Every fashion student dreams of the day a coveted invitation arrives in the mail—a golden ticket to a Fashion Week runway show. Picture this: sitting alongside industry icons like Anna Wintour, watching models like Joan Smalls command the catwalk in beautifully crafted garments by visionaries like Virgil Abloh or Karl Lagerfeld. That was what I envisioned my life to look like as a young kid.

Is that my life right now? Not quite. Did I inch one step closer last weekend? Here’s hoping.

How I Landed an Internship at Annie’s Ibiza

About a month ago, I landed an internship opportunity from Annie Ibiza’s PR company, Iona Agency, to work behind the scenes of their show on the Saturday of London Fashion Week. So, with a fresh blowout and a perfectly pressed outfit, I headed to my first-ever London fashion week internship—ready to trade livestreams for a firsthand glimpse at the magic behind those meticulously curated shows I had always dreamed of experiencing.

If you know Annie’s Ibiza, you know that walking into one of her boutiques is like waltzing into Daisy Buchanan’s closet before a Gatsby soirée—flamboyant, handpicked vintage pieces drape the velour-lined interiors. Inspired by the hedonistic spirit of Ibiza infused with her own timeless, playful sense of style, Annie Doble commandeered her namesake boutique in Ibizia’s Old Town in 2018. Since then, the English fashion designer has opened another boutique in the U.K. and dressed icons like supermodel Kate Moss and her daughter, Lila.

After cold emailing about 50 brands and PR agencies and offering my enthusiasm and willingness to help during fashion week, only one got back to me. And, as fate would have it, it was the one I had hoped for the most: the agency for Annie’s Ibiza. So after a successful but intimidating interview with Iona herself, I was officially offered the internship.

Pre-Show Preparation

I got ready three hours early and headed to the venue. The moment I set foot into the venue’s gorgeous grand foyer where people darted in every direction, photographers’ flashes lit up the space and models towered over one another, I surprisingly felt a sense of comfort come over me.

After finally meeting Iona and the other interns in person, it was time for a walkthrough of the venue. Iona paid special attention to the main show space—an opulent room where even the slightest glimpse of its imperial interiors and glistening chandeliers would take your breath away. The chandeliers were so massive that some interns were tasked with guarding them during rehearsals. Talk about a high-stakes job.

After directing runway photographers, models and stagehands to their designated areas—and handling garments that cost more than my rent—it was finally time for guests to show up.

Each intern was designated a specific role leading up to showtime. Mine? Greeting each guest as they arrived and escorting them to their seats, making sure no one accidentally walked through the pre-show photoshoot. No pressure, right?

Among those I welcomed were celebrities like Mia Khalifa, influencers like Lola Clark and journalists from every publication, like Women’s Wear Daily, Dazed and Vogue, to name a few. So, to say I was fan-girling is an understatement.

The Show

Then, at last, showtime.

All the interns were invited to watch the show and what a show it was. It was astonishing. Each garment was a masterpiece, draped over the models as if sculpted just for them. The luminous lighting of the hall only heightened the magic of each thread.

The show was over so quickly that it felt like if you blinked you might’ve missed it. To some, the countless hours of work, the meticulous planning, and the dozens of people that go into a 15 minute fashion show might seem excessive. But to me, it was like watching a work of art come to life.

As a London Fashion Week intern for Annie’s Ibiza and Iona Agency, I gained invaluable insight into the fast-paced world behind a major runway show. From the opportunity to develop my own skills as someone in the fashion industry to networking with professionals, journalists and like-minded interns, the experience was truly unparalleled.

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