Apparel Students Attend MAGIC Trade Show, Study Fashion Industry in Las Vegas

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Apparel merchandising and product development students attended the MAGIC Las Vegas trade show, met with executives and researched retail shops as part of their August study tour.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – More than 30 students in the apparel merchandising and product development program from the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences recently spent a week in Las Vegas for a study tour on the fashion industry.

The group researched retail shops, met with executives from MGM Resorts International and Zappos, and attended the MAGIC Las Vegas trade show from Aug. 12-17.

Instructor and coordinator for the trip Lance Cheramie, associate professor Leigh Southward and instructor Stephanie Hubert led the group of 34 students from Bumpers College's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

"I was given the opportunity to be a part of the Las Vegas study tour and experience what it is like to be a buyer at the biggest trade show in the world," said senior Gabby Wisson, who graduates in May. "I also listened to very experienced professionals, who gave us tips on how to succeed in this industry. I'm grateful for the apparel merchandising and product development program for allowing me to have a hands-on experience at such an amazing event."

The three-day MAGIC Las Vegas trade show showcases products in apparel, footwear, accessories and manufacturing from apparel and clothing, lifestyle and fashion industries. Seminars included Financing and Launching a Brand, Retailing and Manufacturing in the USA, and Fashionable Future: Sustainable is the Key.

Students observed buying and planning strategies for Glick's Department Stores along with representatives from Retrofit.

"The Las Vegas study tour was an educational experience that enabled the students to see a major trade show within the apparel industry and make observations pertaining to the interaction of apparel buyers and vendors," said Cheramie. "The students were given an opportunity to explore both locations of the MAGIC show (Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay), and were able to compare and contrast the different venues."

"Attending the MAGIC trade show this summer not only solidified my plan in becoming a buyer after college, but inspired me to one day fulfill my dream of having a line of my own that I can exhibit at that exact trade show," said Briana Sabatini, a senior graduating in May. "MAGIC gave me the exact inspirational push I needed before beginning my final year as an AMPD student."

The group also researched retail outlets Crystal Shops at Aria, The Forum Shops and Fashion Show Mall. They met with the director of merchandise planning and analytics for MGM Resorts International, a gaming, hospitality and entertainment company owning and operating 15 properties in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan; and toured the corporate offices of Zappos, an online shoe and clothing retailer inspired by founder Nick Swinmurn when he could not find a pair of brown Airwalks at his local mall.

Students and faculty also toured Hoover Dam and attended the Cirque du Soleil show Mystere.

"Study tour experiences such as this are beneficial to our program because they enhance classroom topics and further excite students to be a part of an industry that they are passionate about," said Cheramie.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.