Written by: Alanna McGuiggan

Four individuals involved in various aspects of the fashion industry partook in a career panel at Bentley on Thursday, April 8. Sponsored by the Bentley Fashion Consultants, this panel showed students that it is in fact possible to combine fashion with a business career.

One of the four panelists involved in this event was Melissa of Barbizon Modeling and Acting. A recent graduate of Manhattan College with a business degree, Melissa has fused her love for fashion with her career at Barbizon. Many students who attended this panel questioned their decision to pursue a business degree when they had hopes of eventually working in the fashion industry. However, Melissa showed that her knowledge of business was incredibly beneficial to her progress at Barbizon.

Though Melissa is new to this modeling and acting company, her business experience has already helped her to achieve several promotions. Melissa noted that her biggest regret from her college years was not pursuing an internship, which she emphasized as incredibly important for finding and excelling at your career upon graduation.

A second panelist involved in this BFC event was Brittney Rothweiler, a buyer for the Tannery, a lifestyle retailer located in Boston and Cambridge. Like Melissa, Brittney chose to pursue an undergraduate degree in the business realm, double majoring in economics and art at Lafayette College. Brittney assured panelists that a fashion major is not a necessity for success in this industry, agreeing with Melissa in her opinion that internships are the most important element for success in the fashion world.

During her time as an undergraduate student at Lafayette, Brittney completed a variety of internships. She went abroad to London and worked at Revlon’s European headquarters in international marketing. She also interned in public relations and marketing at Miss Sixty in New York City, as well as working as a buying intern at Catherine Malandrino’s Soho store.

Brittney’s vast experience as an intern paid off, helping her to gain the connections and experience that helped her reach her current position with The Tannery. As a buyer there, Brittney travels to places such as Paris and London, searching for new designers. From Brittney’s commentary at the panel, it was incredibly evident that she loves her job as a buyer, and her comments on the fashion industry provided valuable advice for Bentley students considering a career in the fashion realm.

The third panelist involved in this event was Samantha Shih, the CEO of 9tailors, a custom tailoring company located in Boston. Like Melissa and Brittney, Samantha also pursued a business degree instead of fashion and has still been incredibly successful in the fashion industry. A 2003 graduate of Brown University, Samantha holds a degree in management consulting and strongly believes her business knowledge has helped her to succeed in developing her tailoring company. Samantha compared 9tailors to “Build-a-Bear for your clothing,” and her explanation of her company’s progression showed Bentley students that business skills will be incredibly beneficial no matter what aspect of work they choose upon graduating. During the panel, Samantha consistently emphasized the importance of professionalism in any career or internship, noting that it will most definitely be beneficial for students’ success.

The final panelist involved in this event was Michelle Addo, a current senior at Bentley University and President of the Bentley Fashion Consultants. Michelle is an intern with Adireé Fashion Agency, which is a company located in New York that focuses on fashion event production, organization, and consulting. This company was founded by Adiat Disu, a graduate of Bentley University who created the Bentley Fashion Consultants during her time as a student here.

Michelle’s internship showed panel attendees that the connections one makes during their time at Bentley can help determine their level of success later on in life. Michelle also showed panelists that they must be prepared to perform a variety of tasks when they are interning for a company, and to handle their responsibilities professionally.

The wide variety of career choices presented during the Bentley Fashion Consultants’ 2010 Industry Panel showed attendees that a business degree is incredibly beneficial for success in the fashion industry. As current Bentley freshman Meaghan LaFrancis noted, “I loved the fashion panel and thought it was a great opportunity to get a taste of the fashion world. All the speakers had a different story to tell in how they were able to achieve their success.”

Even if students are not interested in a career in the fashion realm, the Bentley Fashion Consultants’ Annual Industry Panel can still provide valuable insight on the diverse paths students can take using their Bentley degree and business knowledge. This yearly event features different participants each year, and can help interested students attain internships or advice on how to reach their career goals.