Earth, air, water, fire and fabric took center stage this spring at the Fashion X-Cetera runway show.
Held April 16 in Harrison Auditorium, the student-led organization, offered by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, showcased designs inspired by the elements.
“Fashion X-Cetera is under the Fashion Merchandising and Design program, and we provide creative freedom for our students,” said Haleigh Aldridge, president of Fashion X-Cetera. “With this show, we’re showing our designers and stylists what their work has turned out to be this semester.”
The showcase also featured performances by fellow student groups CSA (the Caribbean Student Association) and the InFlo Dance Team.
Internship opportunities also awaited juniors and sophomores, who were given an opportunity at fashion, business and retail exposure through a talent pipeline offered by American Eagle Outfitters and Harlem’s Fashion Row.
Last April, applicants from both N.C. A&T and N.C. Central University were interviewed by representatives of premier New York fashion platform Harlem’s Fashion Row for this year’s HBCU Fashion Forum Talent Pipeline. The program, in partnership with American Eagle Outfitters, connects students from N.C. A&T and NCCU to mentorship, industry exposure, real-world experience and early talent visibility.
“The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar business, and our job at Harlem’s Fashion Row is to remove barriers” said CEO Brandice Daniel. “There’s a lot of job and internship opportunities and a lot of times, our students of color don’t know that these opportunities exist. For a company like American Eagle to say that they’re going to help bring the program to the campus, work directly with the students, tell them exactly what they’re looking for so they can present opportunities for them to work for their company, it’s a huge deal.”
According to Daniel, selected students will be paired into teams and flown to New York, where they will work together on a collaborative project and a chance to win $5,000.
Harlem's Fashion Row CEO Brandice Daniel (left) interviews N.C. A&T fashion major Collin Semien (right) as part of the HFR and American Eagle Outfitters' HBCU Fashion Forum Talent Pipeline.
Interviews for prospective students were conducted in mid-April at Benbow Hall on the N.C. A&T campus. Daniel said she was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of the interviewed candidates.
“We have students that are already creating social content, students that are doing tailoring businesses,” said Daniel. “We spoke with another student that was designing prom dresses. Students that already have excellent math, business, and Excel experience. I’m really impressed with the talent that we’ve been able to meet.”
Devona Dixon, Ph.D., associate professor in N.C. A&T’s fashion merchandising and design program, housed in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, applauded the pipeline opportunity as “a benefit for both students and the fashion industry”.
“The future of fashion will be shaped by organizations willing to recognize talent wherever it exists,” said Dixon. “Opportunities like this with AEO and HFR provide far more than exposure, they offer students a chance to learn directly from industry leaders, expand their professional networks, and envision themselves in future leadership roles. The selection of students from North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central University affirms what we, as faculty, already know: HBCU students are prepared, capable, and ready to make significant contributions to the fashion industry.”
Among the interviewed students, Chanele Brown, a rising senior in CAES’ fashion program, described the interview process as an “amazing experience.”
“I love the fact that [HFR] is trying to bring in more Black students so we have opportunities to be successful,” said Brown. “During the interview, they asked me so many questions about what I could provide and what I could bring to the table, so it was really positive.”
