Fashion & Textile Illustration Internship

About Suzie Turner Couture

Suzie Turner Couture is a London based couture house established over 30 years ago. We create bespoke couture pieces for private clients and a select number of public figures worldwide, with every garment designed, constructed, and embellished in-house at our London atelier.

Our studio is a small, focused team where craftsmanship, patience and attention to detail are central to everything we do. Couture is a highly technical and precise discipline, and developing true skill takes time, care, and practice.

Our internships are designed as hands-on learning experiences within a working couture atelier. Interns work alongside our team and are supported day-to-day through demonstrations, guidance, and practical tasks, giving you the opportunity to develop professional skills while gaining insight into how a small couture house operates.

We welcome students who are curious, reliable, detail-oriented, and genuinely interested in learning about both craftsmanship and the discipline behind couture work.

Length of Internship: Minimum 5 months +

Description

This internship focuses on the illustration and visual development of couture designs and bespoke client concepts. This role also involves experimenting with hand painting on various silk fabrics.

You will work closely with the Creative Director and Studio Manager assisting in the creation of illustrations used for collection pieces and bespoke client presentations.

General Requirements

• All internships are Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm.
• This internship is only available to students currently enrolled in full-time education at a college or university, where a placement is a required element of their course.
• We do not offer remote or part-time placements.

Skills / Experience

• Currently studying fashion, illustration, or a related field
• Strong hand-drawing or painting ability
• Experience with mediums such as watercolour, colour pencil or acrylic
• Digital illustration skills are highly beneficial
• Willingness to refine techniques and develop skills
• Ability to create realistic, life like human definition
• Ability to illustrate different fabrics and capturing fabric movement

What You Will Learn

• How to illustrate fabrics, embellishments, and embroidery details
• How illustrations communicate a brand’s visual identity
• How to reflect a client’s personality through design drawings
• How couture presentations are created
• The design process from illustration to sampling and final garment

Please Note

• This internship is unpaid.
• We are unable to organise visas for international students.
• The internship must be a required element of your course.
• A letter from your tutor or placement coordinator confirming this will be required during the application process.
• This internship is full-time and in person. We do not facilitate remote work.

We understand that committing to an unpaid placement requires a genuine investment of your time and energy, and we do not take that lightly. The early stages of a creative career are a critical time for building real technical ability, confidence, and professional understanding, and gaining hands-on experience in a working studio environment can play an important role in that development.

Our internships are structured as true training placements rather than production roles. In the first weeks especially, our team dedicates significant time to demonstrations, close supervision, mentoring and feedback so that interns can develop their skills with care and precision.

For a small atelier this teaching time is a real commitment, but it is also where the greatest learning happens. Interns join us to observe, practise and grow within the studio environment and not to carry out menial tasks or replace paid members of the team. Our aim is to provide a supportive and professional space where emerging creatives can gain meaningful experience and a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship and discipline behind couture.

At the heart of our atelier is a shared spirit, we place the greatest value on attitude. We are looking for individuals who bring a positive, respectful, and inclusive energy to the atelier, who are generous in spirit, considerate of others, and genuinely invested in contributing to a supportive team environment.

Our work is highly collaborative, and we believe the best learning happens when everyone feels encouraged, valued, and uplifted. A willingness to listen, to learn, and a genuine appreciation for being part of a craft is essential, which is why we warmly welcome those who take pride in being part of something bigger than themselves.