Student Merchandising Association
The Student Merchandising Association is a student led and funded fashion club that operates on campus. SMA is "dedicated to developing members into the future of the fashion industry" (SMA). The club partners with local businesses and students who have a love for fashion to create lookbooks, portfolio pieces, and a fashion show concluding the school year.
I have been a member of the student merchandising association for 2 years. My first year I served on the beauty team, helping with makeup and hair for our end of the semester fashion show. This past year, I served on the executive board as the Head of Business Relations. For the upcoming '24-'25 school year, I am thankful to have been elected as SMA's Vice President.
My involvement this Year as Head of Business Relations:
This past year as Head of B.R., I have worked closely with a committee of members and the Events team to curate the relationships and atmospheres that fostered creative energy from the design and styling committees.
Our Fall Semester lookbook was titled, To the Races. It was a mix of equestrian aesthetics and horse racing with Ferrari and Porsche racing. The two sides blended together seamlessly to create different looks and designs. For the two photoshoots for this lookbook, my team and I acquired the Equestrian barn and fields by partnering with the UGA Club Equestrian team to use their equipment and model with their horses.
Click the button to watch To the Races
Another project I completed as an incentive for our members was a Headshot photoshoot. Partnering with a local Athens studio, we were able to rent the space and offer our members free headshots for their professional portfolios. The headshot featured on my About page is from this headshot shoot we were able to coordinate.
When partnering with local businesses, we like to give them the opportunity to teach our members about their business and how they started it. This past winter, I was able to schedule a "field trip" to Agora Vintage, an Athens luxury resale boutique. We were able to hear from the founder and owner herself, learning about her experience in the luxury and entrepreneurial world.
Our Winter 2024 Lookbook was mostly inspired by the coquette trend circling fashion, Alice and Wonderland, and LoveShackFancy. As Head of Business Relations, my committee and I were in charge of contacting local businesses to rent the table setting, partnering with an on-campus sorority for the location, and acquiring a donation from a bakery to promote their company.
We held our SMA fashion show, Dazzling Lies and Deceptive Looks, on April 10, 2024 of this past semester. Inspired by the game of Clue, our show told a story of a woman who had her diamond necklace stolen. Throughout the show, viewers had to try and figure out who stole the necklace, and they were even given a chance to vote before the thief was revealed during the final walk.
The Business Relations and Events committee combined to pool our resources and put on this fantastic show.
Some things we took part in doing:
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acquiring the venue for the show, Taylor Grady House
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facilitating the table and chair rentals for the event
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contacting and organizing around 10 vendors for pop-up sales
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partnering with different companies to donate treats for our cocktail hour
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setting up the grab-bags for viewers
