in the fashion industry.

Each year nearly 60 fashion students find these internships because their professors are so, well, fashionable. And well-connected. Sally Fortenberry, faculty internship coordinator and former chair of the department, seems to know everyone in the industry, and that opens doors to internships at Pier 1, Neiman Marcus, Harolds, Ralph Lauren Children’s Wear and Nordstrom locally; Foley’s and Garden Ridge in Houston; Nordstrom, the Gap, The Buckle and Talbot’s in Chicago; and Liz Claiborne in Atlanta. And the list goes on.

For some, the ultimate destination is the Big Apple, where this summer eight students found themselves dressed up at top dogs Moschino, Gaulthier, DKNY and Jeffery of New York, one of the hottest retail boutiques in the city these days. Jeffery caters to celebrities and many consider it the center of a new SoHo. In the big city the students extracted lessons as they promoted fashion through public relations and fashion merchandising.

This type of experience is essential. When a fashion editor from a commercial or trade publication requests certain pieces from the collection for a photo spread, these students are responsible for bringing in the collection, inventorying and photographing it, and filling the request. Then they ship the pieces to the magazine and follow up after the shoot, Fortenberry said. “The idea is to get the brand seen in as many places as possible.”

Promotion interns help organize and run preseason shows for fashion editors. This summer’s interns found models and put pieces together for an in-house showing of their designers’ spring ’04 lines.

Merchandising interns deal with logistics and sales. Senior Aimee Blevins interned for the senior account executive for designer Donna Karan’s menswear line, DKNY Men. The Edmond, Okla., native said that living in New York was a “culture shock” but that she has grown to love the energy of the city. The internship has given her “a great handle” on what it’s like to work in the real world.

“I firmly believe that I have grown as a person, as well as improved skills I already possessed,” she said. “The best learning experience for me was participating in market, which is when DKNY presents a season’s collection to different buyers from all over the U.S. and Canada.”

During market, Blevins helped set up the showroom, assisted the executives during their appointments, helped with model fittings (“a definite perk”) and even helped present an appointment toward the end of market.

“Having them ask me to show an appointment was a huge compliment, as it showed trust and confidence in me from the executives,” she said.

Blevins was able to land her internship because of the unique relationship TCU has developed with the companies. Fortenberry said that New York internship sites continually ask for TCU interns “because of their positive attitudes and enthusiasm.”

Part of the reason the program is so successful is because the students establish objectives they need to meet while there. Fortenberry then follows up during the 10-week internship with a personal visit to the store, a practice not typical of other programs. “By having specifics they want to learn, the students get the best, most well-rounded exposure to that organization,” she said. “Our internship program is designed to provide a win-win situation for the students and supervisors.

“We want all involved to benefit from the experience.”