Two Michigan State University senior Apparel and Textile Design majors, Abigail Jones and Whitney Howard, received a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry during the February 2024 New York Fashion Week (NYFW). This unique experience included entry into select runway shows as well as panel discussions and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
“The energy of being in New York during NYFW was absolutely amazing! It was unlike anything I have ever felt,” Howard said. “Being in an atmosphere with a group of individuals who have the same passions as me was life-changing. I learned so many things about fashion and myself even. This trip certified I am in the right field and am on the right path.”
“The energy of being in New York during NYFW was absolutely amazing…This trip certified I am in the right field and am on the right path.”
Whitney Howard
Jones and Howard earned the trip as winners of the Michigan State University Spartan Fashion Design Collection Competition. During their VIP New York Fashion Week experience, they attended runway shows with fashion brand Badgley Mischka and Korean designer Son Jung Wan and toured curated fashion showrooms. Their NYFW backstage experience also included special access to the TRESemmé Style Studios and IMG Models Photo Studio where they got to explore the creation of runway looks. Additionally, they participated in a Q&A session with representatives from WME Fashion.
In addition to these unique NYFW experiences, the students spent the day at athletic fashion brand and collegiate licensee Champion where they had the opportunity to learn firsthand how a clothing line is developed and merchandised. They also had the opportunity to visit the Champion Flagship Store in Soho, where they learned about retail in New York and collaborated with the store team to customize their own Champion garment.
“The entire trip was amazing, but I especially loved touring the design studio at the Champion headquarters,” Jones said. “It really helped me to visualize what I could be doing in the near future and getting the chance to hear advice from the design team was such an amazing opportunity. It was also great to connect with fashion students from all over the country!”
The New York Fashion Week trip was sponsored by University Licensing Programs at MSU and paid through the royalties generated from licensed products. The trip also is made possible through University of New York Fashion Week (U of NYFW), a unique academic enrichment program offered by Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), MSU’s exclusive trademark licensing agency, and IMG, the operator of New York Fashion Week.
“This experience opened my eyes to possible job opportunities I would never have even thought of if I hadn’t attended NYFW. The trip also inspired me to keep designing and staying true to myself and my goals.”
Abigail Jones
“This experience opened my eyes to possible job opportunities I would never have even thought of if I hadn’t attended NYFW,” Jones said. “The trip also inspired me to keep designing and staying true to myself and my goals. Being there made me realize that anything is possible when it comes to the future, it just takes hard work and dedication.”
The Michigan State University Spartan Fashion Design Collection Competition that Jones and Howard won asked participants to use recycled Michigan State University clothing provided by the Spartan Bookstore to create a unique look. Rebecca Schuiling, Director of the competition for the Apparel and Textile Design program, said the judges deemed the fashions made by Jones and Howard as the most original and creative sustainable concept designs.
This was the 12th installment of the U of NYFW, in which 27 students from 18 universities participated, including Jones and Howard. Institutions that participated in the collegiate NYFW program include Auburn University, Baylor University, Howard University, Liberty University, Michigan State University, NC State, Sam Houston State University, Syracuse University, TCU, Texas A&M University, University of Arizona, University of Missouri, University of Oklahoma, University of South Carolina, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, West Virginia University, and Western Michigan University.
“Our enduring goal for the U of NYFW college program is to deliver innovative experiences and once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities to students at our partner institutions, which adds tremendous value to the participating universities beyond our traditional role of brand licensing,” said Cory Moss, CEO of CLC. “Since the inception of this unique program, we have been honored to help inspire and assist many talented students on their path to a career in the fashion industry, and we are excited about prospects that are available for each new class.”
