Taylor Miller, the e-commerce merchandising coordinator at Marc Jacobs and a SCAD alumnus, graduated with a major in fashion marketing and management and a minor in photography in 2016. As the school year comes to an end, Taylor has graciously agreed to speak with us about his after-college experience.
What do you do at Marc Jacobs and how did you get this job?
MILLER: So this is going to sound very fancy but I’m just going to break it down for you. Basically, whatever product we have for e-commerce, I make sure that it is photographed on a model, it has a flat, there are swatches, and then I put it out for my coworker to merchandise and put it on the site.
How I got the job… I was super blessed and I had a friend that was already there and the position had opened a couple times but they couldn’t fill it with the right person. My friend messaged me late July and asked me to send in my resume and kid you not, the next day I had an email that said come in for an interview. The following Monday, I was asked to come in for a trial and it was a three-week process. Finally the day before the fashion show, I had my last interview and that following Friday, I found out I had the job. So, make friends with everyone because you never know who is going to help you get that job.
…be nice to everyone, do not make enemies, be humble
[and] be grateful because no one likes an asshole.”
What did you do here at SCAD that helped prepare you for the fashion industry?
I made sure to do my best work at all costs. I would stay up super-duper late and would pull all-nighters if I had to. I would never turn in anything that was less than my best. I would always strive to be the best me that I could be.
“Wishing I was in a warm tropical destination right now. However, I’ll wear my flamingo Marc Jacobs sweatshirt and hope for some heat in NYC.” @taylorraaronDo you have any advice for current SCAD students preparing to graduate and enter the workforce?
Don’t ever give up: you have to fight. You know that time when you feel like you’re being kicked and you’re never going to get anywhere? You cannot have that mentality. You will get the job that you want if you’re really passionate and you work hard. We all have to start somewhere. Work your way up. Don’t worry, SCAD prepares you.
Also, if there is one piece of advice I could give you… be nice to everyone, do not make enemies, be humble, [and] be grateful because no one likes an asshole.
What was the biggest challenge you had to face when transitioning from being a student to a working professional?
I think… the reality of having to be an adult. It’s not like you can just ask your teacher for extra credit. If you mess up in this industry that’s it, you’re done. It’s not lenient. If your work isn’t on their desk at a certain time, that ultimately puts you in jeopardy and makes you look unreliable and unprepared… Not that I’ve ever had that problem! You really have to fight and prove that you are the best candidate.
What have you learned from being in the fashion industry?
Everyone always appreciates a hard worker and a positive personality. It’s not [always] a glamorous industry; it can be very tough sometimes, especially during fashion week when we are preparing for shoots. It can be very long hours, it can be difficult, and it can be exhausting, but it’s so rewarding to be a part of something that you enjoy.
Photo by Cara KellyWhat are your plans for the future and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’m not even sure where I’ll be in a month! But I hope to be at a director level in 5 years in the creative fashion industry, for sure. My end goal is to become the creative director of a brand… to be the head honcho.
How did you decide that this was the field you wanted to get into?
It’s been a process. I remember when I was four or five years old, my mom would buy me Barbie dolls and I loved them. I would cut their hair, I would dress them up, I would give them makeovers.
I wanted to be a designer and then as I grew up, I was like, I don’t have enough creativity for this and I can’t sew. So I thought, let’s go into the more creative aspect of it, maybe marketing, maybe styling, and then I wanted to be a buyer… but I can’t do math. So fashion has always been in my line of sight.
Lastly, how often to do you see Marc Jacobs?
Actually, I’ve seen him quite a few times but I’ve never spoken to him. However, you always know when Marc is in the office because the whole place smells like cigarettes.
Written by Elizabeth Pamboukian and Alyssa Advano
Photos courtesy of Taylor Miller
Cover photo by Alexandra Arnold