Name: Namita Seksria
Country of origin: India
Previous college experience: B.com from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, India.
Thereafter I acquired my three years diploma in Dress Designing and
Garment Manufacturing from Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai, India
Major: Apparel Industry Management Campus: Los Angeles
Tell us a little about yourself: I have always been a fashion lover. Since I was a kid I liked dressing the way I liked. Before I took fashion as a serious profession, I wanted a bachelors degree in commerce so that I would have a basic knowledge of how everything works, and what’s going around, and also it would give me time to mature enough before I got into professional studies. So I did B.com from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, India. Thereafter I acquired my three years diploma in Dress Designing and Garment Manufacturing from Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai, India. Along with my school I assisted a couple of renowned fashion stylists and worked on various projects. After I finished school I worked for a year as a Designer and a Production Manager for a company. So that I could gain more experience in the field I also started my label called “Flambe” along with my friend. We exhibited our clothes and had our own clientele. Soon I realized that I need to know more about the industry in terms of fashion, trade, and how to manage the whole company. And here I am in FIDM Los Angeles Majoring in Apparel Manufacturing Management.
Describe your previous employment: My previous workplace was Asia’s largest textile digital printing company called Krishna Alkali (Bom) Pvt Ltd. It had a label named “Masala Works” which produced digital printed garments for high end stores all over India. I had the responsibility to create the whole line of collection for “Masala Works” from concept building, creating prints on Photoshop, print sampling, garment sampling, and finally to the entire production for all the stores.
How did you find out about FIDM? I wanted to live in Los Angeles as my fiancé then and now husband lives here. I researched online all the schools offering courses in fashion. It was then I came across FIDM.
What made you decide to apply to FIDM? Researching more from various sources I was convinced FIDM is the best fashion school in the west coast of the U.S.A. Also, it offered variety of majors to choose from. After I took the entire tour to school, I knew this is where I wanted to study. It looked like a fashion school-- Amazing interiors, updated infrastructure, massive library, and fashionable students. I felt yes I have arrived at the right place.
How did you choose your major? Well choosing the major was not very difficult. Since I was familiar with the creative side of the fashion, I wanted to learn more about running my own company, and having my own clothing line. My Admissions Advisor was of a great help here. Knowing my interests, she suggested that I should take up Apparel Industry Management as my major; it exactly offers what I am looking for.
What was the hardest thing about moving to L.A.? Honestly, before this I had not studied anywhere outside my own country or for that matter away from my parents. For me the hardest thing was being away from my parents. Thanks to my husband and warm and helpful Californians, I feel so comfortable out here.
What has been the best thing about moving to L.A.? The best thing about L.A. is its weather and the people. Weather never gets too extreme. It is nice and sunny all round the year. Also, in L.A. you can find people from all around the world which gives a great opportunity to know people from different origins. It is in a real sense a cosmopolitan city and somehow I get the feeling of belonging here.
Have you made friends at FIDM? As other students even I was very nervous on the first day of school worrying about tons of things. Whether I’ll be able to make good friends out here or no? Will there be any common interests between the students from here and me? Will I have to face racism? Etc. But all went good. The first day itself, I made couple of friends and gradually with various group activities given in the class it was not very difficult to make more friends. Also, I met many Indian students here which definitely comforted me.
What are your short term career goals? While in school I want to excel in all my classes, do great networking, work on the campus, and also gain as much knowledge as possible through various resources available.
What is your ultimate dream after graduating from FIDM? My ultimate dream is definitely to start my own company of contemporary clothing for women but before that for few years I would like to work for renowned fashion houses to gain expertise in my field.
What inspires you? Fabrics and colors inspire me.
What's one tip you would give an international student thinking about applying to FIDM? One tip I would definitely like to give to a prospective student is that it’s very important to move out of one’s own country and witness fashion in another country. It not only broadens the horizon but also changes our perspective towards fashion, and helps us better understand of the term “ fashion” in itself. Also being an international student, it takes double the effort than the rest of the students here to create a niche for ourselves. So for students who are focused, and determined, and want a place in the fashion industry, FIDM is the place which offers the best of its resources to help you achieve your dreams.