Ten students majoring in fashion and textile management visited the White House Wednesday to attend the Reach Higher Fashion Education Workshop hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.
The event accommodated 150 high school and college students from across the country and allowed each student to participate in various fashion workshops and meet with a number of renowned fashion experts and designers including Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, Diana von Frustenberg, a fashion designer and creator of the iconic wrap-dress and Jenna Lyons, the creative director of J. Crew.
“It was a great experience!” said Fatisha Harris, a sophomore in fashion and textile management. “My favorite part was when Jenna Lyons told me to contact her afterwards, that’s when it hit me that this was real.”
Jordan Stokes, a sophomore in fashion and textile management, said she most enjoyed meeting Michelle Obama and Prabal Gurung, a Nepalese-American fashion designer who Stokes said was the reason she decided to pursue a career in fashion.
“The best part about the event was meeting the founders of Opening Ceremony” said Chad Yeager, a sophomore in fashion and textile management. “I had no idea of who they were until last Wednesday, and I ended up loving their company. They have sort of Urban Outfitters influence to the fashion industry. I’m hoping to intern with them one summer.”
This event was presented by Reach Higher, Michelle Obama’s initiative to encourage students to extend their education past high school.
“The majority of students there were high schoolers,” Stokes said. “I think Michelle Obama really did try and reach out to all of the students and push them to work hard and reach higher towards secondary education.”
“I got to meet and talk with Mrs. Obama, and she actually asked me questions. It was so cool!” Harris said. “And the White House is just as posh as you’d imagine it to be.”
Throughout the event, the First Lady and her distinguished fashion industry guests were adamant about sharing advice and talking about their experiences in the fashion industry.
“Diane von Furstenberg and Michelle Obama told us to take advantage of every opportunity,” Stokes said. “You never know what could happen. Make the best of every situation and work hard.”
Harris said the best piece of advice she received was to personally mail the companies she wants to do an internship with instead of sending emails.
“People actually do read their mail, and they will appreciate it,” Harris said.
Students not only left with advice from some of their idols, but many students also returned to Raleigh with possible internship positions and clearer pictures of what they want to do after graduation.
“This event reassured me that there is a place for me in this industry,” Yeager said. “I knew I wanted to go into more of the alternative scene—music, skateboarding, and street art culture. Not so much Gucci and Vogue. Meeting a company like Opening Ceremony helps to remind me that there are companies I could work for and still fit in with the fashion industry.”
Some NC State students in attendance found their personal Instagram photos on Vogue’s website the next day.
“It feels incredible to say I went to the White House and Vogue put me on their website for it,” Yeager said.
Overall, the event only lasted for about four hours, but it left quite the impression on the NC State students who had the opportunity to attend.
“The event as a whole was life-changing, incredible and a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Stokes said.
