When Dr. Andy Reilly took students to the “Magic” fashion convention in Las Vegas this February, illustrator Trivia Hiller remembered him.  She recalled he’s the one with the college students.  “That’s really impressive,” Dr. Reilly said. “She drew us last year. So I think we made a good impression.”  

Five FDM students went with Dr. Reilly to “Magic,” one of the largest fashion conventions in the world.  Students saw and experienced the buying side of the industry and watched vendors showcase their upcoming collections while retailers placed orders.  

Dr. Reilly has been taking students to Magic for over 10 years and said he really enjoys helping students connect the classroom to the real world.  “Their faces light up as they realize all that it encompasses,” he said.  The students spent two days at the convention meeting and networking with potential employers and making connections.  This year’s convention featured talks on minority business owners and color forecasting. 

Grace Flagg was one of the students who attended.  She valued her experience and said, “It was an incredible opportunity to gain more insight on buying and sourcing within the fashion industry. I attended several seminars where industry experts shared their knowledge on the latest trends and best practices. It was fascinating to learn about the emerging technologies and sustainable practices that are shaping the future of fashion.”   

While there, students experienced some special events, like practicing their golf swings in a portable, digital golf pod, getting their make-up styled professionally, screen-printing their own t-shirts, and being illustrated by Trivia Hiller.  

By Andy Reilly​

FDM alumna Kristen Domingcil gave a guest talk in FDM 101 Introduction to the Fashion Industry on Tuesday, October 15.  Kristen and her colleague, Emily Fujimura, both work for Trendtex Fabrics and talked about the fabric business, from design to production and sales.  Kristen graduated in 2011 and has since worked in NYC for Ralph Lauren and Yigal Azroul, and returned to Honolulu a few years ago where she worked with the merchandising team for Jeans Warehouse and the wholesale team for Angels by the Sea.   Kristen told the students that her love of fashion comes from textiles and she enjoys helping to develop not only the look and prints of textiles, but the textures and weaves.  Emily advised students to take as many electives in fashion as possible so that they have well-rounded skill set. 

By Andy Reilly​

The Welina Mānoa: Kick-Off event took place on September 4 at the Campus Center, Kuykendall Lawn, and Legacy Path. The event featured a variety of on-campus departments, programs, clubs, and offices at the Resource Fair, with music from KTUH and live performances by the UH Band and UH Rainbow Dancers. At our FDM booth, visitors learned more about FDM’s offerings, including courses, student projects, and our student club, Stole Society. Special thanks to Drs. Minako McCarthy, Ju-Young Kang, Shu Hwa Lin, and our Stole Society officers—Elliana Abecede, Hailie Chinn, Marisa Kim, Johnell Ladera, Edelina Bagaporo, and Kasandra Miao—for organizing and setting up the booth. A big shout-out to Elliana, who crafted and handed out balloon animals to visitors, making our booth a highlight of the event! We sincerely appreciate all the help and support from our Stole Society officers! Watch the video.

By Ju-Young Kang