Textiles and Apparel (TXA) graduates are doing amazing things! We sat down with recent TXA graduate (class of 2016) Denise Chavez to talk about her current position at URBN, living in New York and how the TXA program helped her get there.
What was your favorite course you took at UT in the TXA department? And why?
My favorite course was TXA 313 with Eve Nicols. I loved all of the group projects that we were assigned and they gave a great overview of the industry. I think more courses should assign multiple group projects because it helps you learn how to interact with different personalities, which is something you will encounter for the rest of your career. I also enjoyed Dr. Krifa's TXA 331 course on Textiles and Apparel in the Global Market. This course was perfect because it gave a solid business background on the industry.
Did you have any internships during school? If so, what were they?
Yes, they are listed below: Chicka-d - Operations Intern Anthropologie - Visual Display Intern URBN Inc. - Sourcing Operations Intern URBN College Scout - Social Media Representative Givenchy - Women's RTW and Accessories Wholesale Intern
Is there a school concept that you apply to your everyday work?
I apply the Principles and Elements of Design constantly. This can range from creating a presentation to helping outfit forms for wholesale accounts. As a merchandiser, you need to have a general idea of what flows/looks good together.
How did you end up at your current position?
I interned with URBN Inc. and established great relationships with my supervisors and the recruiters. At the end of my internship, they told me that I was always welcome back. Close to graduation, I contacted a recruiter for a Merchandising Assistant role with Free People. I interviewed and got the job!
What do you love about your company?
The company culture is unbelievable! Every time I go to work, it does not feel like I am going to work. I enjoy waking up in the mornings and love working with my team. There is no company culture that can compare to that of the URBN Inc. brands (trust me, I've tried it!)
What do you still hope to achieve?
I hope to eventually become a director of merchandising. I would also love to create my own jewelry company.
What advice do you have for TXA students?
You are worth more when you have both a creative and business outlook. Fully understanding the business side of the industry will give you a competitive
edge!
Editor's note: This post originally appeared on the new TXA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTaustinFashion/. Like UTaustinFashion to keep up to date with TXA news from current and past students!
