UNC Workroom FashionMash

"An interdisciplinary design program in the UNC School of Media and Journalism focused on branding for the fashion and lifestyle industry."

Certificate Program in Fashion Communication and Marketing.

As a part of my B.A. in Advertisement and Public Relations, I have completed a certificate in fashion communication in marketing. As a part of this program, I have received training in editorial work, art direction, experiential marketing and product design.

While in The Workroom

While in my undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I let my creative escape come to life again on an entirely different scale: joining the UNC Workroom FashionMash design program. Through coursework, capstone projects and student publications, this program allowed me to develop a vast understanding of all that blends together to tell stories through fashion and imagery.

Experience

Spring 2024

Workroom FashionMash Editorial

Ready. Set. SHOOT! To be honest, I fell in the love with the program with this very first class. I was amazed by the productions that go about in a workroom and all the bits and pieces that come together to make one shot come to life. In this class I got to wear a lot of different hats from stylist to photographer to model to makeup artist to creative director. We also got to work with pieces from the FashionMash archive, like blending generative AI digital design techniques with a FM archival Gucci-inspired trench coat to bring questions like, "What is Real?" to life with imagery. See some of my projects from Editorial above.

Fall 2024

Art Direction

Working towards the "Global Citizen" exhibition to come in Spring '25, we began conceptualizing a prototype of our brand partnership with Sani - an interpretation of American fashion through a South Asian lens. Working closely with the team from Experiential Marketing, we curated an installation for "Styled by Sani", a virtual-interactive Saree styling experience.

Fall 2024

Workroom FashionMash Experiential Marketing

In preparation for the "Global Citizen" exhibition in Spring '25, we took a close look at the brand Sani. Our task was to bring Sani to life with an interactive marketing experience. We spent the semester really breaking down Sani bit by bit through exploring several directions we go in bringing the brand to life - all while upholding it's character as a South Asian-inspired brand. We had the pleasure of dissecting Sani and their growth as a brand and company that is deeply rooted in culture and perseverance, and even got to work closely with co-founder, Niki Shamdasani.

Spring 2025

Workroom FashionMash Product Design

As my final class in the FashionMash certificate program, I had the pleasure of putting all the pieces together in curating what became the "Global Citizen" exhibition. Working closely with Ralph Lauren, the pinnacle of American fashion, we created a garnment that would later become a piece for RL-inspired runway exhibition. I created the "Mended Medusas", capris with a touch of innocence with a tribute to the sea’s most effervescent creatures. I wanted to harp upon the storytelling that comes from the artisanal pieces of Double RL, thus I played into a fantasy while I was putting these capris together.

This exhibition was a culmination of work done throughout each class in the program over the 2024-2025 school year. As a part of my capstone project, I had the pleasure of taking on the role of Project Manager to bring this runway to life.

Global Citizen, a FashionMash Exhibition

Project Manager.

As my capstone project, I led a team of 9 other capstone students to bring the Global Citizen to life. From ground 0, I delegated positions and tasks to a team of other capstone students to build exhibitions both on and off site from our show at Carroll Hall. My main task was to organize a show of 47 looks, combining tens of pieces made by student designers in FashionMash Product Design with Dana McMahan and in FashionMash Art Direction with Alexandra Hehlen. Product Design students designed a three-collection runway inspired by different facades of the Ralph Lauren brand: "Ralph's Coffee", "Playground" and "Boundless Threads". Art Direction students curated and styled different looks using personal designs inspired by the DC Environmental Film Festival.

The exhibition not only included a runway, but both a market stall installation with various American brands and an off-site gallery display of student print and digital artwork throughout the FashionMash program. In my role as project manager, I ensured that appropriate tasks were delegated to bring all these components to life.

In my role, not only did I build and direct a team of students, but also worked intensely behind the scenes to style, organize, and put the show together (quite literally) piece by piece. I worked with over 50 students to facilitate fittings and direct styling.

Leading up to the show, I also worked to facilitate communications and ensure necessary preparations were on track with all student designers, models, and capstone team.

As a capstone initiative, this project and role allowed me to put into practice many of the skills I've learned throughout my training in the FashionMash program and Hussman School of Journalism and Media.