CFDA

     Although the CFDA tour was a bit quick, we were given a ton of interesting information.  The company itself really represents the future of fashion, the way designers get discovered and start up their businesses. I think it really promotes and keeps designers on their feet to create what they do the best, it bring originality, uniqueness, creativity and talent to them. I have heard of the CFDA mentioned in a couple of my classes but not I fully understand what they do. The company almost reminds me of the fashion show that I volunteered at during fashion week in September. It was called the Gen Art fashion show, which basically the organization is also non-profit and they provide the designers with a runway and models free of charge, and take only a select number of designers each season to promote the up and coming talent. In the fashion industry I believe it is so important to help push, promote, and support the young designers, they are our future. 
     The tour guide shared a story I found especially interesting and truly inspiring.  Diane Von Furstenburg, a well known designer, but also a part of the CFDA, let them into her apartment to give advice to the young designers. She said that they sat on her zebra rug and just chatted, but DVF openly discussed her now multi million dollar empire going out of business twice. Although young designers most likely don't want to hear that even the big designers have gone out of business, I think it is a really good point to give advice on. It gives them that push and hope that, yes it is going to be hard and you may think your business is done with, but even the big names have gone through it as well,  and you can make it big. Not even as a designer is it great advice, life in general is hard and you may make mistakes and fall weather it be in your job or personal life or even education, but you can stand back up from it and do great things and be successful. 
     I would personally love to work with young up and coming designers. I think it must be amazing to see and support someone from the beginning of their career, and to see them blossom and become so big must be such a proud moment. The tour guide also gave some really good advice about internships. It makes sense that even if you don't want to work at a magazine but you want to be in PR that you learn both sides of it. I think doing more than one internship should be required at Kent State. In the fashion industry there isn't only just clothing and designing, there are so many aspects that I really think are very important in learning, and it would make you such a well rounded graduate if you had multiple internships with very different companies in different fields. 
     The CFDA provides the designers with studio's that they pay the rent on. It was really interesting to see how each designer decorated and made each studio their own. The first one we saw was pretty small, but the jewelry was so delicately displayed on the wood planks with nails holding them there. Then the last one we went into was by far my favorite, the lighting was a lot more dim and it was a lot bigger in space, but had so many personal touches to it, artwork, inspiration boards and so much personality to it. I think adding your own personal touch to your studio or showroom is so important not only because you work in the environment, but you want the buyers to be able to distinguish your product and feel from the next, and you want them to remember you.
     Overall I really enjoyed the short yet so informative trip to the CFDA. It's such a wonderful company and I truly enjoy what they are all about. I hope to be coming back to New York and I would love to intern with them!