For the members of the club Fashion Inc., fashion is not just a job but a way of life. These future fashionistas are not hitting the streets to find their next look but instead surfing the net on the hunt for the next big sale. In this club, the networking possibilities are endless and clothes are only half the fun.
Fashion Inc. President Kelly Druce, a senior majoring in apparel designs said the organization aims to provide an outlet for fashion-minded students on campus.
“We’re a student organization who is open to everyone of all majors and our main goal is to get students interested and involved in the fashion industry,” Druce said.
The club originally began in the mid-1970s and nearly went extinct until Project Runway and UA alumnus Anthony Williams brought it back to life.
“We sponsor Anthony Williams to come and talk to the students in the club about the industry,” said Paula Robinson, faculty member and sponsor of the group for four years. “So we do have former students who are now kind of famous in their own right who come back and through the club we get them.”
“It’s a real important opportunity for the students to expand their knowledge of the fashion industry, and the club is just one way to do it.”
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Fashion Inc. accepts new members year round. Two of its newest members, twins Emily and Haley Helveston, juniors majoring in materials and textiles, recently transferred from Birmingham Southern University.
“Well, I just joined last semester but mainly it involves how to get involved in the fashion industry,” Haley said. “In one of the meetings we learned how and where to get internships, then in another meeting we watched the movie ‘The September Issue.’”
Emily said she had the opportunity to help with the senior fashion show and enjoyed doing so.
Members know the impact an internship can make when first starting out in the fashion industry.
Druce has interned at both Mood Fabrics and Alexander Berardi this past summer in New York. She said when she graduates would love to get a job at Burton Snowboards.
“I would like to design outerwear for them and then snowboard all day after work,” Druce said.
The next fashion show, “Tea Time,” will take place in April. All the clothes will be made of recycled materials. The next meeting will be Feb. 12in Adams Hall Room 316 at 7 p.m. where the group will be doing fashion trivia.
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