By Mary Kinder
Like most typical Indiana Tech students, Olivia Fabian is busy. She’s wrapping up classes for her bachelor’s degree in the College of Professional Studies while simultaneously running a burgeoning business, OFabz Swimwear. She also teaches ice skating and martial arts. And then there’s her recent stint on Turkey’s version of Ice Skating with the Stars. A Fort Wayne native, Olivia Fabian spent much of her childhood competing both nationally and internationally in figure skating and martial arts. While competing as a figure skater, Fabian and her mother grew frustrated with the high cost of skating apparel and the lack of designs. So her mother began sewing costumes herself. The one-of-a-kind outfits garnered a lot of attention, and before they knew it, Fabian and her mother were running an international figure skating apparell company. So how does figure skating lead to swimwear? It came down to a simple twist of fate. One day, while looking through material left over from a skating outfit, Fabian asked her mother to make her a swimsuit from the remnants. Again, when people saw the oneof-a-kind design, they were interested. However, when talking to friends about swimsuits, Fabian heard over and over again that women want swimsuits that are fun and fashionable, but still allow them to be active. That was the creative spark that led to her unique Whim Suit, a sheer one piece bathing suit that’s worn over a bikini, combining the best of both worlds. With that, OFabz was born. But starting the company required money. So, Fabian entered the local New Venture Competition, a business plan contest presented by Ivy Tech Community College–Northeast and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, designed to promote economic development and job creation. After a grueling 10-week competition, Fabian walked away with the prize. She not only received $17,000 to launch her company, but also a business-mentoring residency on the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center campus. Completing Her Education
Even while all of this was going on, Fabian was hard at work at Indiana Tech, working to complete her bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a smart and capable entrepreneur, Fabian could have probably had her choice of colleges. So why did she
choose Indiana Tech? For her, the choice came down to confidence in all the school has to offer and a family friend. As she tells it, her mother is good friends with a family in India that operates a very successful business. When it came time to send their son to college, they chose Indiana Tech over much more prestigious schools. As Fabian says, “If Indiana Tech is good enough for someone who could have chosen any university in the world, it’s good enough for me.” Even with two associate degrees under her belt, Fabian says her Indiana Tech degree has been invaluable to her. “Indiana Tech has given me a more well-rounded education,” she says. “I feel like my further education gave me a leg up in the New Venture Competition.” With her business and other pursuits, Fabian says she could not have completed her degree at Indiana Tech without the College of Professional Studies. Designed to fit the schedules of students who are already in the workplace, the College of Professional Studies provides a career-focused practical education for adult learners who already have workplace or college experience. Fabian really enjoyed the more self-sufficient teaching methods the College of Professional Studies offers, saying it fits her work ethic and busy lifestyle better than traditional classes. A Bright Future Ahead
Scheduled for graduation in May, Fabian is looking toward the future. She has ambitious goals for OFabz, which include getting her line in boutiques throughout California and other warm weather states. She hopes to expand the line to include men’s swimwear and women’s accessories. She’s currently working on a bag that utilizes thermal technology to help protect sensitive items such as make-up and electronics from the heat of a summer day. Another top priority is keeping the quality of her products high. She’s proud of the fact that all her swimwear is made in the United States — something she plans on continuing not only because it helps keep jobs in our country, but also because it’s simply more practical to do business here. When asked how Indiana Tech has prepared her for her future, she smiles and says, “Indiana Tech has given me the ability to look beyond where I am now. They’ve given me a runway for my future. Now it’s up to me to get there.”
Volume 8, Issue 2
Spring 2012
17