TCU Athletics, through its trademark licensing program, and the university’s Department of Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising have teamed up again this year on the competition that awards one TCU student a VIP educational experience at New York Fashion Week: The Shows.
Last spring, senior Shannon Barry put together three winning looks that earned her the VIP experience in New York—complete with backstage tours and meeting some of the biggest names in the fashion industry.
TCU’s competition required interested fashion merchandising majors to submit flat-lay designs by choosing at least two TCU-branded products and putting together ensembles that depict “game-day chic,” “date night” and “business meeting.” Fifteen students participated, and Barry was selected as the winner by faculty and staff from the Fashion Merchandising Department and TCU Branding and Licensing, along with an Instagram voting component.
“The Rock Your Colors program offers exceptional networking opportunities for our students and allows them to get behind-the-scenes experience, which will serve them well in their professional endeavors,” said Janace Bubonia, professor and chair of Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising. “This competition has helped raise national awareness for the fashion merchandising program at TCU.”
TCU was one of 15 universities, including the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Oklahoma University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Tech University, to have students participate in the program created by IMG College Licensing.
“Collaborating with the Fashion Merchandising Department has brought tremendous opportunities to our students, licensed vendors and retail partners; allowing us to elevate both the students’ experiences and the TCU brand,” said Deanna Damon, director of Branding and Licensing. “We will continue to look for new and innovative ways to bring collegiate licensing to the fashion industry.”
In addition to Rock Your Colors, the Fashion Merchandising Department’s product development classes are currently working with TCU Branding and Licensing, in conjunction with Follett and Original Retro Brand, to create a line of TCU-branded apparel to pitch to the TCU Campus Store. This collaboration follows the design and launch of TCU’s official tartan, created by fashion merchandising student Aimee Hibler, earlier this year.