Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising hosts 10th annual Fashion Industry Conference

CWU’s Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising (ATM) program took center stage this spring when it hosted the Fashion Industry Conference, marking the event’s 10th anniversary and the program’s third consecutive year leading the statewide gathering.

Led by Professor Andrea Eklund, who chaired the planning committee, the ATM program played a key role in bringing together fashion-focused high school students and teachers from across Washington for a day filled with inspiration, hands-on learning, and valuable industry insight.

The April 19 conference on the Ellensburg campus welcomed 120 attendees, including 14 high school teachers who are now collaborating with Eklund on future College in the High School fashion courses. The day’s lineup featured seven workshops, a student-led discussion panel, and a keynote address from Paige Foggin, an ATM program alumna who now works as a technical design manager for Greensource Brand Apparel.

“Returning to campus, not just as an alum, but as someone now working in the fashion industry, was a surreal and full-circle moment,” she said. “Not long ago, I was in their shoes, dreaming big and wondering what was possible. Sharing my journey in the fashion industry reminded me how vital it is to invest in the next generation. Their creativity, passion, and curiosity will shape the future of fashion. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back and hopefully inspire others the way I was once inspired.”

Workshop topics ranged from trend forecasting and online portfolio development to digital marketing, the latter led by Dr. Sayantani Mukherjee, program coordinator for CWU’s Digital Marketing program. Each of these sessions gave attendees a chance to explore different facets of the fashion industry and engage with current students, faculty, and professionals.

Eklund explained that one of the most compelling aspects of the conference is its connection to the broader fashion economy of the region. The Seattle area ranks fourth in the nation for the apparel industry, with major corporate headquarters and creative hubs spanning from Bellingham to Portland.

By tapping into this rich talent, the Fashion Industry Conference helps high school students see the wide range of possibilities that exist in fashion, and how CWU’s ATM program can help them get there.

“It was such a fun and inspiring day, bringing together students and teachers from across the state to learn about the many possibilities in the fashion industry, experience our beautiful campus, and see what the ATM program has to offer,” Eklund said.

Twelve of CWU’s current ATM students served as interns for the conference, gaining valuable professional and event planning experience. One of those students, Lucy Leydon, staffed the ATM table and spent the day connecting with high school attendees, answering questions, and sharing her journey at CWU and her experience with the fashion marketing specialization.

“The fashion conference at CWU was such an awesome experience,” Leydon said. “This was my second year being an intern, and I got to hang out with high school students from all around Washington, share my story, and hype up our fashion program — especially the Marketing specialization. We’re the only school in Washington that offers it, so it was so cool to see our guests get excited about fashion and realize how many opportunities they could have here at CWU."

Fellow ATM student Zeta Wise noted that the most meaningful takeaway from the conference was her interactions with a high school student who was trying to decide between two schools to attend.

“She and I were talking, and I knew at that moment my job wasn’t to convince her one school was better than the other; it was to give her guidance on her decision-making by helping her know what to consider, to know which school was the best choice for her,” Wise said. “I know from experience how difficult this decision can be, and I was able to share my experiences with her to help her understand what she wants to get out of college.”

As the ATM program continues to build bridges between education and industry, the 10th annual Fashion Industry Conference helped demonstrate CWU’s ongoing commitment to student empowerment, community engagement, and regional leadership in fashion education.

“It was also a great learning opportunity for our ATM students, who got to experience what goes into planning a large event and connect with attendees while interning,” Eklund said. “The students did an amazing job and were instrumental in making the event run smoothly.”