International Manufacturing & Product Development Alumna Sasha Martinus owns the women's contemporary boutique Letters From LA in Eagle Rock. In addition to stocking Strummer boots, bronze jewelry by Nikki Montoya, and denim from Mother, Sasha's own line of apparel is carried at the shop, which has been featured in Lucky.
FIDM Advanced Study Students from Fashion Design, Film & TV Costume Design, Theatre Costume Design, Entertainment Set Design & Decoration, and International Manufacturing & Product Development programs took a special tour of the new exhibition “Il Teatro alla Moda” on Friday, October 14th. The exhibit, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, celebrates Italy’s haute couture designers and their impact on opera, dance and theater design.
Valeria Mangani, Vice President, Alta Roma and Counselor for External Relations and Fashion for the Mayor of Rome, led the small group of 20 FIDM Students on the special tour, answering questions and pointing out the rich details of the amazing costumes.
The exhibit of 80 costumes, sketches, and drawings from Giorgio Armani, Roberto Capucci, Enrico Coveri, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Romeo Gigli, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Emanuel Ungaro, Valentino, and Gianni Versace is on display until November 13.
Each year students in FIDM's International Manufacturing & Product Development advanced study program travel to fashion and manufacturing hotspots around the globe as they produce a line of clothing while being mentored by their professors and one of FIDM's incredible industry partners. Student Hallie Fisher will be posting daily updates about the trip on her student blog. Don't miss it!
In the September 5, 2011 issue of InTouch, a lucky reader will get the chance to shop the Bisou Bisou capsule collection featuring FIDM Student designs for their back-to-school wardrobe.
Bisou Bisou was FIDM's International Manufacturing & Product Development partner last year.
FIDM Student Jenny McClain with her winning collection
Each year, FIDM's International Manufacturing & Product Development (IMPD) program chooses an Industry Partner to work closely with students as they learn to create a cohesive product line. This year's partner Bisou Bisou collaborated with JCPenney and FIDM in challenging the students to create a series of designs for the Bisou Bisou label. The students developed their designs with mentorship from Bisou Bisou founder and designer Michele Bohbot. The winner, Jenny McClain, will receive a $2,000 scholarship and her winning designs will by produced by Bisou Bisou and sold at select JCPenney stores nationwide.
Jenny came to FIDM directly from high school. After graduating with an A.A. degree in Merchandise Product Development, she was accepted into FIDM's Advanced Study IMPD program. Jenny will be starting FIDM's Bachelor of Science in Business Management program in the fall.
London-based Shaun Samson, who studied Fashion Design and International Manufacturing & Product Development at FIDM, was just awarded the Collection of the Year award and €15,000 at this weekend's tenth anniversary International Talent Support Prize in Trieste, Italy.
The menswear designer was selected out of eight finalists by a panel of jurors including designers Viktor & Rolf and noted fashion journalist Hilary Alexander.
"I'm just speechless and overwhelmed - I genuinely didn't think that I was going to win," said Samson. "I'm so grateful to ITS and the jurors for providing me with the foundations of which I can built my dreams upon."
Read the entire article in VOGUE UK.
Congratulations Shaun!
After studying Fashion Design and International Manufacturing & Product Development at FIDM, Shaun Samson went on to receive his B.A. and M.A. in Fashion Menswear at the prestigious Central St. Martins in London. While in school he worked on collections for Jeremy Scott.
Since graduating last month, Shaun is now working on his self-titled menswear line, which will be exhibited in Paris in June and possibly in London and Barcelona after that. Keep up with Shaun at his website.
The 2011 Graduates of the Advanced Study Program in International Manufacturing & Product Development (IMPD) gave their thesis presentations at the Los Angeles Center Studios Theatre recently in front of industry leaders, FIDM colleagues, friends, and family.
This year, the IMPD class collaborated with Bisou Bisou, an exclusive women’s apparel brand at JCPenney, on Fall 2011 product lines.
The IMPD program involves the student in all phases of the product development cycle, from the initial concept and design of the product through technical design, global sourcing, costing, production, and marketing to the consumer. Students travel to Asia and Europe for research and trend shopping.
The nine-month program culminates with a night of thesis presentations where the students show samples of their product lines and give a full report of their consumer and the product, including fabrics, costing, and manufacturing details.
Gerber Technology recognized IMPD Student Heidi Riebs for her outstanding use of technology and presented her with their webPDM® Achievement Award.
Congratulations to the 12 talented students who are graduating from this year's IMPD Program: Lara Atallah, Mario DeJesus, Jenna Goldberg, Alyse Guercia, Melanie Magnus, Jenny McClain, Eriksen Mitchell, Heidi Riebs, Jon Rosario, Leah Salimbene, Kinley Taylor, and Lissa Tovar.
Kristen Andrada graduated from the IMPD program earlier this year and is now one of three interns selected to work on the west coast for the Walt Disney Company's Costume Buying Department.
"I work in the department that produces and sources all the occupational costuming for Disneyland, Disney World, and the Disney cruise lines and hotels. On a daily basis, I am working on the bill of materials for all of Disney, and any smaller, last minute projects that come up. As an intern, I am given projects to complete, just like in IMPD, and at the end of the year I have to give a presentation to the head team on a videoconference between Anaheim and Florida on what I have learned, gained and experienced from the program."
Read the entire interview with Kristen Andrada on FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily.
One week after graduating from FIDM's International Manufacturing and Product Development (IMPD) program in March this year, Kalyn Ryan was hired by Koo's Manufacturing as a Technical Designer for Big Star jeans. When she first started, they let her make her own pair of jeans using the equipment from sewing to the dry processes (i.e. sandblasting), and developing the wash.
"Traveling was one of the highlights of the [IMPD] program, because we got to go to Paris, Milan, Barcelona, and Hong Kong. Hong Kong was my favorite because the city was so alive and exciting. We got to visit several headquarters, such as The Children's Place, and see how they manage their sourcing overseas, while being based in the U.S."
Read the entire interview with Kalyn Ryan on FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily.
