Monday, November 10, 2025
Media Contact:
Christy Lang | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-9740 | christy.lang@okstate.edu
The College of Education and Human Sciences’ Department of Design and Merchandising
welcomed 54 high school students, along with parents and teachers, at its All Walks,
One Runway event on Nov. 5. Participating students learned about the fashion-focused
degree paths offered at Oklahoma State University and got a taste of the design industry.
After checking in for the day, students chose three of nine breakout sessions to attend,
with topics including fashion business and branding, fashion technology and innovation,
textile science and fabric fundamentals, sustainability fashion and more.
“The key appeal for students lies in understanding that fashion is more than just
clothing — it’s a dynamic, forward-thinking industry where creativity, technology,
business, sustainability and social impact converge,” said Heather Pidcock, a fashion
merchandising graduate student who helped put together the 3D technology breakout
class along with two other students.
The breakout sessions were held in design labs and classrooms, providing students
with access to state-of-the-art technology used by OSU students and demonstrating
that fashion encompasses many aspects of science and technology.
“By discovering how fashion can serve as art, advocacy, innovation and entrepreneurship,
students start to see themselves not as passive observers, but as changemakers who
can design for diverse bodies, cultures and causes,” Pidcock said.
Department head Dr. Lynn Boorady said that her primary goal for this event was to
bring awareness to design and merchandising as a degree track and to show students
that the fashion industry is a great place to pursue a career, regardless of where
their passions lie. OSU offers degree options in apparel design and technology and fashion merchandising.
“We want students to know there are great jobs in this industry and that OSU can help
guide them to a great career in the fashion industry, no matter what their interests
are,” Boorady said.
At lunchtime, a panel of OSU students — Erin Payne, Ayden Black, Zoe Hoffman, Madelyn
Campbell and Georgia Matthews — shared about their summer internships. With experiences
ranging from bridal and formal wear design to apparel design for Hobby Lobby, OSU
students offered advice on finding an internship and succeeding in the fashion degree
programs.
“Every student on the panel had a unique story, and it showed how many directions
you can take with a fashion degree from OSU. I loved that the high school students
could see that there’s not just one ‘fashion path’ and that success can look different
for everyone,” Payne said. “It’s hard to fit everything into one panel, but even in
that short time, I think we highlighted how supportive the faculty are, how many opportunities
there are for internships and projects and how the community within the program really
stands out.”
Before the end of the day, students had the chance to try their hand at designing
a line of clothing. By thinking of an all-new brand name, logo, tagline, target audience
and a few outfit ideas, students got a glimpse of what it might be like to study fashion
merchandising or apparel design and technology at OSU.
High school students showcased their creative talents by generating ideas such as
formal wear for children, and they honed their communication skills by presenting
their ideas to their peers. These activities are a regular aspect of student life
for current design and merchandising majors, some of whom stayed to help students
with their designs.
“We are the only program in Oklahoma where you can learn both design and the business
of fashion. Our curriculum is industry-informed, including our new Digital Product
Creation certificates, which were developed alongside industry professionals and vetted
through over 50 major companies to ensure our students can get jobs in this area,”
Boorady said.
“We not only look at what the industry is doing currently — we want to know where
the industry will be when our students graduate in four years, and we work toward
a curriculum that supports them for the future.”
For more information about design and merchandising career paths, program highlights
and admissions details, visit the Department of Design and Merchandising website.
Story By:
Faith Frantz | faith.frantz@okstate.edu