U of A Libraries Help Student Turn Research Into Award-Winning Fashion Project

Each year, Apparel Merchandising and Product Development students are tasked with creating original designs for the Enclothe fashion show. When junior Lillyanna Gigerich began developing her garment for the show, she wanted the project to call attention to suicide awareness and prevention. To bring that vision to life, she turned to the University of Arkansas Libraries for help connecting research with design.

Her project took shape with guidance from Kariah Brust. The two met just before senior instructor Stephanie Hubert and Enclothe director Jonah Graham invited Brust to speak to students in the Advanced Apparel Production course. After receiving Brust's contact information from Hubert, Gigerich scheduled a research consultation with her to explore sources related to fashion psychology and social impact design.

"Her topic was not limited to apparel but also focused on mental health, so I helped her research in various disciplines, including apparel and psychological sciences," Brust said.

Using resources such as OneSearch, ProQuest and other academic databases, Gigerich researched mental health stigma, symbolism connected to suicide prevention, color psychology and the emotional impact of clothing. Brust also provided a personalized follow-up guide with recommended articles, databases and search strategies.

"My goal was to use fashion as a form of storytelling and advocacy by combining my passion for design with mental health awareness," Gigerich said.

She said her experience as president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness student organization also influenced the project's direction and meaning.

Gigerich's garment earned the Groundwork Award at this year's Enclothe show. The award recognizes designs that thoughtfully engage with social issues through research and storytelling.

Winning the Groundwork Award, she said, affirmed the importance of using creative work to encourage conversations about mental health.

"Receiving the award felt like an opportunity to honor those I have lost, advocate for others who may be struggling and remind people that their stories are not over," Gigerich said.

The collaboration highlights one of the many ways librarians support students beyond traditional coursework, helping them apply research skills to creative, interdisciplinary projects.

Research consultations through the U of A Libraries are available to all students and provide individualized support for projects across academic disciplines.