greeted with a friendly “hello” and discover racks filled with locally handmade merchandise. Spot spools of thread scattered around the white cubes of artisan accessories and FS Store logo goods. Flip through the racks for something to try on in the changing room, decorated with fabric swatches and illustrations.
Fashion Laboratory The Fashion School Store; Julie Riedel
Teaching Kent State Fashion Students about the Fashion Industry
U
nderneath The Fashion School Store’s, (FS STORE) green and gold sign stands a mannequin wearing a royal blue dress beside displays of scarves and home decor. Behind the window display is a laser cut wood, cash desk with, “A Fashion Workshop for Students & Faculty to Bring Ideas to Life” written above it. Inside to the right is a blue wall with a laser cut wood hanging, and a mannequin wearing a digitalprinted coat. Walk through the door to be
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The FS STORE opened in 2012 as a new way for fashion students to learn about the fashion industry. It enhances Kent State University’s Fashion Program by acting as a live retail lab for students to plan, create, and interact with merchandise. It’s an environment for test marketing and receiving customer feedback, while experiencing a retail space. Multiple classes work with the store to further The Fashion School’s comprehensiveness. Fashion students are encouraged to visit, sell in, and apply for jobs at the store to expand their abilities. “The best part of working here is really being able to interact with all the Fashion School students that collaborate in these classes and bring down merchandise for us to be able to display to the community, and sell through the fashion school store,” said Marguerite Loomis, The FS STORE Manager. “I’m seeing a lot of creative talent, which is really exciting. There’s always something new in the store; it’s very unique.” Loomis is responsible for the store’s daily operation, while a curatorial team made up mostly of KSU Fashion School faculty develops its big picture. The curatorial team formulates its future and directs its merchandise. Since the fall of 2014, Jihyun Kim, Ph.D. associate professor and faculty director of The FS STORE, who goes by Dr. J, heads the team. But the six other members provide insight about