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EHE News

Keeping pace with retail:
Learning fashion from concept to consumer

Susan Zavotka

Cheryl Achterberg

Tara Abraham

With today's emphasis on fashionable clothing sold in an exciting environment, the college presented an open house to let the world know our students are groomed to succeed in the fast-paced 21st-century retail industry.

A new name -- Fashion and Retail Studies -- reflects the latest evolution of a program that has attracted students since Ohio State was founded in the late 1800s.

"Today, professionals in the fashion retail industry must be able to think creatively, analytically and strategically," said Associate Professor Susan Zavotka, faculty coordinator for Fashion and Retail Studies. "Our new program is unique in that all students take core courses in both fashion and retail. Our students graduate with knowledge of the complete fashion product lifecycle, from concept to consumer."

More than two hundred students, alumni, faculty, staff, local retailers and the program's industry task force members crowded the Columbia Gas Student and Alumni Center of Campbell Hall for the April open house presented by the Department of Consumer Sciences.

Dean Cheryl Achterberg kicked off the open house by welcoming the guests and introducing the new program.

Tara Abraham, chair of the Fashion and Retail Studies Industry Task Force and CEO of Accel, Columbus, spoke about the significance of the college's program to industry and how the task force contributes.

The buzz sweeping the crowd focused on the newly minted name and what the updated program offers both students and industry.

Representatives from the more than 400 undergraduate students enrolled in the program each year attended the open house. They discussed their core courses, which include the aesthetics of dress, the business practices of fashion, fashion forecasting, global markets, product design and quality, retail environments, the social psychology of fashion, advanced technology, social responsibility, and textile/apparel analysis.

A cluster of niche courses ensures that students understand the consumer perspective, service and satisfaction, the multicultural consumer, and consumer decision making.

Zavotka emphasized that students may also choose novel experiences with the college's Historic Costume and Textile Collection, the Michelle Lynn Dauterman Computer Laboratory, and industry study tours for credit to New York and internationally, such as a recent trip to Asia.

At the open house

Guests spent the afternoon visiting various program stations. In classrooms, students demonstrated their knowledge of business topics such as market analysis.

Those in the Dauterman laboratory designed apparel in two dimensions on computer or in three dimensions on dress forms. They explained they must learn to write production details for both 2-D and 3-D designs, which requires them to possess a thorough knowledge of garment construction.

Students involved in the annual design show said it gives them another opportunity to showcase their design skills through draping and construction.

The presence of FRS Industry Task Force members at the event highlighted the program's push to work closely with industry. With Columbus as home to several of the biggest retail brands in the U.S., students have outstanding opportunities to gain experience and employment among the most creative leaders in retail.

"The Fashion & Retail Studies Open House was a huge success thanks to the numerous student organizations, faculty and industry task force members who helped plan the event," said Kathleen Whitman, a lecturer as well and alumna of the program. "We were so pleased by the large number of attendees who came and the overall excitement about the changes in our curriculum."