More than 280 fashion students and 23 companies connected in a dynamic networking event at Trabant University Center on Wednesday, Oct. 24.
Sponsored by Career Services Center and the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, the event included a wide array of apparel industry executives and companies.
To kick things off, an hour-long panel discussion attracted a standing-room-only crowd eager to learn more about the apparel industry and, specifically, how to better prepare for internships, interviews and job hunting.
The panel consisted of Jennifer DeVice, senior manager of merchandising training and talent development for the Qurate Retail Group; Rick Horwitch, vice president of global retail lead supply chain strategy at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services; Katie Kim, Uniqlo recruiting manager and senior trainer; and Courtney Smoyer, associate merchandiser with Lilly Pulitzer.
The moderator for the event was UD graduate student, adjunct instructor and entrepreneur Cha Cha Hudson.
Panelists discussed their career paths, best practices in preparing for interviews, most common mistakes made by applicants and other relevant topics. In addition, students had time to ask questions of the panelists.
The networking event that followed was a unique opportunity for companies and students to engage in one-on-one conversations.
Companies that attended were Athleta, Amazon, Burlington, Ross Stores, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, Under Armour, Eddie Bauer, Lilly Pulitzer, Haddad Brands, Solomon Page, Castlewood Apparel, Nike, Loft, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret (corporate), Uniqlo, South Moon Under, QVC, The Children’s Place, URBN and Trendalytics.
Students and industry participants described the energy and positivity of the event and called it a win-win experience.

For further information, please visit: https://www.fashion.udel.edu/