A look inside the university’s fashion department – ​​The Review

Jordan Rosales/THE REVIEW

BY CAROLINE POWELL
Staff Writer

The fashion department is not as large as other departments at the university and consists of fashion design or fashion merchandising majors, consisting of 341 students in the fall of 2022 according to this university data.

However, many fashion-based registered student organizations on campus showcase a tight-knit community of fashion enthusiasts and their talents.

This year will see the university’s first fashion week, where many fashion RSOs will host events or shows from April 26 to May 5. The groups include Synergy Fashion Club, Udress, Runway of Dreams Club, The New and Sustainable Fashion Club. Although these clubs have been hosting individual events for many years, this is the first time they have all been hosted together, involving both majors and non-majors.

Fashion and Apparel Studies professor Katya Roelse spoke about the future of the fashion department in light of the recent budget crisis announced in February, and how faculty and students build community inside and outside the classroom.

“You cannot design without space, machines, equipment or technology,” says Roelse. “We also require licenses for specific technology software for both design and merchandising students, which can be expensive. So I think it would be very interesting to see how students experience this.”

The budget crisis could potentially impact how and what professors teach their curriculum. When teaching, professors in the department focus on ensuring students can adapt to trends while preparing them for industry standards.

“We teach you to draw, sew or design, but we also want to teach you the broader life skills you need,” says Roelse. “Looking at the social psychology, global sourcing and sustainability of fashion are all very crucial to getting into the industry.”

At a large research university, there are a large number of departments and majors that all need help promoting their initiatives. While it can be difficult to ensure fairness, Roelse explained that the university provides many resources for the fashion department.

“The university environment offers us great interdisciplinary opportunities,” says Roelse. “We can communicate with other departments or programs that are offered and gain more exposure across campus.”

Students grow together both inside and outside the classroom. Roelse stated that her main goal is to have her students leave her classroom with an understanding of the value of creativity and art in one’s life. She encourages students to participate in external projects such as Summer Scholars and internships so they can fuel their passion for creative endeavors.

Even the smallest things can help create a sense of community within the fashion department.

“I keep my door open and am as available as possible,” says Roelse. “I like it when students come in and just say ‘hello’ or come in to ask questions.”

When discussing the UD Fashion Week (UDFW), Roelse expressed her admiration and enthusiasm for the event.

“I think the people running it are very talented and hardworking, and I think it’s going to be a success,” Roelse said. “I hope this event sticks because it can be difficult to leverage the value propositions and talents we have here since Delaware is a lot smaller than cities like Philadelphia or New York. We want to keep our Delaware style and have a fashion week full of Delaware content.”

Overall, the department aims to reach many students across campus, shedding light on creativity in the university. With the upcoming UDFW kicking off next week, the broad community of fashion enthusiasts is coming together on campus to showcase their collective talent.

“Fortunately, fashion is attractive to people and people are attracted to it,” says Roelse. “So I’m curious to see where the event goes in the future.”