Fashion students gain firsthand experience in Chicago
Raven Kresse: Muleskinner
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Life & Leisure
Central fashion students traveled to Chicago to attend The Fashion Group International's career day and fashion show this past week. Nearly 1,000 junior- and senior-level college students from around the country attend the event each year.
This year's event, which took place Nov. 13 at Holiday Inn on the Chicago Mart Plaza, offered students experience through career-related seminars, panel discussions and a job fair where students were informed of job and internship opportunities.
This year, 20 different employers attended the job fair including representatives from Forever21, Merchandise Mart, Saks Fifth Avenue and Victoria's Secret.
Students interested in entering the fashion show portion of the event submitted their designs five months in advance.
Entries came from around the country and only the top 50 designs were featured in the show.
Central students have the opportunity to travel to this event every year; however, this is the first year a Central student has had a design featured in the fashion show.
Calli Green, a junior fashion merchandising major, designed and made a dress out of recycled materials and entered it into the "wearable art" category of the competition.
Although her dress did not receive awards at the fashion show, Green said she learned a lot from the experience.
"I learned the most about taking risks and taking chances," Green said. "I was the only public university student in the contest as well as the only fashion merchandise student. Getting into the competition was a big deal for me. The designers and guest speakers also taught the importance of taking risks; you have to put yourself out there and if you fail, you get back up and do it again."
Green plans on attending next year's event and has already started designing another piece to enter in the fashion show.
Mark Meyer, a senior fashion merchandising major, said the career day opened his eyes to the realities of the workforce.
"I went to several workshops and learned a lot about how the industry expects their employees to be right after college," Meyer said. "Most importantly, I learned ways to get my foot in the door. I know a lot of students feel like after they get their diploma it will be easy to get a job, but it's really like starting over."
Eight Central students and two Central professors attended this year's event.
"It is very worthwhile for students," said Mellisa Abner, a Central fashion-merchandising professor. "The speakers are great and tell students how hard work pays off. They also encourage students to think outside their box and be creative. Students get to see other student designs and get to see selling aspects of shops in Chicago which can give them inspiration."
Calli Green is a columnist and writer for the Muleskinner.
This year's event, which took place Nov. 13 at Holiday Inn on the Chicago Mart Plaza, offered students experience through career-related seminars, panel discussions and a job fair where students were informed of job and internship opportunities.
This year, 20 different employers attended the job fair including representatives from Forever21, Merchandise Mart, Saks Fifth Avenue and Victoria's Secret.
Students interested in entering the fashion show portion of the event submitted their designs five months in advance.
Entries came from around the country and only the top 50 designs were featured in the show.
Central students have the opportunity to travel to this event every year; however, this is the first year a Central student has had a design featured in the fashion show.
Calli Green, a junior fashion merchandising major, designed and made a dress out of recycled materials and entered it into the "wearable art" category of the competition.
Although her dress did not receive awards at the fashion show, Green said she learned a lot from the experience.
"I learned the most about taking risks and taking chances," Green said. "I was the only public university student in the contest as well as the only fashion merchandise student. Getting into the competition was a big deal for me. The designers and guest speakers also taught the importance of taking risks; you have to put yourself out there and if you fail, you get back up and do it again."
Green plans on attending next year's event and has already started designing another piece to enter in the fashion show.
Mark Meyer, a senior fashion merchandising major, said the career day opened his eyes to the realities of the workforce.
"I went to several workshops and learned a lot about how the industry expects their employees to be right after college," Meyer said. "Most importantly, I learned ways to get my foot in the door. I know a lot of students feel like after they get their diploma it will be easy to get a job, but it's really like starting over."
Eight Central students and two Central professors attended this year's event.
"It is very worthwhile for students," said Mellisa Abner, a Central fashion-merchandising professor. "The speakers are great and tell students how hard work pays off. They also encourage students to think outside their box and be creative. Students get to see other student designs and get to see selling aspects of shops in Chicago which can give them inspiration."
Calli Green is a columnist and writer for the Muleskinner.
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posted 11/23/09 @ 12:49 PM CST
I think it is a great event for central fashion students. It helps to discover how fashion industry works.
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