we love this top!
we also had a birthday party which always means an impressive spread!
check out that cake!
pretty flowers :)
office style and then some…
i spy…
our videographer!
how are you feeling today?
TGIF!
what are you working on?
i’m downloading footage from our august catalog shoot.
are you listening to any music?
actually when we were on the shoot, some of the guys in the fort where we stayed played hand drums for us, so i’m listening to that :)
what are you up to this weekend?
tonight we’re having a joint birthday party at my friend’s place for all the “crabs” who have birthdays around now (myself included)! and on sunday night i’m going to see kurt vile at johnny brenda’s.
what was the highlight of the past week for you?
the 4th of july fireworks here in philly were amazing. and i saw the movie cyrus which was incredible!
and here’s a look at her desk space!
office space
for today’s office space i thought i’d head over to building 543, where our cafeteria, coffee shop, gym and some offices are located. since i am in this building at least once a day for my daily cup of coffee i have gotten really used to it but the first time i entered its doors it literally took my breath away. it’s a gorgeous space- but i’ll just let you see for yourself…
the last one is the view out the back window :)
oh and by the way this building is open to the public so if you’re ever down by the navy yard, stop on by!
intern-al affairs
this new series of posts on the blog will explore the world of our interns, brought to you by our concept intern anastasiya!
Here in the office we have a fresh group of interns who, like me, are coming down from the initial flutter of beginning work in Free People. They are settled into their different departments, busy honing projects and assimilating into the working culture. To give you a more thorough glimpse into the experience that is being a Free People intern, I will introduce a talented new intern every week and have them show and tell you a little bit of what they are working on.
Let’s now take a peek into the dazzling world of the Visual Display Department – meet Walker, the Visual Summer Intern!
What led you to intern for Free People?
I have always had a love affair with Free People clothing and when a family friend that works here saw my portfolio, she thought I would be a good fit for the visual display team. In February, I came to Philadelphia for the first time to interview and got the job!
What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
It is hard to pick a favorite part because this whole experience has been so wonderful, but I would have to say it would be making the bike wheels and bike horns for the 5th avenue store in New York. I had a lot of freedom to play around with a wide variety of materials and color palettes and got to add my own spin on the summer display. It is also pretty awesome to see something I made in a Free People store!
What do you think is the most useful piece of knowledge that you have acquired in your time here?
I have learned so much about how visual display works but the most useful piece of knowledge is that people like to see variety. For example, if someone asks you to dye a piece of fabric green, dye ten pieces of fabric all different shades of green so they will have a large assortment to choose from.
What are you currently working on?
I just finished working with the visual display team on the Holiday 2010 prototypes which look splendid! There are so many fun elements that will transform the store into a winter wonderland.
Any words of advice to future interns?
Just be very positive and willing to work hard. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions because that it how you are going to get the most out of this experience. Oh, and have fun!
The fruit of Walker’s labor?
The bicycle wheels suspended from the ceiling of the 5th Avenue store in New York were so pretty!
talking with our interns!
left: carolina, right: nicole
say hello to two of our sweet and adorable interns, carolina and nicole! they are going into their senior year of high school and have spent the last two weeks interning here at free people. these best friends had a unique and exciting internship that allowed them to experience several departments here at the home office. i spent a little time with them today to talk about their experience!
what was your favorite part of your internship here?
both: being in the photo studio! watching the stylists at work and seeing the models was really exciting.
nicole: i actually loved hanging up all the clothes when they were finished shooting with them! i loved getting to see all the beautiful clothing up close.
carolina: it’s been amazing, we’ll never get an experience like this again!
both: spending time with the designers was really cool too because we got to see just how much they do! they showed us items online that they had designed and you never really think about that, it’s crazy. we’re not the most talented with our hands and we tried to sew a sweater – it was a disaster.
talking about high school and proms with our senior stylist!
what is your dream job?
carolina: after this experience, i think i would love to be a designer or a buyer.
nicole: i would definitely want to be a stylist or buyer if i worked for a clothing company, but my dream has always been to be a doctor!
their collage of free people girls.
which free people girl are you?
nicole: i’m definitely lou during the day and ginger at night!
carolina: i think a little bit of all of them, except for lou.
nicole: you’re a mix of candy and ginger for sure :)
what is your favorite free people item?
nicole: i am completely obsessed with the coachella boots (pictured below on candy). they’re all i can think about. my dad finally agreed to get them for me as an early birthday present and i am SO excited!
carolina: i love the green motorcuff thermal (pictured below on lou)! but i want every color, i’d wear them all the time.
with one of our models :)
now check out the outfits they styled for each free people girl! they did an amazing job – i would wear every single one of these outfits.
candy
ginger
lou
meadow
sandy
*some of the items pictured above are from our upcoming catalog, so look for them online next week!
thanks ladies!
office style
i got my global south africa project bracelet in the mail today! so excited. i like how it looks with my festival bracelet :)
office space
inside our web studio – a clothing, accessory and shoe lover’s dream…
the changing room
the makeup table
our web stylist puts the finishing touches on our model’s outfit…
last minute hair and makeup touch-ups
our web merchandisers check out the shots on a large monitor
our assistant stylist perfects another model’s outfit
i like her hair scarf :)
and… shoot!
how do you re-use your fp bags?
our shoe buyer uses her’s to carry fritz out of the office! he must have had a long day :)
through our concept intern’s eyes…
I made a collage using photos of scenes and images found around the office. The swatches of embroidery, illustrations, and inventive assortments of trinkets fuse into a colorful blur when I walk past each desk and I hope that the collage recreates that fleeting moment of wonder for you.
Hi there! Not too long ago I was sitting in the same position as many of you, clicking open BLDG 15 and hungrily peaking into the community that is Free People through a film of curiosity soaked in lilac hopes, blue intrigue, and yellow aspirations that blended together until I saw the letters Free People tie-dyed in my dreams. I performed my ritual click on the BLDG 15 link, only to see the opportunity of interning for my favorite company unravel before me; fast forward two months and here I am. Every day this week I arrived home at seven o’clock and collapsed, exhausted, on the sofa, to the confusion of Rambo, a furry black thing with soulful eyes…only to wake up the next morning eager to do it all again.
The first day that I wandered around the office, several vibrant FP girls told me that someone in the building is always with a camera, and everyone loves having their picture taken, even if they claim otherwise. It was this fun, open friendliness that convinced me to shed my hesitant dance in the isle between “pods” and feel at ease when propelling my feet into every workspace where smiling face upon smiling face greeted me and insisted that I click away. What I have enjoyed the most in my first few days in Building 15 is how at every corner, in any nook and every cranny, there is a treasure to be discovered.
I have spotted a streamer cascading from the ceiling, marveled at the aged walls and how much character oozes from their imperfection, and became inspired each time that my eyes landed on the mixed samples draped across walls or gathered in soft heaps of leather and shine on the floor. Perhaps my favorite adventure yet has been the journey on which I embark each time that I explore the workspaces of the individuals whose instinctive creativity drives the company.
When passing by desks, I feel as if I am peering through a window into each employee’s life – their haven – learning what inspires and relaxes them. I have witnessed loose pages of artwork; butterflies plucked from their paper origins and perched over organic plants; scraps of dazzling fabric used as a refuge for pins.
Everywhere I turn waits something magical.
it’s hot out here for a pup…
better just to stay inside :)
office office style style
she made these earrings by cutting up an old fur coat! rad.
i like watchin’ the puddles gather rain…
the photos don’t do justice to the wicked storm that just blew through philly…
…poor sam was shaking like a leaf!