Tag: apparel design

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New York trip proves an eye-opener

The OSU contingent on its visit to Squeeze Jeans.
The OSU contingent on its visit to Squeeze Jeans.

Nine students majoring in either apparel design or merchandising management spent six days in New York last month, earning two senior-level credits apiece while touring and analyzing various locales in the hub of the fashion world.

“The trip was incredible,” said advisor Allison Ramsing, who accompanied the students. “I went on a study tour in ’08 as a student, so to go on the instructor side was incredible. The city has changed a ton; there are always new things happening in the fashion industry.”

The students – Lu Lu, Ruochen Huang, Duncan Miller, Monica Nguyen, Yin Hung, Shelby Dodrill, Gabrielle Palazuelos, Marie Recine and Meagan Amos – went on “educational shopping trips” to the flagship stores of three retailers: Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers.

“They’d go into the store and see how many markdowns there were, how much product there was, what was the fitting room like, how long the line was,” Ramsing said, ticking off just a few of the more than three dozen study questions the students had to answer as part of their store-experience analyses.

Other parts of the coursework included keeping a reflective journal, doing a portfolio page, and following up with and writing thank-yous to each company the students interacted with – Tiger J, Kleinfeld Bridal, Ross Stores, JPMA Global, Wanderlust Girls, Tuleste Market, CHF Industries, Fashion Snoops, Maran Inc./Squeeze Jeans, Mood Designer Fabrics, Macy’s, Kenneth D. King and Tibi, in addition to the three stores previously mentioned.

The group trip to New York has been an “every other summer” offering for apparel design and merchandising management students “for quite a few years,” Ramsing said.

The advisor shared some of her favorite student comments from the trip in a presentation to her colleagues after returning home:

  • “Just knowing that there are possibilities in New York City has expanded my thoughts on what I am able to do in the future.”
  • “So thankful for all of the people I’ve met, and the bonds I made with the people on this trip will last a lifetime.”
  • “Overall this experience has been eye-opening for a lot of jobs in the industry.”

    And at Wanderlust Girls.
    And at Wanderlust Girls.
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Apparel Design Director Receives University Day Award

Brigitte 1Each fall the Oregon State University hosts a day that encourages faculty and staff to connect with each other and learn about what other departments and colleges are doing. Intended to inspire and motivate employees for the impending academic year, it is also a day to recognize and honor the people and achievements of its employees.

Taking place September 18, 2014, University Day includes awards to approximately 20 faculty and staff members in various categories for their accomplishments and contributions.

College of Business and School of Human Design Instructor, Brigitte Cluver, who also serves as the Program Coordinator for Apparel Design and Merchandising Management, is the recipient of the OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. This award honors unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship, greatly enhancing instruction for students.

University Day Award Winner Brigitte Cluver with President Ed Ray.
University Day Award Winner Brigitte Cluver with President Ed Ray.

“Brigitte is an extremely dedicated teacher who finds a balance between empathy and stringency. She is uncompromising in her demand for excellence, and provides ample support for students to succeed in their learning,” said Minjeong Kim, Associate Dean for the School of Design and Human Environment.

Cluver, who holds a B.S. from University of California at Davis and two degrees from Oregon State (M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Behavior in the Near Environment) also worked in the textile and apparel industry as a textile laboratory technician.

“As a life-long learner, Brigitte is open to learning new strategies and commits herself to innovative teaching that results in enhanced student learning. Her courses are always evolving with more effective teaching methods.”

Awards were given by President Ed Ray at the OSU Faculty Teaching Award Reception on Wednesday, September 17 and again acknowledged at an all university presentation held at LaSells Stewart Center in Austin Auditorium on University Day.