By Erin Boggs
I was intrigued by many aspects of the fashion design program here at SU, but what ultimately inspired me to apply was the annual opportunity to show garments at New York Fashion Week.
Each year, qualifying student looks are chosen by a panel of industry professionals to showcase at the Nolcha Shows, (http://www.nolcha.com/), in New York City. The Nolcha Shows run alongside the official New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and offer a platform for up and coming designers to have their work seen by industry professionals.
I had the opportunity to participate in NYFW in 2016 and 2018. The day of the show always goes so quickly with the anticipation of months of work culminating in roughly five minutes of runway time. We are backstage with fellow designers, models, hair and makeup crew, sponsors and the production team. Participating in the show has been an invaluable hands-on look into professional runway production.
I have also gained industry exposure from the experiences. Our looks are photographed by the media, posts are made on blogs, in online magazines and in some cases, looks from SU have been published by national media. I have been able to build my professional network through communication with the bloggers, models, photographers and fashion industry insiders.
Participation in NYFW has been a personal highlight of my time at SU. The experiences have been informational, a lot of fun, a chance to bond with my fellow students and a valuable step forward in building my fashion career.