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FIFTH AVE WOMAN

fifth avenue jewelry NYC specializes in high-quality and elegant jewelry, focusing on sterling silver pieces crafted for a wide audience, including women, men, teens, and children. their collection features many designs, such as sterling silver necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and unique pendants, emphasizing timeless beauty and affordability. With a mission to make stylish jewelry accessible, they provide hassle-free shipping and returns, ensuring customer satisfaction. their products cater to varied tastes, blending traditional and contemporary styles, making them ideal for personal wear or thoughtful gifting. For more details, visit their official site here.

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SPLENDID

today, we went to the splendid merchandising and design hub and got to hear fantastic insight from to professionals, one on the design and creative aspect, and one in sales for the brand.

i learned so much about how vast the brand of splendid is but also how intersectional merchandising is in term of selling the same product but at different price points due to who their buyers are.

getting to also learn about their professional journeys of finance and business, you really see how crossectional the fashion industry is in terms of business and just coporate operations in general.

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LOUIS VUITTON

This past thuraday we got to go to louis vuitton. theyve unveiled a stunning new flagship store in the heart of Manhattan, redefining luxury shopping in New York City. The architecture combines cutting-edge design like making larger than life cases out of a building, with the brand's timeless elegance, creating an immersive experience that blends fashion, art, and culture.

inside we explored exclusive collections, limited-edition pieces, and curated installations that celebrate their heritage. Whether you're browsing for the latest in haute couture or simply soaking in the artistry, even the cafe on the top floor, this store is a must-visit destination for fashion lovers and design enthusiasts alike.

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CREATE-A-MARKER

during our visit to create-a-marker, Inc., we gained a detailed understanding of their operations as a leading computerized grading and marking service provider for the apparel industry. a standout part of the visit was learning about their sizing system, which plays a crucial role in ensuring accuracy and consistency across their grading services. the team demonstrated how their advanced systems work to streamline the process of adjusting garment patterns for various sizes, making it efficient and precise.

additionally, we learned about their commitment to customer satisfaction through quick 48-hour turnaround times and personalized services. their ability to store and ship markers, provide flash drives, and create mini markers for approval ensures they cater to both local and international clients efficiently. overall, the visit highlighted their expertise in fabric utilization, cost-effectiveness, and their innovative sizing methods that set them apart in the industry.

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last Thursday, I had the chance to visit Dover Street Market, an iconic multi-brand retail space known for its curated collections and avant-garde aesthetic. The store itself is a visual experience, with each floor offering something unique, from high-end luxury pieces to more experimental designs. Dover Street Market was founded by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and her husband, Adrian Joffe, who envisioned a space where fashion, art, and culture intersect. The atmosphere is anything but conventional—distinct installations fill the space, giving each brand a unique setting to showcase its latest creations. Walking through each floor was like moving through an art gallery, with every corner thoughtfully designed to reflect the personalities of the featured designers.

During our tour, we had the opportunity to speak with employees on every floor, each sharing insights into the pieces they display, the vision behind them, and the artistic inspiration that defines the store. They spoke about the importance of fostering a community-oriented environment and how Dover Street Market supports emerging designers alongside established names, maintaining a dynamic selection. This experience provided a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the market so influential in the fashion world. Each employee highlighted how the space encourages creativity, not only in the selection but also in customer interaction, making it clear why Dover Street Market has become a global retail destination

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HARRY POTTER

this past week, we went to the harry potter storefront and experience in the flatiron district. it was incredible to see and while i am not very familiar with harry potter, getting to see such a visually appealing way of merchandising and store design through various elements for fans to pick up on was great.

even without knowing a ton about it, you could really grasp a lot of the story through the lights, the sounds, and the overall story telling. the pictures i capture tell most of the story, but getting to learn how such an iconic story came to life in store form in the heart of the city is truly incredible.

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COTTON INC.

this past week we had the opportunity to go to the consumer marketing branch of cotton inc in nyc. celebra-ordinary was the exclusive trend forecast we got to see, and learn how cotton inc. uses marketing to entice fashion brands to keep cotton alive in the industry.

trend forecasting is such a huge part of the future of fashion and getting to listen in to aubrey howard, trend forecaster and how her travels with the company are integral to seeing how cotton is used around the world as well as getting to look at various clothing samples.

such a great experience!

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NY Embroidery Studio

this past week we had the opportunity of visiting ny embroidery studio. we were able to tour the factory and office. in a unique set up, they are one of the few fashion businesses that still is running a full in house factory.

their commitment to their craft did not go unnoticed and they span their work from anything from fashion houses, popular designers and brands, down to personal and customized pieces.

the passion is shown in their work and they share they still use old school methods that they still use today. such a great experience.

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museum of broadway

this past thursday we had the pleasure of visiting and touring the museum of broadway. i think its safe to say that this was a lot of our favorite tours we've done so far. the immersive experience truly allowed us to feel what its like to learn about the art and imagination behind each broadway shows history.

the interative moments with the amazing employees there was so thoughtful, and you could feel their passion for broadway as it is as an artform. my favorite part of the museum was the west side story room, where we learned that it actually wasn't very accepted by the community at first.

broadway has such an ability to explore realms of serious topics in an innovative way thats unlike anything else. the juxtaposition between musicals, plays, and everything in between really showed how diverse and inclusive broadway can be, beyond its limiting history.

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NORDSTROM WITH JAMIE

this past thursday we had the pleasure of getting to learn and speak with a great industry professional, jamie seiden. jamie shared she has been working for nordstrom for 9 years going on 10. she shared so many great points for how the business works but one thing that most caught my attention was her openness of sharing how connected and welcoming the culture is at nordstrom.

oftentimes, there is a negative image surrounding corporate america, and to hear jamie continually make it a key focal point how great the management is makes me super inspired to see that a leader in fashion retail is making a positive change.

as she is a marketing project manager for nordstrom rack allowed her to explain the work she does in executing and determining the correct moves and marketing strategies for nordstrom, all the while working from home! she mentioned she has worked remotely since covid-19 and to know how much impact she still makes while being remote i think is a lesson corporate america is slowly but surely responding to, to realize that 8 hours a day in a phyiscal office might not be needed anymore. our time with jamie was super impressive to hear.

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M&S CUSTOM FLOWERS

having the experience of going to m&s flowers and being able to hear and understand such a passioned, generational business was so inspiring to witness and hear about. the intention and attention to detail they put in making every unique flower no matter how delicate, or big - its all handcrafted with love.

being that its such a niche business allows them to still be on top of stylists and designers minds when needed such pieces like theirs. their versatility and commitment to human touch, handmade products, as opposed to moving to technology, shows their dedication to their craft and also their willingness and need for connection in their office.

though i have no photos from the visits, i wanted to attach my favorite flower i saw while looking at the floor to ceiling selection. its a leather orchid. its attention to detail and storytelling it shares is beautiful. such a great experience!

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GARMENT DISTRICT SCAVENGER HUNT

last thursday we teamed up to go up and down the streets of the garment district, getting to learn more about the lively city and its fashion history around us.

we began our journey at the new york public library, rich with history and architecture. we then headed to bryant park, the previous home to NYFW, and the now home of cinema, and live music in the park. we then headed to the button sculpture, with only 4 holes! (not five) but it means F for FAHION! and the kiosk below is home to the fashion center.

we then walked through the fashion walk of fame, and found all in one suppliers, a store selling showroom supplies and display fixtures. and finally we approached the biggest store (in square footage), macys! home to many goods, and an annual parade, its place in herald square is also home to H&M, swedish brand with its full name being hennes and mauritz!

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the MET - study tour 8/29

this past thursday, another beautiful day in the city, i was grateful to attend the met costume exhibit, sleeping beauties. because of the generosity of our school and professor, we were able to fully understand the beauty of this exhibit before it closed.

what a treat it was to feel immersed by color, sound, texture, and light. the idea of the transformation of beauty in fashion, from pieces dating back to the 1800s to pieces just done a few years ago that look to be the future of fashion; it all fell under the etheral and transformative light that is sleeping beauties.

trying to capture every moment was difficult, but below i hope to share some of the greatest details that caught my eye while walking through the maze of this story. a story that flows so elegantly.

we then proceeded to discover other parts of the museum where i began to capture the sense of human connection to art, and the magic that happens within it!

"art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – edgar degas