Bright lights, big opportunities: Students go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Like a vision board tailor-made for her career aspirations, Ainsley Rahm remembers seeing a poster featuring Samantha Morehead, BBA '22, standing in front of global beauty brand L'Oreal's New York headquarters, emphasizing the "astounding opportunity" she earned to connect with fashion and beauty industry insiders after winning Western's New York Fashion Week Competition.

"I came to Western because of this opportunity," says Rahm, a supply chain management student who transferred to WMU in 2023 after receiving her associate's degree from Oakland Community College. In February, she made that opportunity a reality. Alongside fashion design and development major Genesis Fernandez, Rahm made the same impactful trip Morehead did—from a snow-covered runway in Kalamazoo to a star-studded runway at New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

Over a whirlwind weekend, the pair were immersed in the fashion world, gaining access to select runway shows, rubbing elbows with industry insiders and gleaning insight from top brass at influential brands and agencies.

"Seeing the whole process behind the runway show was really special for me," Fernandez says. "Just being able to see that level of production and the quality of the construction of the clothes was so cool!"

"It was surreal. Having this experience while I'm still in college—I'm still in disbelief that I was there," adds Rahm. "I was just trying to take everything in all at once and not miss anything. I don't know how I'm supposed to go back to 'normal' life after this."

Immersed in the industry

The action-packed experience included visits to California-based fashion brand Aviator Nation and New York-based embroidery studio Klein Designs, where Fernandez and Rahm were able to meet with the teams behind the label and learn about building fashion brands.

They also received the VIP treatment at the NYFW Backstage Experience, complete with special access to the TRESemmé Style Studios and the opportunity to meet designers Bruce and Glen Proctor, founders of the BruceGlen label.

"Talking to them about their brand and their inspiration was just really inspiring to me as a designer, because that's what I want to do eventually," says Fernandez. "It was just really special."

Beyond the glitz and glamour of NYFW, student participants also engaged in panel discussions with leading representatives from WME Fashion and related businesses, exploring the array of careers and opportunities in the fashion industry.

"This was my favorite part of the trip because we got to learn about the different types of jobs you can have in the fashion industry—beyond just designers. There are marketers, managers, stylists," says Fernandez. "It gave me motivation because I don't want to put myself in a box of just being a fashion designer. I want to explore my options, and this gave me a really good overview of what opportunities I have."

The weekend culminated in seats alongside the runway for The Blonds show, a New York-based luxury label famous for glamorously over-the-top designs worn by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, from Chappell Roan to Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

"Being able to see the designers backstage as the models were coming out and being so excited—I'm sure they've worked on these lines for months and months, and to see all of that come together and their excitement, I think, was the most touching part of the process," Rahm says. 

"I was trying not to cry; it was so emotional watching the runway show," adds Fernandez. "It was literally my dream. My main goal is to do fashion shows and be a creative director, so being able to be there and see how everything works behind the scenes meant so much."

Opportunity of a lifetime

This once-in-a-lifetime, behind-the-scenes experience was all part of the exclusive U of NYFW program presented by CLC, the nation's leading collegiate licensing company, and IMG, the operator of NYFW. 

“As we continue to evolve our programming and experiences, we are proud to help provide this generation of college students the chance to interact and learn from some of the best designers and experts in the world of fashion at NYFW,” says Kim Fasting Berg, executive vice president of marketing at WME Fashion. 

Fernandez and Rahm joined a select group of 28 other students from universities across the country at the big event. They earned their all-expenses-paid trip by winning Western's NYFW competition, which challenged students to create a visual design, product design or marketing project that captures the dynamic essence of the Bronco through fashion and brings WMU spirit and pride to life.

"I tracked my time, and I put in over 40 hours of work outside of class and other obligations," says Rahm, who conceptualized a student-designed T-shirt campaign. "I'm so grateful all of it paid off; it was so, so worth it."

"I learned so much just doing the project and having to present in front of all of the judges," adds Fernandez, whose innovative idea for a personalized cowboy boot line impressed the panel of professors tasked with selecting winners. "I feel like I grew so much throughout the process."

And the hard work paid off for both Broncos, still processing their dream weekend and what it means for their career plans. 

"This experience further reaffirmed that this is what I'm really passionate about and this is what I want to be doing—that I haven't just been having this crazy pipe dream about living in New York and doing fashion," says Rahm. "I feel very connected to this industry."

"I made some really great connections, and I think it's going to open some doors in the future when I'm applying for jobs," adds Fernandez. "It's huge, honestly." ■