FIDM Magazine

Merchandise Product Development Students: Apply for the 2012 Denim Study Tour Now!

Attention FIDM Merchandise Product Development Students!

Look around you--how many people do you see in jeans? Denim is a multi-billion dollar business and it is still growing! The FIDM Denim Study Tour is your chance to go behind the scenes and learn all about how this lucrative industry works, and why jeans and denim products are so important in the fashion world. All eligible FIDM Merchandise Product Development Students are encouraged to apply for this amazing opportunity.

The FIDM Denim Study Tour will take you to San Francisco and Los Angeles, where you'll visit wash houses, see first hand what goes into preproduction, and check out the design facilities of some of the world's most popular denim brands.  The tour is from March 21-23, 2012, and spaces are filling up fast! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity.

For further details and to get your application contact one of the following people:

Los Angeles Campus: Eva Gilbert, x3430
San Francisco Campus: David Orris, x1534
Orange County/San Diego Campuses: Susan Spencer, sspencer@fidm.edu

Visual Communications Students Take Study Tour to NYC

Last week, a group of FIDM Visual Communications Students took a Study Tour to New York City, which included visits to showrooms and retail flagships. VMSD Magazine wrote an article about their appointment with Saks Fifth Avenue's Senior VP of Visual Merchandising and Store Design Harry Cunningham (a FIDM Advisory Board member) and his team, at the famed flagship store.

"The panel – which included Matt Reed, vp, visual merchandising; Richard Fosdick, director/visual for women’s, men’s, kids and home; and Adam Carmichael, director of store design (who was also named the PAVE Rising Star 2011 two day earlier) – was extremely hospitable and open with the students. They shared their career paths, missteps and advice for getting a dream job."

Read the entire article here.

Vis Comm Students Visit Macy's on NYC Study Tour

A personal tour of the Macy's holiday windows? Yes, please! Paul Olszewski, Visual Merchandise Director of Windows and Interiors at Macy's, gave FIDM Students a tour of his award-winning windows.  It was just announced last night at PAVE (Planning and Visual Education Partnership) that he and his team won the first place platinum award for best holiday windows. Congrats, Paul!

FIDM Visual Communications Student Sydney Brady making an ornament at the interactive window.

Vis Comm Students Meet Head of Visual for Bumble & Bumble

FIDM Visual Communications Students continued an exciting day of industry appointments on their New York Study Tour when they met with Head of Visual for Bumble & Bumble, Ron Roberts.

Vis Comm Students Visit Rootstein on NYC Study Tour

FIDM Visual Communications Students, who are currently on their New York City Study Tour, visited Rootstein, the world's leading mannequin design company. How amazingly realistic are these mannequins in a showroom transformed into a club scene? Watch this space for more updates on the Visual Communications NYC Study Tour.

Celebrity Event Designer Preston Bailey Meets With FIDM Students

FIDM Students recently visited top event designer Preston Bailey in New York City as part of a Study Tour. "After their visit, I felt a renewed sense of vigor and excitement for the projects I’m working on right now. I love when that happens," says Preston, who has clients such as Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Jennifer Hudson, and Donna Karan, among others.

Read more on Preston's blog.

IMPD Students Arrive in Paris: Day 1

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!

FIDM Students Visit Florence, London, Paris & Rome for Annual FIDM European Study Tour

Elisabeth Varela, a Graphic Design Student at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, is one of 19 Students who traveled to Florence, London, Paris, and Rome from March 24 through April 4 for the annual FIDM European Study Tour. Each year FIDM Students, escorted by instructors and administrators, have the opportunity to participate in specialized study tours to major cities known for fashion and design. Read about the students' experience, as told by Elisabeth below:

 

March 26 - We did a lot of sight seeing! We saw famous places like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame. Then we saw a lot of the fashion streets where designers such as Dior and Chanel have shops.

March 27 - We took the Eurostar into London, [which] so far was my favorite part of the trip. We saw the London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abby (where Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married). We saw the London Eye, Big Ben and Saint Paul's Cathedral. Later, we went shopping and had afternoon tea at Selfridges.

March 28 - This morning we went to see a man who owns a family-owned company that make hand made silk flowers. They were absolutely gorgeous! Designers such as Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Dior and more come to him to make flowers for their couture clothing, accessories and store front windows.

March 29 - Earlier today we went to see a woman who is a costume designer. She has a major collection of clothing from vintage all the way to current, used in french movies as well as American movies. Later we went to see Versailles. That was really fun as well. The palace was gorgeous because it has been recently restored with gold paint. Inside we saw the hall of mirrors, the queen and king bedrooms, and few other highlights inside the palace.

March 31 - Today's appointment was to a handmade paper maker, and a handmade mask maker. We also had a lot of free time so we mainly took the time to do some shopping and eat gelato.

April 1 - So far today we had a walking tour of Florence and are learning a little about the history of the city. We saw Michelangelo's David inside the Galleria dell'Accademia . This morning we had a private cooking class with an Italian chef inside her home. We learned how to make brushetta, gnocchi and tiramisu. It all tasted so good (for a bunch of college students)!

Sounds like the European Study Tour was an amazing trip and opportunity for these students! 

 

Visual Communications NYC Study Tour Day 2

FIDM Visual Communications Students had an exciting second day in New York City. They attended a panel discussion entitled "Visual Merchandising Takes Center Stage," where they learned about the best trends of 2010 and what's to come in 2011. Panelists included Lauren Shaw, Visual Merchandising Coordinator, Louis Vuitton North America, Paul Olszewski, Director of Windows Macy's Herald Square and Flagships, and Tom Davidson, Visual Merchandising Manager, The Food Emporium.

Later in the afternoon the students headed over to Macy's Inc. To meet Chris Kapov, VP of Marketing Communications, Macy's Merchandising Group. Chris shared marketing initiatives and fashion collaborations for the upcoming year. Then the students were taken on a private tour by Paul Olszewski where he discussed the process of design and planning of his award-winning Christmas windows.

The students wrapped up their day with an espresso and baked italian treats at Giorgio Armani 5th Avenue Flagship store. The students were greeted by Ray Barraga, Senior Manager of Store Operations, and were given a behind the scenes outlook of the creation and day-to-day operation of this infamous fashion house.

Jenia Molnar, VP of Public Relations shared highlights on marketing and PR, charitable events, and celebrities. Visual Director Dominic Martino gave the students a tour of the store where he shared specific details of the creative visual merchandising for the 5th Avenue location via Milan.


Visual Communications Students Head to NYC for Study Tour

FIDM Visual Communications Students spent their first day in New York City attending a Panel Discussion at the Retail Design Collective. Guest panelist included Harry Cunningham, Senior VP, Store Planning & Visual Merchandising, Saks Fifth Avenue;  Brad Lenz, VP, Shop -in-Shop and International Stores, Liz Claiborne Inc.;  and Diana Bernal, Director, Store Planning, Van Cleef & Arpels Inc.