LSU Human Ecology Department

I realize this is sort of random, but does anyone have any experience with this particular department at LSU? And specifically with its Textiles, Apparel and Merchandising program?

My 16-year-old stepdaughter (now a high school junior) mentioned that she might be interested in a career in fashion -- probably merchandising rather than design -- and -- SIGH -- yes -- SIGH -- she will consider going to LSU -- SIGH -- even though she had planned to go out of state for college -- SIGH -- but only because -- SIGH -- she probably qualifies for TOPS -- SIGH -- and they'll pay her tuition -- SIGH.

Even though I took my BA from LSU and did a bit of graduate work there over the years, I had no idea the purple and gold even had such a program. It is so far off my radar that I had to look up the building -- it's the one across the street from the Life Sciences Building behind the Union -- and I know nothing about it.

So TIA and I can't wait to see her shit a suburban white girl brick when I tell her it's in the College of Agriculture.

 

is that where girls go to get their MRS. degree?

 

My wife has a degree in fashion design from the Human Ecology Department.

Your daughter better be ready to hang a shingle or move to a major fashion market. Even in general merchandising, which is much broader than fashion, there are few jobs outside of the major markets and they are heavy travel. Few girls interested in fashion want to do groceries or hardware.

 

@LSUsupaFan I don't think moving to a major fashion market would balk her in the least. She went to NY with us about 18 months ago and took to it like a duck to water; she found out this past weekend that my cousin, who lives in Los Angles, is getting married there is a couple of years and she's already making plans for going to the wedding.

I suppose my more pointed question is whether the program has a sufficient reputation to afford her those opportunities. Or is it sort of a second rate program. (That's really not a knock. I know NOTHING about this type of work and where the best schools to break into it are located.) All I know is that if you passed the Home Ec building walking from the Union to the Dairy Shop, you'd gone too far and needed to turn around.

Maybe your wife has some insight?

 

In terms of fashion design, the department head when my wife got her degree was very highly regarded in the industry as both a technical designer and educator. She has since retired and I don't know how things have changed. The best employers in the industry tend to recruit the niche fashion schools like SCAD first and foremost. Large state schools get recruited but not to the same extent. LSU in particular is well recruited, but jobs are extremely competetive and an un-paid internship in a major market is the norm. LSU can certainly afford the oppurtunities, but in reality you have to stand out amongst your peers much mors so than if you are at an actual fashion school.

My wife did things like a summer internship with a haute couture designer, worked at two New York fashion weeks, and networked like hell with professional designers, and she did most of that through connections she made in the Human Ecology department.

Ryan Anthony Auld is a currently hot fashion designer who was on the show Project Runway, and is a Baton rouge based designer who graduated from LSU. My wife went through the program the same time he did, and he has built a strong brand on the connections he made at LSU, so it can happen.

I can't offer any particular insight into merchadising, though I would think it is held in similar regard.

 

@LSUsupaFan @red55 Thanks for the input.