A new award is giving Apparel and Textile Design students at Michigan State University the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week, one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world, where they gain valuable insight from industry experts.
Two ATD students, Sara Lusky and Tristian Laney, were selected by ATD faculty to receive the MSU Branding and Licensing ATD BFA Fashion Week Award. As the first recipients of this new award, Laney and Lusky traveled to New York City Sept. 5-8, an experience that confirmed for them that they are on the right career path.
“I feel so honored that I was chosen by my professors to represent MSU at New York Fashion Week,” Lusky said. “I think they noticed my strong work ethic, and it means so much that they thought I was deserving of this award.”
Highlights from the runway and beyond
From meeting members of the USA Gymnastics team to designing their own clothes with Champion, Laney and Lusky had a whirlwind and impactful experience that included attending exclusive NYFW events and runway shows, which left a lasting impression.
“I saw plus-size models, older models, and even a double amputee wearing swimwear on the runway. That’s not something you see every day,” Laney said. “It was really awesome to know that New York Fashion Week is dedicated to showcasing all types of beauty.”
Throughout the trip, Laney and Lusky were afforded many valuable networking opportunities and made connections with industry experts.
“This trip was both an educational experience and a tool for networking at a higher level,” Laney said. “The experience allowed me to build a ton of connections in professional spheres, like the Vice President of Fashion at Amazon and leaders from WME Fashion, which owns New York Fashion Week. It was an incredible opportunity to make connections and start networking at a level above our peers.”
In addition to the networking opportunities and runway shows, Laney and Lusky visited the Champion flagship store where they customized NYFW and Champion merchandise.
“We each picked out an apparel item we liked from the store and talked to a team member afterwards to choose our designs and thread colors. They then embroidered them for us after our visit,” Lusky said. “The next day, our personalized Champion apparel was delivered to us. It was really cool to be part of that experience.”
Journey to ATD major
Laney and Lusky came to discover their passion for fashion in different ways. Shaped by their creative interests and personal experiences, this passion ultimately led them both to MSU’s Apparel and Textile Design program.
Laney, a junior pursuing a BFA in Apparel and Textile Design with a minor in Theatre, grew up surrounded by creativity with his mother being an early source of inspiration.
“My mom was a huge inspiration to me,” he said. “She had a sewing machine in the basement and taught me how to sew small things, like stuffed animals and clothes for my sister’s dolls. As I grew up, that passion just kept going.”
This experience also ignited Laney’s passion for creating and working with secondhand items, something that has remained a central theme throughout his design journey.
“I started working with secondhand items and refurbishing them,” he said. “In high school, I joined an arts program that helped me build a portfolio and realize how passionate I was about this.”
Lusky’s interest in fashion came later in life, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, she planned on becoming a veterinarian. However, her passion for sewing, which she started as a pandemic hobby, became a higher calling. She’s now a senior BFA in Apparel and Textile Design major.
“I didn’t grow up into fashion because I didn’t know how to sew. But I’ve always been a creative person, and during the pandemic, I taught myself how to sew,” Lusky said. “That’s when I transitioned into pursuing fashion and decided that’s what I wanted to do in college. I’ve never looked back, and I’ve been so happy with that decision.”
Once at MSU, both Laney and Lusky found their place in the ATD program, surrounded by professors and peers who support their creative growth.
“At MSU, I definitely have recognized a shift in my style, from something that is very minimal to finally feeling like I’m able to express something more out loud, more maximal,” Laney said.
Confidence in career paths
The NYFW experience had a profound impact, both professionally and personally, on Laney and Lusky. They both left New York inspired and more confident in their design paths. For Laney, who dreams of one day starting his own fashion brand, the NYFW experience was a crucial stepping-stone and confirmation that he is ready to take the next step in his career.
“Being at Fashion Week, and especially being around my peers at University of New York Fashion Week, proved to me that I can do this, and that the path that I’m on is the right one,” he said. “I’m looking forward to using this in my LinkedIn, in my resumes, to start applying towards internships this year, as well as post-grad opportunities.”
The NYFW experience also gave Lusky validation that she’s on the right path.
“Attending Fashion Week gave me so much confirmation that this is what I want to do,” she said. “We had panels with top professionals from WME Fashion and IMG Models, which are talent agencies. Their advice was really insightful. They emphasized that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others in the industry. It’s not about titles. it’s about learning, pushing yourself, and knowing your purpose.”
Laney currently is working on growing his own brand, Overgrown Apparel, and is also interested in doing some celebrity styling. Lusky, on the other hand, would like to work on a design team for a major fashion brand. She also said she would like to keep designing on her own time and would love to one day have her designs in fashion shows across the U.S.
New Fashion Week award
For nearly a decade, Rebecca Schuiling, teaching specialist in MSU’s ATD program, has led a Spartan fashion design competition that often uses MSU licensed materials where the winner(s) are sent to NYFW with support from University Licensing Programs at MSU and paid through the royalties generated from licensed products. The trip, which has taken place in the February and sometimes in both September and February, also is made possible through UofNYFW, a unique academic enrichment program offered by Collegiate Licensing Company, MSU’s exclusive trademark licensing agency, and IMG, the official organizer and operator of New York Fashion Week: The Shows.
Therèsa Winge, professor of Apparel and Textile Design, had the idea to create a new award, the MSU Branding and Licensing ATD BFA Fashion Week Award, which is sponsored by University Licensing Programs and funded through licensing revenue. It will be awarded annually to high achieving ATD BFA students to attend NYFW in September each year. The Spartan fashion design competition also will continue and will determine who will have the opportunity to attend NYFW each February.
“The UofNYFW educational experience aligns perfectly with the Licensing office’s strategic mission of supporting student programming through the royalties generated by MSU licensed products,” said Erika Austin, Director of Licensing at MSU. “Each year, we look forward to awarding the UofNYFW program as a life-changing experience and extension of their MSU education.”