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Over the final days of my apprenticeship with Rachel Roy, I tried to take advantage of the time I had with her and retain as much knowledge as possible. Rachel shared her story with me, and demonstrated to me the relevance of knowing all aspects of the fashion industry. She credits a great deal of her success to the fact that she climbed her way to the top, by working as an intern and in retail, before becoming the famed designer she is today. 

My apprenticeship was primarily focused on learning from Rachel’s experience in the fashion industry and attaining insight and tips to success. Some of these tips include surrounding myself with people smarter than myself, and staying true to my vision. She warned me that I will face difficult decisions throughout my career, but that the hardest decisions to make are usually the right ones. 

I could not have asked for a better mentor than Rachel, as she is truly an inspiration to me. I watched her during a live interview at Macy’s, where she has an impressive section on the women’s designer floor. During the interview, I was so impressed at how well she spoke and answered every question that was asked.

Regardless of my schedule restraints, I plan to continue my apprenticeship with Rachel. In just three days, Rachel motivated me to be the best I can be at my craft. As I continue my apprenticeship, I will share my experiences with you along the way. My hope is that I can be the same kind of inspiration to young designers today that Rachel Roy has been to me. 

—Angela Simmons

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Rachel Roy being interviewed at Macy’s about her collection.