International Fashion Internships in Canada

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Home to many leading designers, international fashion houses and magazines, Canada is the perfect choice for your fashion internship abroad. From fashion design internships to interning at fashion magazines, land your dream fashion internship in Canada.

Guaranteed International Fashion Internships in Canada

From homegrown brands – such as Lululemon, Roots and Aritzia – to housing internationally-known fashion powerhouses; boutique local designers to eco-conscious Canadian clothing brands, Canada has been influencing the fashion industry for decades. Even if you have some experience with the industry already, an international fashion internship in Canada will give you an edge in the globally competitive fashion job market.

As the world (quite rightly) shifts to a sustainable future, so is Canada’s fashion industry. You can be at the forefront of this change by interning for sustainable fashion labels across Canada. We work with a variety of host employers dedicated to creating eco-friendly garments to protect the planet. From using natural, organic, or recycled materials to creating inclusive garments; adopting zero-waste policies to raising awareness of cruelty-free, vegan fashion, gain valuable insight into the future of fashion.

Whether you’re keen on a fashion design internship or want to work for a magazine, we’ll guarantee you a fashion internship in Canada’s leading cities.

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Why Choose Stepwest

1

Guaranteed Fashion Internship Abroad

Stepwest offers guaranteed internship placements through our Fashion Internship Program, which has been designed completely around you. With this program, you will benefit from our outstanding services, dynamic host companies and ongoing monitoring throughout your international placement.

2

Use Your Internship Towards Academic Credits

If you are currently studying fashion and want to use your internship towards academic credits, we’ve got you covered. From the internship agreement between your academic institution and your host company to the required report at the end of your internship, we make sure your internship aligns with your university or vocational school requirements.

3

Variety of Fashion Internships

Looking for a fashion design internship? Perhaps you’re keen to apply your fashion know-how doing a fashion magazine internship or want to be at the forefront of building a sustainable fashion world. Intern for brands championing social responsibility and inclusiveness; raise awareness for cruelty-free and zero-waste fashion and gain valuable insight into the future of fashion.

4

Our Little Black Book of Fashion Brands

We’ve been helping international students secure fashion internships in Canada for over a decade, and have an extensive network of host companies across Canada. Whether you want to work for a local designer or international fashion brand, our host companies are eager to give internship opportunities to international students studying fashion.

5

Boost Your Global Resume

During your fashion internship abroad, you will gain hands-on fashion work experience in a professional setting, build your global network and acquire industry insights overseas – all valuable skills to stand out in a globally competitive fashion job market.

Our International Fashion Internship Programs:

Year-round

1 - 6 months

From $1,290

Vancouver Fashion Internship

The birthplace of Lululemon and Arc’teryx, Vancouver has long attracted fashion talent from across the world. Home to a growing number of eco-conscious clothing brands, an internship in Vancouver will enable you to learn from the best while embracing the West Coast Lifestyle – laid back, cool and mo

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Year-round

1 - 6 months

From $1,290

Toronto Fashion Internship

A fashion internship in Toronto will land you in Canada’s fashion hub. As one of the world’s most multicultural cities, you’ll be able to network with fashion experts from all over the world – all while gaining work experience at companies trailblazing the fashion industry.

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June onwards

1 - 6 months

From $1,290

Summer Fashion Internships

If you want to intern during your summer break, our Summer Internship Program is just the ticket. As summer internships are shorter, you’ll be trained faster and get to work on fashion projects from the get-go.

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Want to Learn More?

Interested in a fashion internship abroad in Canada or have more questions? Take a look at our FAQ below or get in touch!

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FAQ

Why should I do an international fashion internship in Vancouver?

Vancouver has established brands that originated from this very city, such as Lululemon Athletica and Arc’teryx Equipment. John Fluevog Shoes has been named one of the world’s top-10 most innovative fashion companies and suit-maker Indochino Apparel is making a big impact on the fashion industry as well. Womenswear is one of the largest industries the city has to offer, featuring fashion leaders such as Aritzia, Herschel, Oak+Fort, and much more. If you need more convincing, Vancouver is an excellent choice for you to do your fashion internship in because of the young and vibrant demographic – it’s all about embracing the ‘West Coast Lifestyle’.

Why should I do an international fashion internship in Toronto?

As Canada’s leading fashion hub and one of the world’s most multicultural cities, Toronto is an excellent choice for an international internship. Often cited as the New York of Canada, Toronto is a hub for internationally renowned fashion labels, not to mention forward-thinking, thriving local designers and brands. A fashion internship in Toronto will land you in the thick of it; you’ll gain international fashion experience while experiencing life in the urban jungle.

What can I learn during my fashion internship abroad?

What you learn will depend on the industry you enter. For instance, the experience you gain during a fashion design internship will differ from what you learn during a fashion magazine internship. That being said, you will gain the following skills:

Creativity and artistic sense
Strong drawing skills
Detail orientation
Understanding of texture, colour, and quality fabric
Strong visualization skills
Excellent communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Fashion business acumen
Ability to work under high pressure
Teamwork and leadership
Knowledge of current fashion trends
And more!

How will a fashion internship help my future career?

Having international fashion experience can prove extremely useful if you are looking to break into international design, buying and selling, and getting a sense of North American fashion trends and business practices in the industry. A fashion internship in Canada will give you transferable skills that you can apply to a wealth of career paths, such as:

Marketing Assistant
Social Media Specialist
Design Assistant
Designer
Fashion Photographer
Stylist
Pattern Maker
Art Director
Director Of Sales
Fashion Editor
Fashion Event Planner
Fashion Import/Export
Buyer
Product Development
Creative Technical Development
Merchandise Planning
Trade Marketing
Visual Merchandising
Brand Strategy
Public Relations & Communications
Events & Content Production
Product Photography
Production-Quality Control
Wholesale
Showroom
And more!

When should I apply for 2023 fashion internships?

Planning a 2023 fashion internship abroad? We’re now taking applications, so you can start planning straight away.

However, generally speaking, we recommend you give yourself at least 5-6 months ahead of your planned start date. If you’re wondering why you need to plan so far ahead, let us explain:

You can only apply while the IEC season is open – and it is not open all year long.
You must secure an internship to apply for your visa
The placement process can take between 4 – 6 weeks
Your employer must complete a process with the Government of Canada for you to apply for the visa. This can take some time.
Your internship visa (International Co-Op) will take at least eight weeks to be processed after biometrics
Therefore, you should apply between 5-6 months before your desired start date if you want to be sure that you can make it on time.

So, if you want to do a 2023 summer fashion internship, you must be ready to start as early as January 2023, while for 2023 fall fashion internships, start planning by January.

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