Beyond the Classroom
Fashion Advisory Board
Dominican University’s Fashion Advisory Board serves as a collaborative platform for students passionate about fashion, design, and industry engagement. Our goal is to connect students with real-world experiences and opportunities that enhance their academic and professional growth.
The Fashion Advisory Board welcomes all fashion design and merchandising majors and any student in the Dominican community interested in fashion, sustainability, and creative industries to participate in meetings and events.
As an active event and fundraising organization, the Fashion Advisory Board hosts monthly meetings to discuss industry trends, local opportunities, and upcoming department initiatives. Activities include guest speakers from the fashion industry, networking sessions, career and internship resources, and fundraising efforts that support the department’s events during Chicago Fashion Week.
The Fashion Advisory Board strives to educate members on current trends, foster leadership and collaboration, and promote entrepreneurship and innovation within the fashion community. Through the collective efforts of our members, we aim to make a positive impact both on campus and within the broader fashion industry.
Fashion Show
The annual Dominican University Fashion Show is the highlight of the academic year, showcasing the creative vision and technical skill of fashion design and merchandising students. Held each April, the show features original garments and collections developed throughout the year’s courses.
A centerpiece of the event is the presentation of Senior Collections. Each graduating fashion design major creates, constructs, and presents a cohesive collection of at least three garments that reflect their individual aesthetic, technical mastery, and conceptual direction.
The Senior Class oversees all aspects of show production, gaining real-world experience in professional collaboration and event management, including:
- Set design, construction, and lighting
- Poster, program, and digital marketing design
- Advertising and sponsorship outreach
- Photography and videography coordination
- Music, hair, and makeup direction
- Model casting and training
Study Abroad and Study Away
Fashion is a global—and national—industry. The fashion department encourages students to expand their perspectives through both study abroad and study away opportunities that connect classroom learning with real-world fashion experiences.
Study Abroad: Paris – Essentials of French Fashion
Students spend one month studying at the Paris American Academy, taking courses in design, couture, merchandising, and communication from a French fashion perspective. The program offers an overview of the French fashion industry while immersing students in French culture, art, and language.
Study Away: New York Fashion Industry Experience
Each year, students travel to New York City for industry visits, gaining firsthand exposure to the American fashion market. The experience includes tours of design studios, showrooms, retailers, and trend forecasting agencies, as well as conversations with industry professionals about career paths and internship opportunities.
“Fashion is a global industry, and students need to experience it beyond the classroom. Study abroad and study away experiences expand creativity, build confidence, and make our graduates stand out.” — Tracy Jennings, Ed.D., Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Design