Three students from the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management received a free trip to New York Fashion Week along with behind the scenes access and an education immersion in the world of fashion.
The opportunity was made possible by a partnership between the College of HRSM, Gamecock Athletics, USC Trademark Licensing, CLC and IMG.
CLC, the nation's leading collegiate licensing company, and IMG, the operator of New York Fashion Week: The Shows, organized the 11th installment of UofNYFW, a one-of-a-kind academic enrichment program. South Carolina was one of 15 universities across the nation who participated in the inside look at the fashion industry, including entry into select runway shows, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Alden Risell, a retailing major with a fashion merchandising and digital innovations concentration, was chosen by the Department of Retailing faculty for the trip. Fellow retailing major Jalen Clark and sport and entertainment management major Misa Malkin represented Gamecock Athletics. Clark is a USC track and field athlete and Malkin a tennis player.
"It was such a great opportunity to hear about different careers and what they look like day-to-day, especially in the midst of fashion week, and why these people chose the route they did in the industry," said Risell, who hopes to go on to a career in the buying or public relations areas of fashion.
The students were treated to a runway show with Ukrainian-based designer Bevza, as well as an exclusive look at the new line by top Korean designer Son Jung Wan. The students also received special access to the Tresemme Style Studios. Additionally, students participated in a Q&A with representatives from WME Fashion, as well as a backstage tour of the production and execution of a fashion show at Spring Studios, the central hub of New York Fashion Week: The Shows.
"This collaboration with CLC and the participating universities aligns with our mission to deliver opportunities for future leaders in the industry and support the development of new perspectives in the ever-evolving fashion business," said Kim Fasting-Berg, executive vice president of marketing at WME Fashion. "We are proud to help provide this generation of college students the chance to interact and learn from some of the best designers and experts in the world of fashion at NYFW: The Shows."
In addition to the unique New York Fashion Week 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. Participants 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.
"Our goal for the UofNYFW 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."