Winter 2009/2010 INTERNSHIP

We are a young high-end accessory company based in lower Midtown Manhattan. Design, Sampling, Sales, Press and Production are handled within our corporate offices, and interns will accordingly gain exposure to many aspects of the luxury accessories business.

We are seeking highly organized, detail-oriented and numbers-oriented candidates with a strong desire to learn for our Sales/Marketing department, which encompasses wholesale, retail (web store), marketing and press functions. Full and part-time internships are available for Winter 2009/2010, from the beginning of November 2009 through February 2010.

One should have a passion for accessories and the fashion industry, but more importantly a positive attitude and willingness to learn. Wholesale is the business side of fashion, where branding, market analysis and customer relationships are developed and supported on a quarterly calendar, centered around sales market four times per year in New York City and Paris, France.

RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to)

• Assist with Pre-Fall ’10 and Fall ‘10 footwear and accessory sales market scheduling and preparation, including linesheet creation, sample inventory/photography, showroom merchandising and presentation

• Support sales in the post-market responsibilities of order review/correction and order entry

• Help to maintain ongoing wholesale distribution analysis, including research of potential new accounts

• Assist in the management of press requests and press organization

• Participate in store visits with wholesale team to New York City locations such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Intermix and Bloomingdales for product knowledge seminars and maintenance of merchandising standards

• General sales assistance such as selling organization and analysis (from major and boutique accounts), RA/RTV and reorder processing and maintenance of web store orders and appearance

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL POSSESS

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel, knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop a plus

• Previous internship experience in relevant field

• Excellent follow-through and organizational skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• The desire/intent to pursue a career in the fashion industry

This is an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to and hands-on experience in all facets of a luxury accessories brand from design to sales. This is an UNPAID internship, though college credit is available where accepted by a candidate’s curriculum. Be & D is happy to tailor this experience to meet the needs of one’s individual program requirements, so please do not hesitate to inquire or to provide our contact information to your school’s guidance office or career center. Students entering their Sophomore, Junior or Senior years are preferred.

TO APPLY

Please email cover letter and resume (.doc and .pdf formats only) to pam@beandd.com, specifying your availability during the months of November 2009 – February 2010. Sorry, no phone calls.

COMPANY BIOGRAPHY

Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain are Be & D – the brand redefining the concept of American luxury. Their collective focus is on the seamless blend of old world craftsmanship and modern creative vision that consistently challenges the idea of limitations.

Be & D began in 2004, at the kitchen table of a Greenpoint, Brooklyn loft. It was here that the duo created their very first design, the Garbo, modeled after a vintage bag found on holiday in a Beirut market. The bag quickly became an international phenomenon, catapulting Be & D onto the scene as a new force in the luxury market. Today, production takes place in Be & D’s New York atelier and in Italy. The brand has grown to encompass day and evening bags, clutches, belts and small leather goods. Autumn/Winter 2007 saw the debut of Be & D Shoes.

Inthavong and Dumain’s paths to Be & D are as different as the designers themselves. It is this disparity that results in the unique, innovative designs that are the cornerstone of the brand.

Be Inthavong is a native of Laos, where his family has owned a silk mill for over 200 years. After immigrating to the United States at age eight, Be began sketching, and the influence of his legacy was apparent from the first drawing. After graduating from Texas Christian University with a degree in Biology, Be was drawn back into the world of fashion. With no formal training, Be spent the next 10 years honing his innate skills in accessories design and production as co-designer and owner of a hair accessories company. Longing to further explore and experiment with textiles, his first love, Be channeled his parents’ entrepreneurial spirit and set out on his own. A chance meeting with fellow creative force Steve Dumain would ignite the spark that led to the establishment of Be & D.

Steve Dumain was raised on a horse farm in upstate New York. Growing up, his unique sense of style was born out of his obsession with rummaging through local thrift stores, where he also accumulated a collection of antique luggage. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in International Business, Spanish and Art, Steve lived and traveled in Europe and South America. It was there that he explored his fascination with fine art and sculpture - and the idea that an artist’s hands could create infinite possibilities. He returned to New York and established himself in the film industry as a gifted writer, producer and talent manager. After meeting Be, he realized his lifelong passions were too great to ignore.

The Be & D collection is skillfully made with premium leathers, exotic skins and custom hardware. Targeted toward a sensibility rather than an age group, each piece is timeless yet relevant. Be & D has been photographed on the likes of celebrities including Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron, Jessica Biel, Penelope Cruz and Eva Longoria, and is beloved by top editors, stylists and fashion influencers around the globe. The collection is carried at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols and luxury boutiques worldwide.