Miami announces new fashion institute

In early October, Miami University announced the launch of the brand new Fashion Institute. The fashion program, which includes a co-major (fashion corporate business, design and entrepreneurship) and a minor, is still fairly new, only being introduced in 2015. Though there are Miami alumni who have pursued fashion as a career, there has not been a fashion networking program in place.

Until now.

Jamie Schisler graduated from Miami in 1996 and serves as the inaugural director of the Fashion Institute.

“We’re here to really help support the fashion students, faculty and organizations through industry connections, offering advice in terms of where the industry is headed,” Schisler said.

The Fashion Institute will not change the current fashion program — the requirements and curriculum for all fashion students will remain the same. Much like how Farmer School of Business students work with companies in their business classes, the Fashion Institute aims to do the same.

Miami’s fashion program coordinator Natalie Reed has worked closely with Schisler throughout the process of bringing the Fashion Institute to fruition.

“The Institute was developed to build industry partnerships and to provide support to our students, faculty and program,” Reed said. “Through our Professional Advisory Committee, we hope to gain current industry insight, as well as internship and employment opportunities.”

One unique focus of the Fashion Institute is sustainability, which has been in the spotlight in the fashion world as climate change, upcycling and AI use have been hot topics of debate.

“One of the things we are looking at doing is making a take-back program on campus,” Schisler said. “[Through] donating shoes and clothes primarily, how do we create a circular environment? Whether it’s biofuel or fertilizer in terms of circularity, I think with taking fashion waste, we can close the loop by inverting that into something new.”

The Fashion Institute has made it clear that they plan to work directly with and fashion-based student organizations, such as Miami University Fashion & Design (MUF&D) and UP Magazine.

Sophomore marketing and fashion design student Tatiana Fecowycz is on the director team for MUF&D.

Photo by Sarah Frosch | The Miami Student
Miami University’s MUF&D designers finish their collections in a Boyd Hall classroom.

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“What’s really exciting is we’re transitioning into this Fashion Institute, which brings us a higher level of credibility and recognition,” Fecowycz said. “It creates a huge platform and expansion, and it shows people that as a fashion organization and program, we’re more than just clothing — it’s initiative, it’s a goal, it’s something that is much larger than ourselves. It’s really rewarding to see the development of the program coming from nothing to this big thing.”

However, fashion students who are not directly involved with these organizations will still benefit from the Institute. Students who are simply having a tough time breaking into the industry will be given resources, as Miami has not had a reputation for being a big fashion school before now.

Junior communications and fashion design student Farah Millman shared this concern.

“I want to go into designing garments, and I will most likely have to start out in retail or the business end of the industry,” Millman said. “I think the Fashion Institute connecting students to industry leaders will be extremely beneficial for someone like me who wants to break into design and is otherwise uninspired by the business side of it all.”

As the Fashion Institute begins to take shape, it marks a new era for Miami; one that bridges creativity and commerce, design and innovation. It is more than just a program; it is a gateway. Whether students dream of running a brand, designing the next trend or reshaping the industry, the Fashion Institute offers a platform to make those ambitions tangible.

leeam8@miamioh.edu