Delta State University Senior Fashion Majors Visit New York Fashion During Spring Break

Three seniors from Delta State University specializing in fashion merchandising went on a fashion tour in New York during the spring break.

We didn’t know that the seminars and tours we attended would be the last classroom experiences of these students as undergraduates at DSU, said travel organizer Lisa Lacy, who started her job as instructor and coordinator of the fashion merchandising program in August 2019.

Raven Holmes, Christa Mazzanti and Sara Beth Pardue joined Lacy and four community members on a tour organized March 9-13 through Banson NYC, founded by Holland Grumieaux, former senior vice president of Jones Apparel Group and former vice president of Tommy Hilfiger. The personalized tours are intended for high school and college students as well as students of all ages who are interested in the fashion world. Grumieaux’s wide range of friendships and contacts translates into comprehensive tours that offer participants a wide range of experiences.

The trip to New York definitely changed my view of the fashion industry, said Mazzanti. Not only did we meet influential designers, store owners and fashion leaders, but we were also able to explore the sights of New York City itself.

Industry tours included a behind-the-scenes tour of Kleinfeld Bridal (from TLC Say Yes to the Dress) and seminars with Brooklyn designer Zero Waste Daniel, designer and sewing instructor from the Fashion Institute of Technology Kenneth K. King, and adaptive clothing designer Runway of Dreams Mindy Scheier. The group also visited the NYC showroom for Paige Denim, shop at Mood Fabrics, learned from executives at 5W Public Relations, and participated in an interactive style exercise at US headquarters to develop the men’s fashion brand Suitsupply. In addition, students visited the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology and a large fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Macys and Urban Outfitters also participated in shopping trips. The group also explored less familiar retailers, including Kith, Uniqlo and AllSaints in SoHo. They then analyzed the unique merchandising strategies. I enjoyed seeing how the products from these stores were marketed and displayed, as well as the overall aesthetics of each retailer, said Holmes.

At the end of the week, the elders of the DSU participated in a course given by Grumieax. She shared the tools she has used throughout her career, including planning assortments / budgets and inventory management. The students acted as buyers of swimsuits to set up the practices.

A moonlight round trip on the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, walks through Times Square and Central Park, a visit to Grand Central train station, and dinners at a variety of restaurants round out the New York experience. We visited an authentic Indian restaurant on our first night, which led us to decide to try as many ethnic dishes as possible, said Lacy. The group members tasted Russian and Japanese dishes themselves and shared a group dinner in Little Italy.

The tour exceeded my expectations, said Pardue. The knowledge and experience we gained was unlike anything you can get in a traditional classroom. We have been able to expand our field of numerous fashion opportunities. It really helped us grow as students and future employees.

Plans to see the Broadway Mean Girls show were canceled due to the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the group safely returned home the next day, said Lacy. We were fortunate to be able to organize this trip for our seniors, she said, and I hope to organize more visits for students and community members in the future as we develop our merchandising program. of fashion.