Fashion is a huge, constantly changing industry, and the professors at Auburn University are preparing students in the apparel design major to handle the size and complexity of the industry after graduation.
Pamela Ulrich is a professor in the apparel design program at Auburn who teaches History of Fashion Since 1910, History of Costume and several other design courses in addition to being the coordinator of the design program.
The full name of Auburn's design program is Apparel Merchandising, Design and Production Management, but those in the program refer to it as AMDP.
"There's a block of courses for students who either want to do more on the merchandising side or students who want to do more on the design side," Ulrich said. "Some people go more toward the business and retail side, some want to be entrepreneurs and be their own designer, and some would choose to work for a larger company like Under Armour or Michael Kors."
Ulrich said the beauty of the apparel industry is that there's a niche for everybody.
"If you're creative, if you want to organize things or if you want to make sure everything gets handled and delivered the way it's supposed to, there's jobs for that -- there's jobs for everyone, and lots of different opportunities in different places."
Kelsey Reynolds, senior and Apparel Merchandising and Design Association president, said she wanted to pursue apparel design because of the wide range of careers that can come from obtaining such a degree.
"With apparel design, you can start your own clothing line, go into fashion forecasting, or even pursue textile engineering," she said. Reynolds also said there are many facets that an apparel design degree can filter into which is why so many students like her are drawn to it.
The difference between the design program at Auburn and the program at a place such as Savannah College of Art and Design is that students here are taught business aspects too, Ulrich said.
"They learn the business side of what garments cost to make, what the practical issues in production are and not just how to make great fun pictures," she said. "We don't just teach how to come up with ideas; Michael Kors doesn't make things that he doesn't think will sell -- so you have to be able to make it at a price, know what goes into the price and who is going to buy it; they have to think from the point of seeing who their customer is," Ulrich said.
Tablets are being integrated into classrooms for students to sketch on, and students are taught to use programs such as Adobe, Photoshop and Illustrator to create specific looks.
"Their portfolios are not all the work they ever created, but they go through and learn and get better skills to present who they are," Ulrich said. "They each have their own identity and even create logos."
Reynolds, who hopes to go to graduate school and get her master's degree in Textiles or Fiber Design, said her favorite thing about the major is being able to learn from the many different professionals within the fashion industry.
"Every professor in our program has had a successful career in the different area they teach," she said. "Our professors know how the industry works, which allows us to have the best, well-rounded education we can."
Apparel design majors at Auburn are required to do an internship for 10 weeks before they can graduate.
"It's full time, so it's not just dabbling, it's immersing," Ulrich said. She said she loves to see the students "blossom in an internship because it's in the workplace, and there's nothing like it."
Many of those who graduated from the program at Auburn have gone on to be successful in their field. One in particular lives in New York and works as the head designer for all evening wear for the Kay Unger brand.
"We have a couple alums at Under Armour, and we have alums who live in New York and are working on their own company," Ulrich said.
Another alum is developing her own line in Auburn designing game day dresses.
Ulrich said one of her favorite things about teaching in the program is watching the students develop, find their niche and find what they love.
"Just sharing the fact that this is a hardworking, but exciting and fun industry," Ulrich said. "It's fun because it's always changing, and it's a challenge to figure out what people are going to do next."
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