Eighteen Fashion Merchandising and Communication students and faculty participated in a travel study to Atlanta, April 11-14.
Students had the opportunity to visit Saks Fifth Avenue and go behind the scenes. They were able to meet and learn from the Contemporary Department Manager, Brand Manager and Operations Manager. They toured the Visual Department where personnel have a variety of degrees including art, business and merchandising.
While in Atlanta, the group attended a fall fashion buying market at America’s Mart. The students viewed a Fall 2013 fashion show where wholesale representatives featured new fashion trends and gained first-hand knowledge of the fashion buying process.
At the Atlanta History Center, students participated in the ‘Sheep to Shawl’ celebration where they witness the wool manufacturing process. The center had individuals in 1800s period attire as well as quilts from this time period.
The trip provided access for students to the CNN studio where they toured the whole facility. Students learned how studio equipment works, along with the process of developing news stories from start to broadcast. The group viewed the newsroom and studios where news is broadcast.
Communications student, Chynabrooke Spivey, was the featured weather forecaster in the demonstration room where students learned about green screens and new technology used in broadcasting.
Downtime in Atlanta was not wasted; the group soaked up knowledge about visual merchandising, learning about props and mannequins used at Phipps and Lenox Malls. Here, the students were also able to eat and shop around.
Dr. Sue Byrd of Fashion Merchandising in Family and Consumer Sciences led the group on their travel study.
“Through Fashion Travel Study Programs, students learn so much more than they would ever learn in the classroom and make contacts with professionals in the fashion industry; these experiences lead students to dynamic careers and dream fulfilling futures,” said Dr. Byrd.
The students returned to Martin Sunday evening, April 14, with a better understanding of fashion merchandising as well as plenty of new goodies to remember the unforgettable experience.
