Our Alumni
the Illustrious Alumni of Fashion and Apparel Studies
The Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware has produced a remarkable array of alumni who have left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. From renowned designers to influential entrepreneurs, these trailblazers have showcased their creativity, innovation, and passion for fashion on a global scale. Their accomplishments serve as a testament to the exceptional education and training provided by this esteemed program, which has consistently nurtured and empowered aspiring fashion professionals to reach new heights of success.
Samantha Ellers
Degree: 2022, Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management
Job Title: Product Integrity Testing and Compliance Assistant, Lilly Pulitzer
Samantha Ellers graduated from the University of Delaware in spring of 2022 with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising. Additionally, Samantha received a A.A.S. in Textile Development and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Spring of 2021.
Samantha's decision to further pursue textile development at FIT was influenced by her interest in sustainable applications as well as her interest in increasing transparency and traceability in the fashion industry. During her time at FIT, Samantha had the pleasure of working remotely as a textile production intern with ATI Textile in New York City. Soon after graduating from FIT and completing her internship, she began her next internship with Crystal International Group Limited. Based in Hong Kong, Samantha worked remotely as a corporate quality and sustainability Intern.
Since graduation, Samantha has accepted the product integrity testing and compliance assistant position with Lilly Pulitzer. Located in King of Prussia, PA, Samantha admires the company's ability to produce consistent, iconic, generational and trans seasonal colors. Overall, she is excited to bring her passionate, innovative, and enthusiastic spirit to her new position.
Sarah Carlson
Degree: 2022, Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management
Job Title: Merchandising Assistant at Bergdorf Goodman
Sarah Carlson graduated in 2022 with a B.S. in fashion merchandising and a minor in international business studies. During her time in undergraduate studies, she was involved with UDress Magazine, where she launched a website.
In college, Sarah interned at Kohl's corporate and at two startups, and additionally learned under the mentorship of Christian Dior Couture as a Women@Dior mentee. Past accolades include being a two-time winner of the Fashion Scholarship Fund—one of which she was a top-eight finalist—and a recipient of the NRF Foundation's Next Generation Award.
Currently, Sarah works as a merchandising assistant at Bergdorf Goodman, where she brings system and data-entry support for teams across the buying division. She was also a TEDx speaker for the TEDxMorristown October 2022 event.
Julianna Alfieri
Degree: 2022, Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management
Job Title: Sourcing Specialist, Party City
Julianna graduated with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Management, with a minor in Sustainable Apparel and Textile Innovation. She is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in fashion sustainability from Parsons School of Design.
Julianna is now working full-time for Party City as a sourcing specialist. Through this position, Julianna works with international teams, communicates with different vendors, and works on sourcing strategies and transitions. She hopes to guide the company and sourcing team to be more sustainable!
Additionally, Julianna works as fashion stylist assistant based in NYC, giving her the fashion industry exposure she loves. Julianna assists different fashion photo shoots in New York and is also responsible for creating and posting different social media content for the stylist.
During her time in undergrad, Julianna was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and the Fashion Merchandising club. She also achieved Dean’s List and the Career Management 101 Gold Level Certificate. Outside of UD, Julianna was part of a social media networking group called College Fashionista.
Julia Frense Maria
Degree: 2015, Fashion Merchandising
Job Title: Global Indirect Procurement Project Lead, DuPont
Julia Frense Maria is a highly motivated procurement professional with over 10 years of experience dedicated to driving growth and maximizing profitability for top-tier companies. Julia graduated from UD in 2015 with a BS in Fashion Merchandising. Her career has spanned notable organizations including Ralph Lauren, Anthropologie, Lands’ End, Office Depot, WEConnect International, and currently, DuPont.
As the Global Indirect Procurement Project Lead at DuPont, she excel's in providing comprehensive procurement project management across all indirect categories (~$2.4B in spend). Her areas of expertise include category development, spend analysis, value creation, RFx processes, supplier relationship management and negotiation strategy planning. She enjoys initiating project exploration in collaboration with category buyers and global procurement leadership to deliver impactful results.
Outside of her professional endeavors, she is passionate about giving back to her community. She volunteers with Philadelphia’s ‘Girls on the Run,’ a physical activity-based positive youth-development program that enhances girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors. As a member of the associate board and chair of the small events committee for this nonprofit, she actively supports all initiatives that empower girls and women.
Having grown up on three different continents—Europe, Asia, and North America- she possesses a profound appreciation for diverse cultures and communities. Fluent in German and holding dual US-EU citizenship, she brings a global perspective to her work and interactions.
Maria Starling
Degree: 2022, Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management
Job Title: Production Assistant, Fashions Unlimited Inc.
Maria Starling graduated in Spring 2022 from UD with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Management, and an additional AAS degree in Fashion Business Management from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. While at UD, Maria was a part of her freshman residence hall Community Council as their multicultural chair, a general body member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and, most importantly, president of UD's Fashion Merchandising Club.
During her junior year, Maria participated in the fashion department's one-year, AAS degree, visiting students program through FIT. Although the pandemic hindered the original plan of being in class at the Manhattan campus for the entire school year, Maria was able to live in FIT's residence hall while taking online courses during the spring semester. Throughout that time, she met students in similar programs from universities across the country, as well as new students that would be there all four years whom she remains in contact with today post-grad. Maria highly recommends this program to any fashion department student, as it was her main reason for choosing UD when applying to colleges her senior year of high school.
Since graduation, Maria has been working at Fashions Unlimited Inc.; an apparel manufacturing factory that's been in business for over 40 years in her hometown of Baltimore, MD, as a production assistant. Her responsibilities include client relations, digital marketing, fulfillment services, general small-business operations and most exciting: managing the company's “adventurewear" private label, Wet Stone. Maria shares that working within the apparel production process has been a great place to learn more about the future development of fashion and has allowed her to have more insight on her passion for a more sustainable apparel industry.
Dan Koob
Degree: 2020, Apparel Design
Job Title: Assistant Designer at Calvin Klein
Daniel Koob (He/Him/His) graduated in 2018 with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising and returned in 2020 to complete the B.S. in Apparel Design. Dan loved designing with a mix of femininity and masculinity, taking pattern and draping skills and rethinking menswear in his design projects. While at UD, he marched in the UD Marching Band, was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and UDress Magazine, and was the VP of Synergy Fashion Group.
Free People - Dan started his post-grad career in product development/production with Free People (Philadelphia, PA), where he helped to communicate with overseas sourcing partners, tracked salesman sample deliveries, reviewed development costing and updated purchase orders based on FOB/landing pricing. Dan loved the experience on the URBN sourcing team (knits categories, and FP movement). He gained quick problem-solving skills in a super fast-paced environment, and became a more well-rounded designer because of his new knowledge in sourcing.
Lucky Brand - In 2021, Dan moved to NYC to join Lucky Brand, where he was the menswear designer of Lucky’s off-price channel. He managed lab dip/wash/print strike-off approvals, set up tech packs/BOM sheets and sketched new silhouette styles. He also partnered with his favorite tech designers in fit sessions for construction/garment review. Dan designed into both cut & sew knits, and non-denim wovens categories, and presented each season’s collection to his high-level merchandising and sales leadership teams prior to their market weeks. He is grateful to have had so much autonomy in this role by working with a design team based in Los Angeles and being the key contact for off-price men’s design here in New York.
Calvin Klein - Dan recently joined PVH in August 2022 and now works as a designer of men’s underwear & lounge for Calvin Klein (New York, NY). He sketches and sets up new style tech packs/BOM sheets, attends fit sessions with tech design, partners with PD & raw materials teams to source the best quality of fabrics and waistbands, and works with his merchandising team to curate the collections to their global markets. Dan says he is having so much fun learning about the intimates category and is grateful to be contributing to CK’s continued success!
Portfolio: https://danielokoob.wixsite.com/portfolio
Email: daniel.o.koob@gmail.com
