For students with a passion for fashion, the Fashion Inc. Club offers a blend of creativity, career development and community engagement. The club is open to all students regardless of their major. Additionally, it provides a space where fashion enthusiasts can connect, learn and gain real-world experience in the industry.
Seth Howard, the faculty adviser for Fashion Inc. and an instructor in the Fashion Merchandising Program, said the club does tie-dye projects, designs tote bags, creates keychains and participates in visual merchandising.
Howard said that members explore all facets of fashion while also giving back to the community, whether here in Bowling Green or beyond. With crafting and networking, Howard said the club also provides professional development opportunities.
Fashion Inc. students have the opportunity to volunteer at New York Fashion Week in September and February, work at the annual MAGIC trade show in Nashville, and visit companies in cities like Louisville and Nashville.
Senior Emily Stump from Taylorsville, Kentucky, said she has been given many professional opportunities as a member of Fashion Inc., including volunteering at New York Fashion Week.
“That’s something I would have never been able to put on my resume in Bowling Green, Kentucky, if it wasn’t for being a part of the club,” Stump said.
Creative Director Kyle Hawkins from Cave Run, Kentucky said that the club serves as both a professional stepping stone and a personal refuge.
“I see Fashion Inc. as a way to further my professional connections in the industry while being at a lesser-known school,” Hawkins said. “It is also somewhere I have made a lot of my more personal connections at school, so it’s almost like a safe haven.”
Meetings are held once a month, with additional hands-on opportunities throughout the semester. Hawkins said Fashion Inc.’s welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place for students of all backgrounds to get involved.
“The more people, the more things we can do, the more trips we can take and just get involved,” Stump said. “All you have to do is like fashion; no matter your skill set or background, everyone is welcome.”
With a $20 annual membership fee, students gain access to experiences that go beyond the classroom, blending creativity with career opportunities. Howard said Fashion Inc. is proving that fashion at WKU is more than just a major; it’s a movement.