Product Development and Production Intern

Product Development and Production Internship

Cara Cara New York - New York, NY

Temporary, Internship

Do not pass up this chance, apply quickly if your experience and skills match what is in the following description.

Company Description

Cara Cara New York is an independently owned fashion brand founded in 2019 by Julia Brown, Katie Hobbs, and Sasha Martin, who bring expertise from fashion design, digital media, ecommerce, finance, and marketing. The brand is known for vivid colors, original prints, and silhouettes that balance optimism, ease, and precise tailoring. Cara Cara has grown from a small collection of printed cotton poplin dresses into a full ready-to-wear offering that includes knits, tailoring, eveningwear, and outerwear. The company is led by a team that values integrity, creativity, and designing clothing that helps individuals look and feel good in all aspects of life. Collections are created to bring beauty and confidence to every occasion.

Role Description

The Product Development and Production Intern will support the end-to-end development process for Cara Cara's collections in a full-time, on-site role based in New York, NY. Day-to-day responsibilities include assisting with sample development, tracking styles through the product lifecycle, organizing and updating product specifications, and coordinating with vendors and factories on materials, trims, and production timelines. The intern will help review line sheets, support fittings and sample reviews, and maintain accurate production records and inventory-related documentation. This role also involves compiling insights for the design and production teams, and supporting cross-functional communication to ensure on-time, quality deliveries. The intern will collaborate closely with multiple departments to gain hands-on experience in fashion product development and production.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and organize the sample closet, fabric and trim library, and material archive, ensuring all materials are properly labeled and easily accessible.
• Check in development and production samples as they arrive, log receipt in WIPs, steam garments, and samples on designated racks for review meetings and fittings.
• Track sample status from proto through SMS and TOP in line with the delivery calendar (TNA), flagging delays to the team.
• Assist with tracking and submitting lab dips, strike-offs, and trim approvals, maintaining organized records of comments and approval status.
• Support the development team with fabric and trim sourcing, including requesting swatches and headers from mills and vendors.
• Attend development and production reviews as needed to take notes, organize samples, and assist with follow up.
• Create, organize, and maintain seasonal fabric and trim materials, including swatches, mill cards, sample yardage cuttings, and line sheet binders, from development through bulk production.
• Package, label, and organize outbound shipments to factories, vendors, and partners.
• Track and reconcile incoming and outgoing samples to minimize loss and improve accountability.
• Conduct quality control checks on bulk packaging received with TOP samples, identifying and resolving issues before shipment.
• Support development to production handoff by organizing samples, documentation, and materials for internal teams and external partners.
• Take initiative in supporting the team with data entry, urgent development and production needs, errands, and process improvements as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong Communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Keen attention to detail and problem-solving skills in garment construction
• Familiarity with development and production processes
• Previous internship or coursework in development or production is a plus
• Fashion Design, Production, or Technical Design undergraduate Junior/Senior or graduate
• Strong computer skills. xhyhwjd Knowledge of Adobe, Microsoft Office, and Excel
• Time management skills and ability to work independently

Timeline 

ASAP - March 2027

Available Tuesday and Thursday from 9:45am-5:45pm.

Compensation

Paid $22.00/hr, and college credit depending on the requirements of your college or university.