The Rise of FDM Majors

With the fashion industry being a very complex and ever-changing field, many students are choosing to major in this area in order to be a part of a global phenomenon. The enrollment for the FDM program is now at 112 majors as of Spring 2023, which has been a significant increase compared to prior years. With half of the majors in design and the other half in merchandising, many of our students are inspired to partake in this rigorous landscape despite the changes in consumer behavior and preferences and the availability of products from manufacturers worldwide. From zero-waste manufacturing to the rise of second-hand-tailing to increased social media presence (thanks to Instagram and Tik Tok), students are passionate about being involved in this community more than ever before. Fashion students are indulging not only as consumers, but as ambassadors in design and merchandising to leave their footprint of creativity in the industry. After all, everybody loves to look good (to feel good) and this is the underlying endeavor of the fashion industry. That said, it’s imperative that we sustain this energy in the FDM program by engaging our students in productive discussions, providing hands-on experiences, and ensuring that our students are afforded a platform to channel their creativity, as well as their technical and soft skills to prepare them for such a competitive field. With this and their creative spark and will to succeed, our FDM students will be better equipped to make a splash as they enter the workforce. As FDM senior, Makaliʻi Saunders, states, “The reason I chose to pursue FDM was to enter a new chapter of my life and educational journey where I am doing something I truly love. I’ve always wanted to do fashion in some capacity, it just took me a while to figure that out. But when I did, it was the best decision I could’ve made for myself” (personal communication, January 2023). This is an exciting time for the FDM ʻohana, so grab on to your needles and bobbins as we move forward to witnessing positive change in our small, yet growing fashion community at UHM. 

-Abby Cristi-Kim & Jacqueline Tani