NEW YORK — Fashion is about business.
That was the general message to students for succeeding in today’s fashion industry from a panel hosted by the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund on Wednesday as a prelude to its AMY Awards.
AMY Award honorees Ken C. Hicks, president and chief merchandising officer of J.C. Penney Co. Inc., and Karen Murray, group president of men’s wear, midtier, international alliances and licensing of Liz Claiborne Inc., sat on the panel, which was moderated by Tim Gunn of “Project Runway,” who also chairs the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design. Gunn will present Hicks and Murray with their AMY Awards on Jan. 10 at the annual fund-raiser for the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund, established by the Young Menswear Association.
About 100 fashion students attended the panel, where they also heard from Original Penguin president Chris Kolbe and Rufus Apparel designer and founder April Singer. The industry insiders advised the students on getting their first fashion jobs and emphasized the importance of commerce — as well as design — skills.
“I don’t think we could be fashion or a fashion industry without commerce,” Murray said. “It does start with product, but you need both in order to be successful.”
Murray also recommended that students consider private label opportunities, adding solemnly that the future of wholesale was uncertain in the changing retail climate.
“A lot of what they heard today was underscoring things they hear in their classes,” Gunn said. “It’s showing: Your faculty is right.”