Career Aspiration Statement & Previous Experiences
I plan on completing my bachelors degree in Apparel Design and Manufacturing. I am currently seeking to obtain a summer 2024 internship in the apparel design industry, to grow my skillset, knowledge and further develop my network prior to graduation. I plan on showcasing my designs in several local/ statewide showcases before completing my degree as well, to recieve feedback, experience and a better understanding of the apparel market.
Following graduation I hope to establish my own design label, releasing semi-annual collections, while simultaneously working for an apparel company focusing on either; ready-to-wear, bridal, or evening wear. After several years of developing my knowledge within these industries, I hope to pursue developing my label full time and have my designs sold in several large scale retailers and working in collaboration with other designers and companies as my career progresses. I also hope to begin an outreach program for high-school students teaching the importance of Family Consumer Science based programs, fashion design included, as these programs were vital to my own career choice and trajectory.
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​Throughout my education I have always strived to prioritize hands-on experience in the fashion industry whenever possible. In the fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to present a collection at New York Fashion week for the Spring Summer 2023 season consisting of eight ready-to-wear ensembles. Later in the fall I featured a headlining collection at Austin Fashion Week in November 2022, showcasing eleven looks of my sketch to finish ready-to-wear garments ranging from streetwear to evening designs. Previously I interned at Nordstrom in Houston, Texas and have worked multiple retail positions. I have also worked with a women run non-profit teen women empowerment organization in creating fashion based content for our social media channels and established an editorial publication focused on fashion and wellness for teen entrepreneurs. I have held several shadowing positions within the bridal industry in the past as well. As a student, I have had several unique experiences working with prominent brands within the fashion and beauty industries working with them to provide input on their merchandising, marketing and product development areas. In this capacity I am currently working with Victoria’s Secret PINK as a campus rep and Clinique as a collegiate ambassador. Previously in a similar capacity, I have had the pleasure of working with NARS Cosmetics, Join Wardrobe (a sustainable clothing rental company), and College Fashionista as one of their national fashion blog writers.
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Currently I am on the executive board for our university fashion organization, where I manage our social media channels, am responsible for coordinating/ running model calls, and assisting with the planning and production of large-scale events. I’ve been fortunate to have the experience of having my fashion photography and design work shown in international publications; Elle Magazine, Marie Claire Italia, Fashion Week Online, Evermore magazine, Harpers Bazaar España, Pattern Magazine and more. Currently, I am working as a freelancer with a women-owned accessory brand as a remote social media marketer, creating content, directing photoshoots, and managing various social platforms. Most recently I have gained the experience of being apart of an exhibiting my school work through a community wide fashion show in partnership with local businesses, in the first annual Food & Fashion Lubbock. Through these experiences, I have acquired new skills essential for a successful career in fashion design; communication, design, merchandising, marketing, customer service and photography. I am thrilled to see what else is in store for my fashion related experiences in the coming years.
This coming fall I am happy to share that I have been selected to present a miniature capsule collection at Texas Fashion Week, as part of a College Designer Showcase in the early part of October 2023, the show is to be located in San Antonio Texas. In addition to this I will be returning to Austin Fashion Week this coming November to present my brand [Lillian Jenae Designs LLC] Spring Summer 2024 Collection entitled 1202.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities to expand my network and work collaboratively. Let's connect!
+19038185310