Tag Archives: BRAG

Notes From the 6 Train: Applying Your Apps!

Last week I went to a networking event held by BRAG at LIM’s campus. Genevieve Ascencio, the head account manager at Factory PR. Factory PR is one of the premiere Public Relations in the fashion industry. A few of their clients are Marie Claire, Betsey Johnson, Diesel, Puma, Levi’s as well as a slew of other well known companies.

Genevieve told us her story about she stumbled into PR. She actually began studying economics at NYU and after graduating realized that she was no longer passionate about economics. Instead, she began working at her mother’s hair salon. While there, she digitized all of her mother’s files and started sending newsletter to all of their clients. Realizing she had a knack for soliciting more business through her newsletter she started interning at a PR firm and the rest is history. I like this story because it’s a reminder that you don’t have to spend your entire life ruled by your college degree. If you prepare enough, or have the skills, the world is yours.

Genevieve also made a list of the important apps for those interested in pursing a career in PR. (These can also be applied to other jobs in the fashion industry.)

Cision: Cision is primarily used organize PR related information in an orderly manner. It has the ability to distribute press releases, manage PR campaigns, monitor news coverage and analyze results.

FashionGPS: FashionGPS boasts about their ability to provides solutions for the global fashion industry. It hosts suite of products to assist fashion brands and PR agencies in tracking and managing samples, planing and executing events, hosting and managing media, and enabling communication with key contacts. Here’s a list of the various services they offer:

• GPS Samples (Internal and external sample inventory tracking and management)
• GPS Contacts (CRM tool)
• GPS Styles (Media hosting and distribution channel)
• Events GPS (Event management, RSVPs, check-in, interactive seating charts, RFID security)

DropBox: This is a familiar app that many of you may use already. DropBox is used to store information. It is also an easy to share information with others. The best part is once saved to your particular DropBox account your infroamtion can be lost. DropBox for business has all of these functions plus admin controls, dedicated support, and all the space your company needs.

HootSuite: is a social media management system for brand management. It enables the user to create one general post and send it out to all social media networks at the same time. The interface takes the form of a dashboard, and supports social network integration for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Foursquare,MySpace, WordPress, TrendSpottr and Mixi.

Zkipster: Zkipster is a guest list app for non-ticketed event check-in at premieres, parties and galas, promotional events and conferences. It’s the first check-in app compatible on iOS, Android and Windows 8 platforms – offering secure real-time guest list management for public relations, event and meeting professionals.

It’s always nice to know what to expect/ what’s needed from an expert in the field. Going to learning events, such as this one, keeps you abreast of what’s going on in the industry before even officially entering it. Imagine how impressed a potential employer might be when you subtly drop hints about these apps when you’re at your next interview. Keep striving.

All things Color, Love, & Fashion,
Ayanna L.

Notes From The 6 Train: Talkin To Da Bomb’

(Okay, please excuse the terrible name of this post it’s nearing finals and we all need some humor in our life). I did, however meet the editor in chief of Fashion Bomb Daily, Claire Sulmers. Fashion Bomb Daily is a blog directed towards the multicultural fashionista highlighting style and trends sported by celebrities of color. The Fashion Bomb Daily gets over 2.4 million hits monthly, and Claire Sulmers has been been a guest at 106 & Park on BET, featured in Time, Glamour, shot an ad for Covergirl, and is contributor to Essence & Vogue.it. Her list of appearances, accomplishments and awards is much longer than the brief listing I’ve posted here, click the link posted at the bottom of the post to see what else Claire’s up to!

( Claire Sulmers with BRAG members, the organization that sponsored the event)

She spoke briefly about the ongoing battle concerning the lack of inclusion in the fashion industry. (I’ve written about the lack of diversity on the runway, luxury brands, and top executives in general, etc. in other posts if you want to check it out). It feel good hearing what other people in the industry are doing to abolish this reality, so we can create a new one in which are fabulous people are recognized in fashion, no matter the race.

Claire also spoke about challenges she faced while breaking into the business. She was a storyteller, giving us small fashion vignettes, ranging from her time in in Paris while interning at French Vogue and nearly living on the streets, to how she became friendly with Anna Wintour. Hearing her success story, fueled by unadulterated passion and dedication was welcomed by all, especially the graduating seniors, who like to hear reaffirming stories. She was such a sweetheart and I am so glad that my 2 o’clock was canceled, so that I could stay and just chit chat with her a bit.

(Claire & I)

Also, here’s a bit of sidebar. After we took the photo posted above, she sent it to her sister, who happens to be an old classmate and former captain of my high school dance team (in Atlanta, GA, nonetheless), saw it and contacted me via FB. This is the exact reason I always talk about being kind to people, you never know how we are all connected. Granted, this doesn’t guarantee a job for me (though I did give her my resume, as all well prepared FIT students have resumes on them), however, if I treated her sister terribly years ago while in high school and she told her, that would probably guarantee that I wouldn’t any type of job or internship.. Just a bit of food for thought for you all. Below I have posted a link to The Fashion Bomb Daily website, check it out!

All things Color, Love, & Fashion,

Ayanna L.

http://fashionbombdaily.com/2014/04/30/claires-life-speaking-fashion-institute-technologys-black-retail-action-group/

Student Sucess this week!

You all know how I love FIT student success week! The week before spring break I had the amazing opportunity to go meet some new people at the make your own bunny event in the A building on the 8th floor. This week in the same room there will be Decorate a picture frame from 12-2pm in A739 this is held by the department of student life on Tuesday . Also on Wednesday there will be Sip tea and make beaded Jewelry from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm same place held by the department of student life. ( Most likely I will be there for this one taking pictures and interviewing students). Then on Thursday there is Make burlap crafts with N’ketian from 11-3pm!

Also get ready for some goodies! Bake Sales are always yummy! There is a Brag Bake Sale from 12-2 on Tuesday in the Dubinsky Lobby. Then another one on Wednesday same place for the Black student union from 11-6pm!

Some more special things going on this week are Blush magazine( run with one of our very own bloggers Ashley ) is looking for models for a photo shoot. if you are interested please email: [email protected] .

On Wednesday Night the movie Ride along will be playing from 8-10pm with free popcorn being given away. I highly suggest it, I saw it already and I was dying laughing.

Lastly on Thursday from 2:15-3:15 Six flags tickets will be sold in A734 it is first come first serve! $25 dollars per ticket and only 2 tickets per FIT ID.

Have a good week,

Xoxo Kailee

Notes From the 6 Train: FIT Clubbin’

This past weekend I traveled with BRAG to Washington, DC. Many clubs often have end of year trips, which is great because it gives students to check out other places around the world, for a fraction of the price. If the organization makes an effort, holds fundraisers to raise money, then the school is willing to help to donate funds. Sometimes, students have to pay, but it’s only a fraction of what the entire trips cost. Of course, the club is only allowed to go it there is some educational value attached to that, like attending a conference or meeting with another chapter at a different university’s campus.

These trips promote club bonding, and people get to explore some pretty places too. We got to do all that educational stuff, but we also got the chance to explore DC and eat some great food! The club bonding is incredibly valuable, since, as I’ve mentioned before, the fashion industry is all about who you know. When you are involved in clubs at school you are beginning to create you fashion allies!

( BRAG at the Martin Luther King memorial)

Other clubs also go on yearly trips. The international trade student association usually goes to the MAGIC show in Las Vegas, but this year they are going to Miami for a different conference. The jewelry club is going to Seattle and the Black Student Alliance went to visit Atlanta this weekend.

FIT provides some many opportunities for students to explore throughout the country. This is a huge difference from my old university, and as a traveler, I am very much appreciative of the opportunities. I will continue to take advantage of all these opportunities that arise, and you should too!

All things Color, Love & Fashion,

Ayanna L.

Notes From the 6 Train: Showroom Showtime!

Last week BRAG (the club I’m apart of that you should totally think of joining) took a trip to the Converse showroom. Visiting a showroom of such an iconic brand felt very humbling. Everyone has owned a pair of Chuck’s at some point in their life, it’s like a U.S. rites of passage. It’s like we walked right into apart of American history, a majestic world of sneakers. Bubblegum colored shoes and edgy T-shirts lined the elegantly gray stained walls of the lobby.

(Not a photo from the showroom, but the vibe in the showroom was equally as cool.)

Leslie Smith, the Converse merchandise manager, was kind enough to show us around the entire building. The show room was divided into 3 floors. The bottom floor was for the business-y stuff, we walked by a group of people wh were literally going through every single item of clothing and pricing each individual item. The top floor was dedicated to designing and the middle floor showcased concepts for future lines. This was one was my favorite one. We got to peak into the ideation of what’s to come. Unfortunately, I was unable to take photos because everything we saw will be released spring/ fall 15′ and they don’t want their ideas falling into the general public prior to their scheduled release. Besides seeing the inner-workings of the showroom, then entire trip was highly inspiring, not just for me but everyone who went on the trip. As students we spend hours upon hours in class, studying, rushing between internships and jobs, then come home to stay up all night hyped up on coffee to complete school projects. Then, in the very wee hours of the morning, we think to ourselves, “what is all this for, what’s the point of all this?” Then, one day you go into the Converse showroom and you remember why, why you choose to study at FIT, why you fell in love with fashion in the first place. Even if your dreams aren’t to work in the Converse, just visiting re-lights that internal fashion fire.

All things Color, Love & Fashion,

Ayanna L.