Apparel Design Manufacturing Degree Texas

Student-run shop Bruin Vintage blends sustainability with fashion-forward clothing

This post was updated Sept. 21 at 9:13

Secondhand UCLA apparel is finding a new life with Bruin Vintage.

Founded and run by second-year environmental science student Molly Smith, Bruin Vintage is an online shop that sells rare, vintage UCLA clothing and educates students about UCLA history in the process. According to the brand’s website, its mission is to support a more sustainable future by encouraging the sale of secondhand garments while also providing vintage UCLA clothing options to consumers. Smith said she was inspired to start Bruin Vintage as a way to combine her interest in environmental science and her own creative disposition.

“I’m majoring in environmental science, so sustainability is also something that’s really important to me, and I feel like Bruin Vintage is a combination of those two interests, mostly in that I get to explore different parts of entrepreneurship,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m contributing to a more circular economy and more sustainable future for UCLA students.”

Anika Misra, a second-year applied mathematics student and friend of Smith, said she considers Bruin Vintage to be an important business because of its emphasis on creating a more sustainable fashion economy. She said she finds the brand’s practice of selling secondhand clothing items to be a more environmentally friendly approach to purchasing clothes as opposed to buying new garments.

“It’s (Bruin Vintage is) important because, first of all, it promotes a circular economy and it’s kind of just saying … ‘If you want to create new products, you don’t always have to do new, new, new,’” Misra said. “You can take what’s already there and almost recycle it in a sense.”

[Related: Student repurposes items to craft distinctive designs in business Pearly Rights]

Each month, Bruin Vintage plans on launching a curated collection of secondhand items on its site, Smith said. The first launch on Aug. 21 included a variety of UCLA merchandise, such as a ’90s-era windbreaker as well as a vintage sweatshirt. Many of the items for sale featured UCLA’s blue and gold color scheme, the UCLA logo, embroidered lettering and the word “Bruins” on them.

Varoon Enjeti, a friend of Smith, said ensuring authenticity of the apparel items for sale is a top priority for the business since the pieces are thrifted. After items are extensively checked for authenticity, which is typically done by inspecting the tags on each piece, he said, they are selected to be a part of a specific collection. Enjeti added that they then advertise the items on Bruin Vintage’s Instagram, which also posts about UCLA sports history by using vintage sports photos to promote each drop.

“Molly does a really good job of marketing on Instagram,” Enjeti said. “She follows and stays engaged with a lot of popular UCLA accounts. She creates posts which feature images of vintage sports and vintage student experience and life from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

Through Instagram, Smith said she has been able to successfully market Bruin Vintage to the UCLA community. She said one of the most prominent types of posts featured on the brand’s Instagram includes photos that show what various UCLA sports teams looked like in past decades and describes their history at the university. Once the account has sufficiently promoted the drop through posts and reminders about the release date, she said, she begins posting pictures of the apparel styled with other clothing items.

[Related: UCLA student embraces activism, community with sustainably sourced crewnecks]

One of the biggest difficulties Smith said she faces in running Bruin Vintage is finding pieces that will appeal to a majority of UCLA students. She said although hoodies and sweatshirts are among the most popular merchandise, she likes to offer various items in each drop such as long-sleeves. Misra said another challenge was ensuring all the pieces were sold because some pieces were purchased immediately, but others required more promotion. To address the issue, the pieces were styled in several different ways to show the possibilities each piece had, she said.

According to the Bruin Vintage Instagram, the new collection will be released Sept. 29. Smith said the overall goal of the brand is to build a relationship between students and the university. By selling vintage UCLA apparel and teaching customers about the history of UCLA sports through Bruin Vintage platforms, she said she hopes to instill students with pride for their school.

“Bruin Vintage is really aiming to connect with students, but also just to promote a greater sense of school community and school spirit,” Smith said. “Having that direct-to-student connection is all really important to us.”

Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week

APPLY NOW

To apply to the ATLSFW Design Award, you must fill in an online application by September 16, 2022. Below is a summary of the application design requirements for the competition.

You must submit:

Three photos of recent original finished garments from your portfolio to demonstrate your skills and experience as a fashion designer.

Three photos of recent original finished garments from your portfolio to demonstrate your skills and experience as a fashion designer. Photos must be presented on a clean white or transparent background.

Photos must be presented on a clean white or transparent background. One mood board illustrating the concept, inspiration and color-theme of your collection.

One mood board illustrating the concept, inspiration and color-theme of your collection. Three ready-to-wear outfit illustrations with technical drawings (minimum front side). You are not required to make any outfits at the open application stage; more details about measurement charts will be shared if you are selected at the finalist stage.

Three ready-to-wear outfit illustrations with technical drawings (minimum front side). You are not required to make any outfits at the open application stage; more details about measurement charts will be shared if you are selected at the finalist stage. Information about your zero-waste technique, if applicable to your design. Applicants are required to provide exact pattern measurements.

Information about your zero-waste technique, if applicable to your design. Applicants are required to provide exact pattern measurements. Information about your textile selection for your three outfits including the type of fiber, textile and source of origin must be provided. Applicants are required to provide photo evidence of the original textile source before cutting or alteration in order to prove such textiles are available for use.

Information about your textile selection for your three outfits including the type of fiber, textile and source of origin must be provided. Applicants are required to provide photo evidence of the original textile source before cutting or alteration in order to prove such textiles are available for use. Answers to the eight questions about your collection, your circular design strategies and your aspirations as a sustainable designer.

Your collection must comply with the following guidelines:

The concept of your collection should incorporate Design for Low Waste, Design for Low-impact Materials and Processes, Design for Longevity, and Design for Recyclability

The concept of your collection should incorporate Design for Low Waste, Design for Low-impact Materials and Processes, Design for Longevity, and Design for Recyclability All of your designs must use textile waste and/or textiles created from waste.

All of your designs must use textile waste and/or textiles created from waste. All submitted artwork must be your original creations and must not have been shown in public or any social media.

All submitted artwork must be your original creations and must not have been shown in public or any social media. No changes to artworks or your textile selections are permitted after submission unless with prior approval from ATLSFW.

No changes to artworks or your textile selections are permitted after submission unless with prior approval from ATLSFW. ATLSFW reserves the right to refuse any vulgar, offensive and/or inappropriate outfits. Shoes and accessories are not required to be designed but you will need to provide shoes for your collection if you reach the final.

Each photo submitted as part of your application must have a file size of less than 1MB and in .jpg or .png format (we recommend the photos’ pixels per inch (ppi) should not exceed 72 ppi).

The deadline for applications is Friday September 16 2022 at 11:59pm (local time in your region). Please note that you will NOT be able to amend your application including your artwork and textile waste selections once submitted. Any applications received after the competition deadline may not be accepted. After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation.

Following submission, the ATLSFW team may contact applicants for further information, such as verification of professional experience and eligibility. Applicants can be disqualified at any time for failing to meet the ‘Terms and Conditions of Entry’ and any other reasons determined by ATLSFW.

The online application form is divided into ten sections and the following information outlines the topline requirements of each section. We strongly advise you to create an account as soon as possible in order to fully understand the exact information required for submission.

ELIGIBILITY

Confirm that you are eligible to enter the competition PERSONAL INFORMATION

Fill in your personal information so that we can contact you EDUCATION

Fill in the details about your education, starting with the most recent qualification WORKING EXPERIENCE

Fill in the details about your relevant work experience, starting with the most recent experience PORTFOLIO

Upload three photos of your most recent, original finished garments from your portfolio (regardless of whether these are sustainable or not) COMPETITION DESIGNS

Upload the following:

– One mood board

– Three ready-to-wear outfit illustrations with technical drawings (minimum front side): two outfits for models Size A (sample size) and one outfit for model Size B (larger size)

– Details about the sustainable design techniques you have used

ZERO-WASTE TECHNIQUE

Explain your approach to zero-waste technique, if applicable TEXTILE SOURCING

Information about your ‘waste’ textile selection/source STATEMENTS

Write eight brief statements in response to our questions about your collection which include your circular design strategies, and aspirations as a sustainable designer CONFIRMATION

Confirm that all the information you have entered in the application form is correct and original

REACHING THE FINAL ROUNDS

After the competition deadline of September 16 2022, the top applicants to go through to the semi-final rounds will be selected. The ATLSFW team will notify the finalists of their success individually before public announcement.

After the judges’ assessment, the ATLSFW team will directly notify the finalists, who will be publicly announced on the and social media on October 1 2022.

The Assessment will be determined by the Three ready-to-wear outfits based on the online application: finalists will turn their three submitted illustrations into complete outfits. No changes to artworks or textile selections are permitted unless with prior approval from ATLSFW.

One of the looks must be made with nonconventional materials: finalists will design the outfit based on the mood board submitted in their application.

The finalist’s entire three outfit collection must:

Be created using circular design thinking

Made using textile waste or with textiles made from waste.

Original creations by the finalist (both artwork and outfits) and not have been seen in public or social media previously.

Have been made and sewn by the finalists themselves (for the four physical creations).

FINALIST TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Prior to the announcement of the finalists on all finalists are required to sign an agreement with Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week stating their agreement to the dates, schedules and final terms. In brief, this agreement will require applicants to confirm that they are able to:

Be subject to visit

Send work-in-progress reports for their competition collection by the deadline of October 8 2022. This is to ensure that the designer’s competition collection is produced in a timely manner and to a high quality and standard.

Have completed competition collection ready to present at ATLSFW by October 17, 2022

Agree to be filmed throughout the experience for inclusion in ATLSFW videos.

Create a video(s) that may be integrated into ATLSFW published video content and/or for marketing purposes.

Finalists can be disqualified by ATLSFW at our final discretion at any time for failing to meet the terms in the signed agreement and any other reasons as determined by ATLSFW.

Apparel Design Manufacturing Degree Texas

Take a peek at senior ADM students designing and manufacturing their own designs for their senior style show.

Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design and Manufacturing

Texas Tech University offers one of the Southwest's top ten fashion design bachelor's degrees, according to the prominent clothing industry website The same website ranks Texas Tech as one of the strongest fashion design schools in the nation.

Launch your career with a nationally ranked fashion design degree.

Our accredited Bachelor's Degree in Apparel Design and Manufacturing provides you with a smooth transition into the fashion industry. You will enjoy extensive one-on-one attention from faculty, receiving strong guidance and mentorship. You will make real garments, not just drawings, while gaining a detailed understanding of the entire design and manufacturing process, from initial drawings to finished products.

You will develop superior creative skills in Texas Tech's apparel design program, showcasing your talent and acquiring a strong foundation for your career as a clothing designer. Most important, a fashion degree from Texas Tech helps you make a strong impression on employers. Our accredited fashion design program has a national reputation, enabling you to compete for the best jobs in the clothes production industry.

Our Apparel Design and Manufacturing degree provides you with:

Extensive workplace experience. The fashion design bachelor's degree program includes a 180-200-hour internship. We often place interns with major apparel design companies in Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and London, and the internship frequently leads directly to a job offer.

The fashion design bachelor's degree program includes a 180-200-hour internship. We often place interns with major apparel design companies in Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and London, and the internship frequently leads directly to a job offer. A marketable fashion design degree. Texas Tech graduates have high rates of job placement and graduate school admission. Our program holds a strong reputation within the clothing design industry, and our faculty are well connected. You will have opportunities to meet successful designers, see their studios, and interact with them first-hand.

Texas Tech graduates have high rates of job placement and graduate school admission. Our program holds a strong reputation within the clothing design industry, and our faculty are well connected. You will have opportunities to meet successful designers, see their studios, and interact with them first-hand. Business training. You will take courses in marketing, retailing, accounting, management and fashion design industry essentials. Texas Tech's fashion design majors stand out in the job market for their strong business sense and entrepreneurial savvy.

You will take courses in marketing, retailing, accounting, management and fashion design industry essentials. Texas Tech's fashion design majors stand out in the job market for their strong business sense and entrepreneurial savvy. Advanced fashion design technology. At Texas Tech, you will design clothing with the aid of advanced 3D body scanning systems, state-of-the-art software tools such as Illustrator and Photoshop, and other innovative 3D virtual technologies. In addition, you will work with Gerber pattern-making software systems, and you will learn to generate industry-grade drawing specs and technical packages for apparel production.

At Texas Tech, you will design clothing with the aid of advanced 3D body scanning systems, state-of-the-art software tools such as Illustrator and Photoshop, and other innovative 3D virtual technologies. In addition, you will work with Gerber pattern-making software systems, and you will learn to generate industry-grade drawing specs and technical packages for apparel production. Exhibition opportunities. Texas Tech hosts a professional fashion design show on campus. Industry professionals critique and provide feedback to fourth-year students exhibiting collections in the show. In addition, our students have submitted winning entries in national and regional competitions such as the International Textiles and Apparel Association annual conference and Fashion Group International Scholarship Competition.

Texas Tech hosts a professional fashion design show on campus. Industry professionals critique and provide feedback to fourth-year students exhibiting collections in the show. In addition, our students have submitted winning entries in national and regional competitions such as the International Textiles and Apparel Association annual conference and Fashion Group International Scholarship Competition. Research and travel opportunities. You will take field trips to New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and other fashion industry capitals for competitions, trade shows and field study.

Acquire Marketable Skills With Our Fashion Design Bachelor's Degree

Texas Tech's fashion design courses emphasize knowledge and techniques that matter to employers. You will get practical, hands-on training in techniques such as:

Clothing construction

Pattern making

Pattern grading and marking

Fashion illustration Product development

Trend analysis

Production methods

Computer pattern making

The fashion design program provides you with opportunities to create and produce your own clothing lines, research and apply trends, manage product development, and explore fashion design niches such as athletic wear.

Career Opportunities in Fashion Design

Graduates from our Apparel Design and Manufacturing Degree program have an outstanding record of success in the job market.

Our flexible bachelor's degree in fashion prepares you for a wide range of fashion careers. You will be qualified for jobs such as:

Fashion designer

Technical designer

Fashion buyer

Pattern maker Illustrator

Stylist

Trend analyst

Fashion merchandiser

Connect with Top Fashion Industry Partners

The Apparel Design and Manufacturing Corporate Sponsor Program offers top fashion companies the opportunity to build brand awareness and connect with students. Meet our 2022-2023 corporate sponsor, Academy Sports and Outdoors.

Apparel Design and Manufacturing Degree Accreditation

The Bachelor's Degree in Apparel Design and Manufacturing is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.