Two Michigan State University students gained firsthand insight into the fashion industry while building their personal brands, exploring career opportunities, and connecting with industry professionals during CLASS: The NYC Experience, a three-day program held in New York City.
Casey Klau and Nadia Bednar, both Apparel and Textile Design majors in MSU’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design within the College of Arts and Letters, were among 21 students from 12 universities selected to participate in the program, which offered panel discussions, showroom visits, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities.
For Klau, the experience provided valuable insight into the fashion industry while introducing her to new career possibilities and professional connections.
“It showed me how many different career options there are in the industry and helped me learn more about what I am interested in. It also gave me a starting point for thinking about my personal brand,” she said. “I met so many people who gave me helpful advice and who I hope to stay connected with as I begin my career.”
“I met so many people who gave me helpful advice and who I hope to stay connected with as I begin my career.”
Casey Klau
For Bednar, who recently changed her major to Apparel and Textile Design, the experience reinforced her decision to pursue fashion while introducing her to career paths she hadn’t previously considered.
“It opened me up to different career paths I could take and different things that interested me in my field,” Bednar said. “But overall, it just made me feel more comfortable in my choice of changing my major.”
A New Focus
Since 2017, CLASS: The NYC Experience has brought students from Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) institutions across the country to New York City to explore career opportunities and connect with industry professionals. At MSU, the program provides Apparel and Textile Design students with opportunities to gain firsthand industry experience. To date, more than 300 students from participating universities have taken part in the program.
The program, now held annually in September, has shifted its focus from attending fashion shows and experiencing New York Fashion Week to helping students develop their professional identities, explore career paths, and build industry connections.
Over three days, participants attended a welcome reception, personal branding sessions, an industry panel, and showroom visits with G-III, and a hands-on workshop at ATTIC Studios before concluding with a reception at Odd Sister.
Both students welcomed the opportunity to take what they had learned in the classroom and experience the fashion industry firsthand.
“I was honored to be selected for CLASS and get to experience the fashion industry outside of the classroom and learn from people who actually work in it,” Klau said. “It was exciting attending industry events, meeting students from other universities, and making connections in New York City.”
For Bednar, who was still relatively new to her major, being selected was especially meaningful.
“I was absolutely stunned when I got the email from my professor. I was with my brother at the time, and we just kept on reading and rereading the email to see if it was true,” Bednar said. “I’m new to my major, and I saw it as a great opportunity to get fully immersed and connected in my industry.”
Building a Personal Brand
The program began with Brunch and Branding, a session focused on developing a personal brand. Students later spent a full day at ATTIC Studios participating in Creator Studio, an immersive workshop that guided them through the branding process using their own professional identities as the focus.
As part of Creator Studio, students arrived dressed for professional photo shoots designed to help them bring their personal brands to life. For Klau, stepping in front of the camera was a new experience.
“A highlight of Saturday was the personal photoshoot,” she said. “I had never done anything like that before, and it was really fun to work with a professional photographer and collaborate with him to bring my vision to life.”
Learning From Industry Professionals
The program also gave students opportunities to learn directly from professionals working in the fashion industry. During the G-III Experience, participants took part in an immersive retail experience, a panel discussion and Q&A session, and showroom visits that offered a behind-the-scenes look at the industry.
For Bednar, hearing industry professionals speak candidly about their career journeys was particularly meaningful.
“One of my favorite parts was when we were able to talk to a panel of people who are already deep into the industry,” she said. “They were sharing how they got to where they wanted to be in their careers and what they would do if they were in our shoes. It really helped me feel more comfortable in my position as a student.”
The showroom visits also gave students a better understanding of the work involved in bringing fashion brands to market.
“One of my favorite parts of Friday was visiting the DKNY showroom,” Klau said. “I enjoyed learning how a showroom operates and seeing some of the work that happens behind the scenes.”
“One of my favorite parts was when we were able to talk to a panel of people who are already deep into the industry. They were sharing how they got to where they wanted to be in their careers and what they would do if they were in our shoes.”
Nadia Bednar
Beyond the scheduled activities, Bednar found inspiration in the city itself, from its architecture to the fashion choices of the people around her.
“Just being immersed in the architecture of the city was enough to get me so excited and inspired,” she said. “The fashion there is amazing. Just what people were wearing at different times of the day and night in my area was amazing. I loved to people watch.”
Exploring Career Possibilities
For both students, the experience reinforced that careers in fashion don’t always follow a straight path and that exploring different opportunities can help them discover their interests and strengths.
“I learned that many people in the industry did not know exactly what they wanted to do when they started their first job. A lot of them found what they loved by trying different jobs and following opportunities that came along,” Klau said. “It made me feel better about not knowing exactly where I want to end up. I realized that it is okay to figure that out as I go.”
Both students returned to MSU with a similar takeaway: Be open to new opportunities, even when the destination isn’t clear.
“I learned to just say yes and try everything,” Bednar said. “No one has a clear path into getting where they want to be, so if you just try everything, you might find something new and amazing or end up somewhere you love.”
“I learned to just say yes and try everything. No one has a clear path into getting where they want to be, so if you just try everything, you might find something new and amazing or end up somewhere you love.”
Nadia Bednar
Klau echoed that sentiment.
“The biggest lesson I took away was to say yes to opportunities. You never know where an experience might take you or who you might meet along the way,” she said. “Even if an opportunity is not exactly what you pictured yourself doing, it could help you discover something else that you love.”
Supporting Student Opportunities
MSU University Trademarks and Licensing, in collaboration with CLC, MSU’s collegiate licensing agency, helps make participation in CLASS: The NYC Experience possible for MSU students. In addition to generating royalties from officially licensed MSU merchandise that support university scholarships and programming, the office helps provide this experiential learning opportunity to connect students with industry professionals and potential career paths.
For Klau, the experience provided valuable lessons, professional connections, and friendships that will stay with her long after the trip.
“I came home with new friends, helpful connections, and a better understanding of the industry,” she said. “It was an experience I will always be grateful for.”
The closing dinner was particularly meaningful to her.
“I came home with new friends, helpful connections, and a better understanding of the industry. It was an experience I will always be grateful for.”
Casey Klau
“The most memorable moment was the send-off dinner. It gave me a chance to step back and realize how close I had become with everyone in such a short amount of time,” she said. “We had shared so many new experiences together, and it was special to end the trip that way.”
Both students encouraged other Spartans to apply for the program and take advantage of every opportunity to learn and connect with others.
“It is so much fun. They have so many events packed into the day to make sure you are having a good time and experiencing the city around you,” Bednar said. “Also, don’t forget to make connections with those around you. From other students to panel members, it is so good to make those connections.”
Klau emphasized the value of gaining real-world experience beyond the classroom.
“You meet so many new people and learn things that you cannot learn in a classroom,” she said. “It gives you a real look at the industry and can introduce you to jobs and career paths you may not have known about before.”
