3 answers
Mia
Student
Greeley, Colorado
1
Question
Asked
1314 views
How can I expand my merchandising minor?
As a senior in high school, I've always been extremely nervous about college since I don't want to make the wrong decision and go into debt. I want to do something fashion related but I've heard that it's hard because it's not really a top priority career. I wanted to expand my umbrella of careers by majoring in business (management or marketing) and minor in merchandising; diving me a degree that will work in many careers and still learn more about my love for fashion.
However, I don't know where to start when it comes to starting my career in fashion since I am not majoring in it. I love sewing, designing, and wearing fashion, and I dream of my career tickling that itch. So, what do I start to jumpstart my dream career? Do I do internships, if so, what are some examples?
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3 answers
Irene Smolyanskaya
Designer Creative Draper Educator
32
Answers
Boulder, Colorado
Updated
Irene’s Answer
Hi Mia,
I am a Fashion industry professional with over 30 years of experience in the high end clothing Design and manufacturing in New York.
I am a bit confused with the fashion Industry not being a 'top priority career'. It is for me, though, lol.
If you are really creative, have an interest in sewing and making your Design ideas real, it is really worth exploring for you. We are always on a lookout for young creative talent.
I see that you are located in Greeley, CO. There is a lovely school in Denver that has a strong Fashion program: it's RMCAD, where I currently teach Technical Studio classes. We have a really strong online program, too. I'd recommend that you try taking some of the specialty classes, such as Illustration or Fabric Science, and see if it's something you'd like to be doing for the rest of your life. There are lots of internships available with the local Designers that RMCAD offers to their students, too.
If, however, you want just a 'tickling that itch' career, I must mention that a lot of jobs in the Garment industry are related to business management, marketing, and merchandising, so your current pursuits play really well into the demand out there. The best way to explore if it's a good fit for you is, of course, an internship with any upscale Department store you may have in your area. As the Holiday Season is upon us, the stores hire a lot of temporary workers to help out. This might be a great opportunity for you to see the business side of things from within.
I wish you all the best in your career exploration.
Irene
Come see the Registrar Counselors at RMCAD in Denver for a further exploration of the possibilities. They will give you a tour of the Design Studios and Computer labs.
https://experience.rmcad.edu/campushomepage
I am a Fashion industry professional with over 30 years of experience in the high end clothing Design and manufacturing in New York.
I am a bit confused with the fashion Industry not being a 'top priority career'. It is for me, though, lol.
If you are really creative, have an interest in sewing and making your Design ideas real, it is really worth exploring for you. We are always on a lookout for young creative talent.
I see that you are located in Greeley, CO. There is a lovely school in Denver that has a strong Fashion program: it's RMCAD, where I currently teach Technical Studio classes. We have a really strong online program, too. I'd recommend that you try taking some of the specialty classes, such as Illustration or Fabric Science, and see if it's something you'd like to be doing for the rest of your life. There are lots of internships available with the local Designers that RMCAD offers to their students, too.
If, however, you want just a 'tickling that itch' career, I must mention that a lot of jobs in the Garment industry are related to business management, marketing, and merchandising, so your current pursuits play really well into the demand out there. The best way to explore if it's a good fit for you is, of course, an internship with any upscale Department store you may have in your area. As the Holiday Season is upon us, the stores hire a lot of temporary workers to help out. This might be a great opportunity for you to see the business side of things from within.
I wish you all the best in your career exploration.
Irene
Irene recommends the following next steps:
That's funny, I've already been accepted into RMCAD. However, I do really want the business degree because the fashion industry careers don't seem to be careers that are desperately in need of workers (what I mean by high priority), and RMCAD doesn't have a degree in Business as a backup for me. I do really want to attend RMCAD, but only after my business degree. I'm not too sure what to do with my future career which is why I'm very scared to fully commit to the fashion major. Thank you so much for the career ideas though! I wasn't fully aware those were careers I could do with fashion (even though it seems pretty obvious).
Mia
Jennifer Lee Taylor
High Tech Sales
2
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Mia,
Thanks for your question. I’m not in the fashion industry, but I've learned a bit from people who are, and I’d like to share some insights.
In high school, I worked as a cashier at Macy's in the juniors department. I once considered a fashion career but found retail schedules too unpredictable. However, the manager there had a degree in merchandising. Her job involved choosing which items and designers were featured, and she decided when sales happened. It was more complex than I expected. You might consider a part-time job or internship with a department store manager to learn more about merchandising. My former manager would have loved to share her knowledge with someone like you.
I also met a friend of a colleague during a sales club trip to Hawaii. She did merchandising and sourcing for Cost Plus World Market, traveling the world to find unique items. Her job was fascinating, and she had amazing travel stories. She had done her research early on and new that this store's mission was to offer an ever-changing mix of unique, globally sourced products at good value. So she pursued a career there by starting out in vendor operations, then merchandising assistant, and ultimately lead sourcer. This example shows the value of researching stores you like and then initiating networking conversations to ask how they got in, what tools they use day-to-day, and what junior profiles they see succeed. Use LinkedIn to reach out, or contact smaller stores directly. Start with places and designers that interest you. People often want to help, so show your curiosity and passion when you reach out. Be clear about what you want to learn and achieve.
I hope this helps. Good luck, Mia!
Thanks for your question. I’m not in the fashion industry, but I've learned a bit from people who are, and I’d like to share some insights.
In high school, I worked as a cashier at Macy's in the juniors department. I once considered a fashion career but found retail schedules too unpredictable. However, the manager there had a degree in merchandising. Her job involved choosing which items and designers were featured, and she decided when sales happened. It was more complex than I expected. You might consider a part-time job or internship with a department store manager to learn more about merchandising. My former manager would have loved to share her knowledge with someone like you.
I also met a friend of a colleague during a sales club trip to Hawaii. She did merchandising and sourcing for Cost Plus World Market, traveling the world to find unique items. Her job was fascinating, and she had amazing travel stories. She had done her research early on and new that this store's mission was to offer an ever-changing mix of unique, globally sourced products at good value. So she pursued a career there by starting out in vendor operations, then merchandising assistant, and ultimately lead sourcer. This example shows the value of researching stores you like and then initiating networking conversations to ask how they got in, what tools they use day-to-day, and what junior profiles they see succeed. Use LinkedIn to reach out, or contact smaller stores directly. Start with places and designers that interest you. People often want to help, so show your curiosity and passion when you reach out. Be clear about what you want to learn and achieve.
I hope this helps. Good luck, Mia!
Those are some amazing ideas! I will definitely try contacting some stores/designers that will further help me!
Mia
Cristian Hernandez
Buyer
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Cristian’s Answer
Hi Mia,
I totally get why you might feel nervous, but let me tell you, a job in the fashion industry can be incredibly rewarding. It's all about what you want to achieve. The fashion world is often different from how it's shown in the media, and while becoming a world-famous designer is challenging, it's definitely possible.
Reading about the journeys of top designers can give you great insights. Plus, there are many well-paying jobs in fashion that people aren't aware of. I recommend finding a book that explains the various careers in fashion. This can help you decide if you'd prefer working in a studio or a corporate setting. There are many paths you can take that align with your interests.
I started in retail and merchandising, then moved to e-commerce styling, and eventually became a buyer. The opportunities I've discovered along the way have been countless.
Consider doing an internship in an area you love. It will give you a peek into the industry and help you decide how you want to grow. You'll also learn about many roles that aren't widely known.
I totally get why you might feel nervous, but let me tell you, a job in the fashion industry can be incredibly rewarding. It's all about what you want to achieve. The fashion world is often different from how it's shown in the media, and while becoming a world-famous designer is challenging, it's definitely possible.
Reading about the journeys of top designers can give you great insights. Plus, there are many well-paying jobs in fashion that people aren't aware of. I recommend finding a book that explains the various careers in fashion. This can help you decide if you'd prefer working in a studio or a corporate setting. There are many paths you can take that align with your interests.
I started in retail and merchandising, then moved to e-commerce styling, and eventually became a buyer. The opportunities I've discovered along the way have been countless.
Consider doing an internship in an area you love. It will give you a peek into the industry and help you decide how you want to grow. You'll also learn about many roles that aren't widely known.
Thank you so much! I have just requested some books at the library and I will definitely look into the many different careers.
Mia