APPRENTICESHIP AT MARC O'POLO

OVER THE PAST WEEKS, OUR THREE-PART SERIES COVERING THE TOPIC OF APPRENTICESHIP AT MARC O’POLO HAS ALREADY PROVIDED YOU WITH INSIGHTS INTO HOW EXCITING AND VARIED THE START OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE CAN BE. FOLLOWING HENDRIK AND EMELIE, OUR THIRD AND FINAL INTERVIEW INTRODUCES TANJA, AN APPRENTICE IN THE FASHION TAILOR DEPARTMENT AT MARC O’POLO. TANJA WILL SHARE HOW HER PAST DREAMS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, AND ALSO CONTEMPLATE THE MANY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES IN THE TAILORING TO COME.

WHAT MAKES YOUR APPRENTICESHIP AT MARC O'POLO SPECIAL?

I have the opportunity to turn my hobby into a profession. I'm really grateful for that and also quite proud. My training as a fashion tailor is rather different to the other departments at Marc O’Polo; that’s because my workplace is not your typical desk with a computer and keyboard. Instead, I spend my time learning in front of a sewing machine in our tailor studio—surrounded by fabrics, sewing threads and everything else you need to make garments. The apprenticeship entails alternating between two weeks on campus and one week at vocational school.
My training is very creative and exciting because our projects provide various insights into how different garments are made. And since I'm allowed to sew the models myself, I get to know the processing methods directly.

WHICH PROJECTS DID YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOY?

I actually really enjoy all the work I do in the tailor studio because it’s quite varied and I’m always learning something new with every task. No two days are the same and there are always new and exciting projects. For example, I sew dresses, jackets or blouses, but I also do completely different things like needlework or making bags for our pool cars. In addition, I was able to accompany my trainer to the last year's intake for new trainees at the Wendelsteinhütte and help our newcomers unleash their creativity.
One of my absolute favorites, however, is making prototypes. Accompanying a garment as it gradually takes shape and ends up on a hanger ready-to-wear is simply great fun. At the moment I'm working on basketball covers for our new DENIM store.

WHICH MARC O'POLO EVENT DO YOU LOOK BACK ON FONDLY?

I still have wonderful memories of my own 2021 onboarding together with the other trainees. We spent a week getting to know each other, settling in at Marc O'Polo, and starting a new chapter of our lives in a relaxed way. We were able to introduce ourselves to each other through our creativity and then deepen our conversations over dinner. On the third day, we put our teamwork to the test in an escape room in Rosenheim. For all of us, the week was a really successful start to a great time at Marc O'Polo.