Apparel Product Development & Design Intern

APPAREL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN INTERN

DancePhreakz

Location: Los Angeles County, CA | Hybrid
Position Type: Part-Time Internship
Schedule: Approximately 8–15 hours per week; occasional evening/weekend availability may be required
Compensation: Paid Internship
Reports To: Founder & CEO and/or Designated Supervisor

About the Organization:
DancePhreakz is a dynamic, women-owned, and BIPOC-led dance and entertainment production company that is revolutionizing the industry. We bring creativity, energy, and authenticity to the world of dance and movement. Through our four divisions—Production, Apparel, Academy, and our newly acquired studio and event space—we aim to build a platform where BIPOC movement artists thrive, fostering a community that is unapologetically fierce, creative, and ready to make an impact.

ABOUT PHRKZ COLLECTIVE

Phrkz Collective is the apparel and lifestyle division of DancePhreakz, a growing entertainment, movement, media, and culture-driven company. As Phrkz Collective enters its next chapter, we are preparing to refresh the brand, develop a new apparel collection, strengthen our product strategy, and build a more sustainable process for designing, sourcing, producing, and launching merchandise. We are looking for an emerging creative who wants hands-on experience helping take an apparel collection from initial concept to finished product.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Phrkz Collective is seeking a creative, fashion-forward, and resourceful Apparel Product Development & Design Intern to support the development of our next apparel collection and the continued evolution of the Phrkz Collective brand.

This position combines creative design, fashion research, product development, sourcing, merchandising, and production coordination.

The Intern will work with the Founder and team to research trends, develop product concepts, assist with designs, identify sourcing and manufacturing options, coordinate samples, evaluate product costs, and help prepare new products for production and launch.

We are not necessarily looking for someone who only designs garments from scratch. We are interested in someone who understands that developing a successful apparel line also requires making smart decisions about product, customer, quality, sourcing, cost, pricing, and marketability.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone interested in fashion design, product development, fashion merchandising, streetwear, lifestyle brands, or apparel entrepreneurship who wants experience building a collection in a real business environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Research & Collection Development

• Research apparel, streetwear, athleisure, dancewear, lifestyle, and consumer trends relevant to the Phrkz Collective audience.
• Conduct competitor and market research to identify products, styles, pricing, materials, colors, silhouettes, and opportunities within the market.
• Assist with developing concepts, themes, mood boards, color palettes, product assortments, and creative direction for upcoming collections.
• Help determine which products should be developed based on brand identity, customer appeal, production feasibility, cost, and sales potential.
• Contribute fresh ideas for apparel, accessories, merchandise, limited-edition drops, and other potential products.

Design & Product Development

• Assist with developing apparel graphics, design concepts, product mockups, and other visual materials for new merchandise.
• Help translate creative concepts into products that can realistically be sourced or produced.
• Assist with selecting garment styles, blanks, fabrics, colors, trims, printing methods, embroidery, embellishments, packaging, and other product details.
• Support the development and organization of product specifications, reference materials, sample notes, and production information.
• Participate in sample reviews and help document revisions related to fit, quality, color, artwork, construction, or overall product presentation.

Sourcing & Production Research

• Research and identify potential manufacturers, wholesalers, blank apparel suppliers, screen printers, embroiderers, specialty vendors, and other production partners.
• Help evaluate whether products should be developed through custom manufacturing, private label, premium blanks, screen printing, embroidery, or other production methods.
• Request and organize vendor information including pricing, minimum order quantities, turnaround times, sample costs, production capabilities, and customization options.
• Compare vendors and sourcing options based on quality, cost, minimums, reliability, production timeline, and potential profitability.
• Assist with ordering and tracking samples and communicating revisions or production needs with vendors as assigned.
• Maintain organized vendor, sourcing, product, and production records.

Merchandising, Costing & Launch Preparation

• Assist with researching competitive retail pricing and helping determine appropriate price ranges for new products.
• Help track estimated product costs and basic product margins to support profitable purchasing and production decisions.
• Assist with developing a balanced product assortment across styles, price points, and product categories.
• Collaborate with the e-commerce, marketing, social media, and creative teams as products move toward launch.
• Help prepare product information, samples, collection details, and other materials needed for product photography, campaigns, e-commerce, and launch.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a strong interest in fashion, streetwear, athleisure, dancewear, lifestyle brands, or apparel product development.
• Has a strong creative eye and understands current fashion and consumer trends.
• Can balance creativity with business considerations such as cost, quality, customer demand, and profitability.
• Enjoys researching products, vendors, materials, trends, and new ideas.
• Is resourceful and willing to find solutions rather than waiting for every step to be provided.
• Is highly organized and comfortable managing multiple products, vendors, samples, and deadlines.
• Can communicate professionally with vendors, team members, and external partners.
• Is comfortable receiving creative feedback and revising concepts.
• Is excited about helping shape the next evolution of an existing apparel brand.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing or recently completed studies in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Product Development, Product Design, Fashion Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Some experience with apparel design, product development, fashion merchandising, sourcing, or a related area through school, employment, freelance work, personal projects, or internships.
• Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Procreate, or similar creative/design tools is preferred.
• Ability to create or assist with apparel mockups and visual product concepts is strongly preferred.
• Basic understanding of garment construction, textiles, printing, embroidery, manufacturing, or apparel production is a plus.
• Strong research, organization, communication, and time-management skills.
• Portfolio, school projects, apparel concepts, mood boards, designs, or other examples of relevant creative work are strongly encouraged.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

This internship provides hands-on experience helping develop and reposition a growing apparel and lifestyle brand.

The Intern will gain exposure to the full apparel product-development process:

Internship Details

• Schedule: 8–15 hours per week with flexible scheduling to accommodate classes or other commitments.
• Location: Hybrid—remote editing plus occasional on-site filming in Gardena, CA.
• Compensation: Paid internship
• Academic credit available if approved by your institution.

Other Information:

• Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
• EOE Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.