TEXTILES, APPAREL, AND MERCHANDISING
Not taking ‘no’ for an answer As Chloe Burdette, ’14, prepared to enter Indiana State to study fashion, some people challenged her choice. They asked, “Why would you go into fashion? You can’t do anything with it.“ But Burdette replied, “I never take ‘no’ for an answer.” It’s a tenet that’s empowered the State alumna. It helped her succeed throughout college and has been pivotal since as she finds success in the fast-paced, competitive, and evolving world of fashion. “What was nice about being in textiles, apparel, and merchandising at Indiana State,” said Burdette of Brazil, Indiana, “was that you got to learn a lot of different facets of the industry to help decide which you wanted to go into.” After a coveted internship at the high-profile New York City bridal house Kleinfeld Bridal, she worked with The Buckle in Kansas City upon graduation. She left her mark on their clothing line, designing a denim the store named “The Burdette.” Now she’s at the Trunk Club in Chicago, owned by Nordstrom since 2014. It’s a service that provides a personal shopping experience. “At Trunk Club, you’re essentially in your own lane when it comes to growth potential,” she said. “You set your goals, you set your mind and you go.” Burdette’s niche is in custom suiting and closet clean-outs. What’s next for the woman who doesn’t take “no” for an answer? “Right now, the path is just positive. I want to be No. 1 in this company,” she said.
“My favorite aspect of the merchandising internship at Ulta Beauty was all of the networking opportunities and helping my team prepare for the upcoming holiday season. I was able to help make impactful decisions for the mass cosmetics department and help in the negotiations for bringing in new brands in 2018. It was a great experience!” — REBECCA RUDDOCK, ’18 A TEXTILES, APPAREL, AND MERCHANDISING MAJOR FROM TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA
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