This February I got the chance to volunteer at New
York Fashion Week. If you would have told me a few months ago that I would be
doing so, I wouldn’t have believed you. As a fashion design major at the University of North Texas, this was the
opportunity of a life time. Being a volunteer; as you can imagine, I am starting
at the bottom of the totem pole in the fashion industry, but that didn’t matter. Just getting to bask
in the glory of successful designers was enough for me.
My arrival started out uncertain, not only was I anxious about being in the city all alone for the first time, to top it off my flight delayed over 4
hours due to a major snow storm in the North East. After
every single flight canceled, by the grace of God, I made it. I arrived in the
city at 10 pm, anxiously anticipating the next day.
For a total of 4 days and almost 20 hours of volunteer
work, I worked back stage at the Couture Fashion Week. This was a new world I have never experienced so up close, I was quit nervous as I had no clue what to expect. My nerves shortly subsided once the models and other volunteers found out I was from Texas. They got at kick out of my "accent", stories of sorority life and all things Texas. When I told the girls I was a Zeta, they looked at me at me in envy, proclaiming how bad they wanted sororities in the city.
Besides gabbing with volunteers, my work was quite vigorous. It included steaming, prepping the designer’s collections
for the show, sewing any accidental rips from heels, changing the models in and
out of garments, and clean up. This was a hard couple of days, my shifts were
too busy to have time to eat, go to the bath room, or hardly breathe due to the masses of people back stage, but I loved every minute of it. Over the course of 3 days, I had met a variety of young and upcoming designers in the industry, friends, and overall gained valuable experience. This opportunity gave me great insight to the industry and the people in it. After this weekend, I realized the fashion industry isn't quite as glamorous as it appears, but it is defiantly something that I am born to do.
During my free time I enjoyed being a tourist and exploring the city, I found delicious bakeries and eateries, such as this one bellow, Laduree Mason. They have the most delicious macaroons from Paris, I even ate a Rose flavored macaroon, yumm!
Me in the city! It snowed the entire time I was here. P.S. I swear I have a jacket behind the camera man.
Claire Brogdon, PC Fall '14
