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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Did you know that style icon and geriatric starlet Iris Apfel is also a Professor? At The University of Texas at Austin, no less? Since 2010, Professor Apfel has been the guiding force behind an immersive learning experience for students of UT’s Textiles and Apparel Program who aspire to work in fashion.

The UT in NYC Conference has been curated and led by Iris for the past 10 years. Thanks to her close relationships, students discover the breadth of fashion careers possible by learning firsthand from designers, merchants and retailers from across the industry. Many of fashion’s biggest names invite students into boardrooms, workrooms, showrooms and curatorial spaces, where they share how they’ve built their careers and grown their businesses.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER

Following Professor Apfel's entrepreneurial example, UT in NYC is spearheading a scholarship initiative. IRIS The Coloring Book was conceived as a fundraiser for UT in NYC, with all proceeds offsetting student expenses for their week in Manhattan. Its creation was fully funded by a UT grassroots campaign and it was brought to life by a small team in Austin who love Iris and want to sustain her one-of-a-kind program. More information on IRIS the Coloring Book can be found here.

Perfect during these changing times, this premium book brings fun to ‘children of all ages’ who have been looking for some escape. Purchasing the book for yourself or as a gift is a wonderful way to support this program. You can buy the book online from The University Co-op. We are also looking for wholesale or corporate gifting partners. All large order inquiries can contact us via this form. 

Thank you for supporting the next decade of Iris’ students with your generous purchase!

Follow us on Instagram @iristhecoloringbook

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Students are saying about UT in NYC:

I am from Montvale, New Jersey and the UT in NYC program is one of the main reasons why I chose to come to Texas and attend The University of Texas at Austin as a Textiles and Apparel major. Our guest professor for the UT in NYC program, Iris Apfel, has been a hero of mine since I could remember. Obtaining the opportunity to learn from her and her colleagues in the fashion industry was such a remarkable experience and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

-Andie Kent

The UT in NYC program provides students with amazing exposure and hands-on experience, necessary to create the backbone for a successful career -- that is something that can truly make you stand out in such a competitive industry. This program helped get my foot into the door and realize my full potential through the knowledge gained from the stimulating facilitated visits with the different Industry segments. The speakers were very informative, with so much knowledge to offer and experience to share.  

As I progress onto a career in the fashion industry, there is nothing more important than complementing my education with experience that will help me succeed in this highly competitive industry. The UT in NYC program gave us exclusive accessibility to direct sources within the fashion industry allowing us to learn from the most successful and leading key players. The program also provided us with an inside perspective that truly furthered our understanding of today’s industry. Through accomplishing goals and finishing projects, the program truly offered educational value of the highest quality and helped better prepare us for our future careers. Overall, I believe that it left a remarkable impact that will make the difference between a good and great future career.

-Rawan Alqarqaz

The UT in NYC program was far greater than I could have ever imagined. Being able to meet with industry professionals and see what the apparel industry is like from behind the curtain is part of the reason why this program is so important to me. The information we were given was inspiring, irreplaceable, and eye opening. 

-Ariel Poncik

I chose to come to UT based on not only the amazing textiles program that they offer, but a big influence on my decision was this UT in NYC program specifically. Once I heard about this program, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I kept imagining how amazing it would be to have Iris Apfel mentor a group of us for a week in New York and after that, there was no other school’s program that even came close - I was hooked.  What was so special about this trip to me, other than the fact that these are experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life, is that it helped me to finally realize what it is that I want to do for a career when I graduate. Before coming on this trip I knew that I wanted a career in fashion, but I had no idea which area. After getting a behind the scenes look into all areas of the business, I finally realized that PR is something that truly excites me and it is what I must do as a career. Without this trip I have no idea how long it would have taken me to realize this and I am so thankful that I will never have to find that out. 

-Sarah Thrash 

I was a freshman going into the program and was very excited to get my first taste of the fashion industry. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and even what jobs there really were in the industry, but the trip provided insight on the profession as a whole, and also helped me narrow what I was interested in pursuing in the future. The trip helped me realize that the most important part of our industry is to be doing something that you enjoy. Experiencing real working environments in New York helped give me a glimpse of what I might be doing as early as next summer in an internship or job. UT in NYC was a very positive learning experience for me and made me feel so much more connected to the American fashion industry despite being in Texas for school all year. I got to meet fashion idols of mine and meet new people in my major outside of school.

-Ian Howard

The program and trip were so special to me. I enjoyed being on a collaborative team and learning not only from industry leaders, but also from my peers. Before this trip, I knew that I had an interest in working in the fashion industry, but as someone who does not have an artistic or creative gift, I was unsure how to make my dream a reality.  UT in NYC provided me with clarity that this is where I belong, as well as exactly what jobs and roles I could play. It opened my eyes to possible new careers, like licensing and retail planning, that I would have never known about.

-Emma Wilson

This conference had a big impact on my life and will continue to be one of the most memorable trips I’ve had. Some of my favorite moments of the trip were hearing from Tommy Hilfiger himself, touring Donna Karen’s Urban Zen studio, and spending one on one time with Iris Apfel. I had the privilege to meet so many professionals with all different backgrounds. It was great to hear about all the different journeys and the multitude of advice each person had to give. I am so thankful that we were able to see the fashion industry in action while experiencing the hustle and bustle of New York City.

-Taylor Stiff

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If you would like more information about UT in NYC, please contact Nancy Prideaux at nprideaux@utexas.edu