College of Ag students participate in seven-week fashion industry internship program
A growing number of students in the LSU School of Human Ecology’s Textile, Apparel Design, and Merchandising (TAM) program have discovered that a degree in agriculture can help them launch a career in the fashion industry.
“We have seen incredible increase in enrollment in LSU’s TAM program,” said Yvonne Marquette, a human ecology instructor in the TAM program. “It has tripled within the last five years.”
Marquette attributes the program’s growth to the expanding opportunities in the fashion industry and its high visibility in the media.
“Students understand that career opportunities in the fashion industry can lead to lucrative and fulfilling professions,” Marquette said.
Much of the success of the TAM program at LSU is due to a strong internship program that has been nurtured by former LSU professor Kathleen Rees and now Marquette. Using a network of former LSU alumni who are currently employed in the fashion industry, the TAM faculty have helped place about 50 students each summer in paid or non-paid internships across the country at companies like Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, Betsey Johnson, Cosmo Girl Magazine, Paul Frank Industries, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Anthropologie, and others.
“People in the business are learning about the superior quality of students coming out of LSU,” said Marquette.
Not only does the TAM program provide participating LSU Ag students with a diverse internship experience in locations all over the United States, but those same internships are helping dedicated students find fashion-related jobs upon graduation. Meet three current Ag students to find out how they spent their fashion-focused summer school session.
LISA BARONA McROBERTS
 McRoberts and student model Sarah Weber show-off some of McRoberts' custom creations. |
In mid-May of this year, Lisa Barona McRoberts, a graduate student in apparel design, embarked on an “amazing adventure,” she said.
Leaving her family and home in Louisiana, McRoberts and her husband, Norman, moved to New York for the summer to pursue an opportunity of a lifetime – intern for the esteemed Vera Wang fashion house located in New York’s Garment District. McRoberts, a Louisiana custom couture designer and owner of Lisa Barona McRoberts Inc., knew from the minute that she saw Vera Wang appear on Oprah years ago that she wanted to work for the Asian American designer.
Wang, who is best known for her elegant, understated bridal and evening gowns constructed from the finest fabrics, was speaking to Oprah on the topic of fit. “She explained that even 1/16 of an inch could make the difference in whether something fit well or not. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to intern with her,” McRoberts recalled.
And from that day forward, the Baton Rouge native, with the support of her professor Bonnie Belleau, set her sights on working for Wang.
 (l to r) Perron, Marquette and McRoberts pose in front of a blue dress designed for actress Laura Linney. |
Interning under Suzanne Perron, an LSU alumna and one of Wang's four top design team managers who previously worked for Carolina Herrera, Ralph Rucci, and Anna Sui, McRoberts did many things other interns normally do not. Due to McRoberts’ level of experience, she was asked to assist with pattern making, draping, supervising the sample room, and participating in production fittings. She even had the opportunity to take on some projects for Wang’s famous clients.
She assisted Perron with a gown made for actress Laura Linney’s
Tony Awards retrospective, worked solo on a complicated embroidery pattern
for actress Katie Holmes, and draped a lace top for singer-songwriter Mariah
Carey. In addition, McRoberts worked as a dresser for the debut of the Vera
Wang resort line runway show where editors and photographers from W
magazine, Vogue, Lookbook, InStyle and Harper’s
Bazaar were present.
“It was an incredible experience that shall only be topped by my invitation to participate in Fashion Week, 7th on Sixth, in September,” McRoberts said.
McRoberts said she has enjoyed every minute of her New York experience – picnicking in Central Park, the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Puccini’s Tosca, late dinners, strolling down 5th Ave., shopping sample sales, and frequently sighting celebrities. But she added, “My heart, family, friends, and home are in Baton Rouge, where I intend to bring back these wonderful experiences to share with clients and future students.”
Recently, McRoberts learned she received a full scholarship to Florida State University to pursue a doctoral degree in apparel design. As a Ph.D. student, she will also teach a senior-level draping course this fall.
JUSTIN BOYES
 Justin Boyes |
Justin Boyes, a record-setting member of the LSU swim team, is not interested in the high-fashion world. Instead, this senior athlete concentrating in fashion merchandising, dreams of designing for and owning a company that specializes in trendy, edgy, performance or extreme sports apparel and accessories.
To gain experience in this specialized industry, the Pasa Robles, California, native sought a summer internship with the Costa Mesa, California,-based Paul Frank Industries.
The budding 10-year-old business is best known for owner and designer Paul Frank Sunich’s iconic, menageries of characters – Julius the chimp and Julius’ friends Clancy the giraffe and Ellie the elephant. Today, Sunich’s images are sold both nationally and internationally on products such as clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, as well as cruiser bicycles.
While
working for Paul Frank Industries, Boyes had the chance to interact with
several departments throughout the company. His experiences ranged from
putting together inspiration boards for upcoming photo shoots to assisting
the art department with signage for Paul Frank Store sales and traveling
to Long Beach, California, with his supervisor to assist on a photo shoot
for the spring 2006 line.
Upon graduating in December, Boyes plans to return to California and hopes to work for Paul Frank or find a job with an action sports company.
TAYLOR GOBLOWSKY
 Taylor Goblowsky interned with Ralph Lauren Childrenswear this summer in New York City. |
Taylor Goblowsky, a senior majoring in fashion merchandising, now knows that designing for children is not child’s play.
Goblowsky learned what goes into product development for tikes while spending her summer working for Ralph Lauren Childrenswear Company, LLC in New York.
“I learned that designing for children is a tedious process,” Goblowsky said. “By attending a designers fitting, I learned that designing doesn’t just mean drawing up a pattern, but it’s everything that makes up the outfit … how many buttons to use, the length and placement of straps, and other fine details all go into making that first garment and readying it for production.”
In
addition to sitting in on a designer’s fitting, Goblowsky also learned
through daily entering of test reports and invoices how little things can
make or break a product before entering the production phase.
This fall, Goblowsky plans to continue working with Ralph Lauren as a visual merchandiser at Dillard’s in the Mall of Louisiana.
Contact Michelle Spielman | LSU
University Relations
Highlights Team
Fall 2005
