Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising student part of inaugural Tommy Bahama intern cohort

Monica Gill had never considered e-commerce as a career until Tommy Bahama came knocking.

She had originally applied for a Sourcing and Product Development role in the fashion giant’s first-ever summer internship program, but upon learning that the role had already been filled, she dedicated herself to learning all she could about creating an engaging online shopping experience.

“I didn’t even realize that e-commerce was something I might be interested in until the opportunity at Tommy Bahama popped up,” said Gill, who’s in her third year studying Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising at Central Washington University. “Now that I’ve dipped my toes in it, I’ve decided that that’s what I want to pursue for a living.”

Over the course of eight weeks, the eight-student cohort got to experience first-hand the passionate and collaborative nature of Tommy Bahama, which drives the success of the international omnichannel lifestyle brand. Gill was able to immerse herself in the data-driven strategies of online shopping and found that the job demanded a rewarding combination of technique and imagination to create profits for the company and a rewarding experience for customers.

“It was really cool for me to see the whole workflow, including how the photographer chooses to shoot the outfit, as well as how the outfit itself is styled,” she said. “My favorite tasks involved strategizing the use of these photos in innovative ways for our campaign decks and website. Working with the imagery really taught me this combination of science and creativity that’s needed to encourage the customer to learn more about a product.”

In addition to their daily duties, the interns were tasked with designing, producing, and marketing a garment from scratch, using upcycled materials from around the office. The group settled on a dress with a custom print and crocheted a matching handbag to complete the outfit for an Intern Presentation Day interactive fashion show. They were also asked to help dress models for the Spring 2024 Collection fashion show, which was attended by executives from Tommy Bahama and its parent company, Oxford Industries. 

Gill says her work in the ATM program allowed her to shine as an intern and set her up for success in the fashion industry following her graduation in 2025.