Returning to Congo, fashion student seams learning with experience

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For Anaia Kassenda, visiting Congo is usually a homecoming, but now she is returning to complete her internship. In her last semester in Western Michigan University's fashion design and development program, she is bringing learned modern skills and techniques to her role making traditional Congolese outfits. 

"During my internship I've been working in three different positions at a tailoring house," says Kassenda. "I'm my manager's assistant and part of the production team as a worker and supervisor. So I'm learning how to balance being part of a team and also being a leader."

Using traditional fabrics, Kassenda and the tailoring house craft lavish womenswear for special events, such as ceremonies and weddings. She describes the process as couture, where pieces are designed to the specifications of the customer.

"They're very extravagant; they're not what you will wear on a daily basis," says Kassenda. 

Beyond improving her skills as a fashion designer, Kassenda believes the most valuable part of the internship has been exposure to working in a professional setting.

"One thing we learned in the fashion program is that classes get you through knowing what you're doing, but the internship makes you understand how to apply what you've learned. With my internship right now I'm learning to work in a fast paced environment, creating relationships with co-workers and practice problem solving in situations where I'm the supervisor," says Kassenda.

After graduating, Kassenda is planning to continue her studies in a graduate program to pursue her dream of becoming a creative director for a fashion house.

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