UCLA has always been at the forefront of the major issues of the day. Sustainability is no different. Green initiatives across the campus, from the Hill, to the Associated Students, to student groups have all worked to reduce waste at UCLA and create a greener environment. From going tray-less to providing funding to student organizations, the UCLA community is working towards building a greener and more sustainable future.

UCLA has always prided itself on being in the forefront of the sustainability issue. Students and faculty both work together to make UCLA a greener and more sustainable place. Programs such as the tray-less initiative at Hedrick Hall have provided huge steps toward creating a sustainable campus. According to UCLA Sustainability, since going tray-less in January of 2009, Hedrick Hall saved over 6,000 gallons of water. The hill has introduced other measures to save resources as well. Each Thursday, Residential Restaurants go beef-less. Each day, UCLA students consume 1,000 pounds of beef. For each pound of beef, over 1,500 gallons of water are used. By reducing beef consumption for one day, UCLA dining services estimates that it could save 1,500,000 gallons of water each Thursday. Dining initiatives such as these make residential life at UCLA much more green and sustainable.

On April 22, 2010, Earth Day, UCLA welcomed twin trash cans on to campus. There was the traditional trash can and there was its new brightly colored sibling. The blue, green, and yellow barrel tells passersby that it’s “for everything but food waste.” Reflecting improved recycling technology, these new bins work toward UCLA’s stated goal of completely diverting all of its waste from landfills by 2020. Progress has been so great that UCLA is projected to reach this by 2014, six years ahead of the estimated 2020 completion date.

Student groups are also getting involved in the drive to create a more sustainable and greener UCLA. The Green Initiatives Fund (TGIF) is the Undergraduate Student Association’s funding arm for student sustainability initiatives. In 2010, TGIF gave out $33,831 to various projects including providing reusable water bottles for campus tour guides as well as the Green Office Certification program, which rewards UCLA office employees for doing things that reduce their office waste such as recycling. Students are also providing themselves with opportunities for employment in green and sustainable fields in the future. On April 15^th, B Green Consulting and the Green Campus Program are hosting the 1^st annual Southern California Green Jobs Fair. UCLA will host students from USC, UC Santa Barbara, California Institute of Technology, UC Irvine and others. Students from universities will come to Ackerman Grand Ballroom to meet and explore potential green employment opportunities.

Sustainability has emerged as one of the largest issues of our time. The UCLA community has already risen to the challenge. In addition to stated goals of creating more sustainable dining and 100% diversion of waste from landfills, UCLA students are taking steps to mitigate their waste. In addition, students are building connections with other like-minded students and building a cooperative foundation for a greener future.

For more information on sustainability at UCLA:

http://www.sustain.ucla.edu/

http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2011/schools/university-of-california-los-angeles

When Chinese President Hu Jintao spent a week traveling America with President Barack Obama in late January, the two heads of state discussed many points of contention in American-Chinese relations. Human rights, currency valuation, national security, and intellectual property have long been issues on which China and the U.S. do not see eye to eye. But there was something that both leaders seemed to come to a strong agreement on – the need to cooperate on developing and promoting green technologies.

GreenBiz.com reports that of the $45 billion in trade deals announced by the White House, more than two-thirds involve energy efficiency, emissions reductions, and green technologies. Most of these deals provide government support to joint projects between U.S. and Chinese energy companies. These deals include agreements between General Electric and the China Shenhua Energy Company to advance cleaner coal technologies. Boeing and Air China will cooperate to plan international flights using sustainable fuels. Duke Energy and the Chinese ENN Group will develop technology to build greener cities in each country. Both governments hope to foster mutual cooperation in green tech investment and development internationally.

While this may appear to be excellent news for both nations, there is another story behind the scenes that makes the picture seem far more unbalanced. Despite government promotion and a domestic market demand for green technology, America is quickly falling behind China in the production and development of green technologies. The Pew Environment Group reported that in 2009, China invested more in renewable energy than the U.S. did,  surpassing the world’s biggest investor for the first time in history. While the United States invested $18.6 billion in renewable energy in 2009, China invested $24.6 billion.

According to the New York Times, the government of Massachusetts gave Evergreen Solar, the third largest solar panel producer in America, $43 million in grants; however, this was not enough to keep them doing business in the United Sates. Evergreen Solar plans to close its main American factory and move the bulk of its production to China, leaving 800 American workers without jobs. This announcement came just a week before President Hu’s visit. Evergreen Solar admitted to the New York Times that lower production costs and greater government subsidies in China made the country a much more attractive place to do business.

The disparity is so large that last September, the Obama administration filed a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization. The complaint accuses China of using mercantilist policies through its subsidies by forcing manufacturers to use exclusively Chinese parts if they wish to receive government grants. China continues to defend its policies – and if the two nations cannot come to an agreement, the U.S. can request that a dispute panel render the decision. Hu Jintao’s visit to the U.S. showed both presidents agreeing on the importance of green technology cooperation. But political rhetoric aside, the Chinese government is fueling its green industry’s rapid growth far ahead of the U.S.

As environmental issues across the globe continue to arise, the days when only biologists and ecologists took environmental studies courses are now long gone. It is now quite common to find more college courses that enable students to save the environment, whether through business or science. According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), there were over 100 new majors, minors or certificates with an emphasis in sustainability at American colleges in 2009 – a huge increase from only three new programs in these fields in 2005. These emerging degrees create extremely specific areas of studies in almost every aspect of the environment. With well over a thousand four-year college campuses across America, students can easily find courses in majors and minors that accommodate a diverse set of interests ranging from sustainable business, agriculture, fisheries sciences, and even paper engineering.

At Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, students can dabble in less common environmental science courses offered by the Natural Resources Department and the Nature and Culture Department. Some courses offered in the Natural Resources major are Fur Bearer Ecology & Management and Vegetation Management. With fur being utilized for fashion and decoration, studies in this area explore how fur can be used in ways that prevent inhumane wildlife treatment and extinction. Vegetation Management teaches students how to maintain plants despite the constantly changing environment and the dynamic forces that arise with human civilization. Northland College also offers a minor in Sustainable Community Development that focuses on the politics and economics of sustainability, with a required course called Capitalism, Justice, & Sustainability.

Combining complex engineering with environmental studies, Arizona State University has created a School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. This program works closely with ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, which ​U.S. News & World Report has deemed to be in the top 10% of accredited graduate programs in the nation. The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in civil engineering with a specialization in either sustainable environmental engineering. Sustainable engineering emphasizes the use of sustainable practices in all areas of urban infrastructure. Environmental engineering concerns the maintenance and regulation of chemical and biological wastes, as well as contamination sites.  Graduates of these programs strive to strategically improve building construction and performance in ways that minimize reliance on non-renewable resources. Non-renewable resources can become scarce in the future as their supply diminishes; consequently, the prices of these resources tend to be high. By minimizing the costs of using non-renewable resources and discovering more sustainable alternatives, sustainable engineers can increase profitability for society. Environmental engineering can help prevent hazardous wastes from polluting inhabited areas as waste disposal remains a constant issue.

ASU also offers a graduate program in Solar Energy Engineering and Commercialization. This program prepares graduates for careers in industry, government, or the nonprofit sector that ​involve the utilization of solar energy. The effects of using solar energy are numerous; for instance, it helps reduce the costs of purchasing electricity and power. Although there is a start up cost for installing these independent solar panels, the long-run savings are much more promising. By eliminating reliance on fossil fuels, one will no longer have to anticipate the fluctuations in gas prices. Lower fossil fuel usage can minimize air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute global warming and health problems. An especially attractive aspect of solar energy is that as long as the sun rises every day, it is constantly renewable and will never become a scarce good.

Another widely known college environmental program is the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. The School of Forestry & Environmental Studies offers master’s degrees, such as the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) and the Master of Forestry, that focus on research into environmental issues on the local, regional and global levels. The mission statement of Yale’s Environment School is to “collaborate with all sectors of society to achieve fair and effective solutions to environmental problems”; indeed, the school offers many joint graduate degrees that integrate environmental studies with other degrees, like International Relations, Law, and Public Health. Stephen Kellert, professor of Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, finds that most master’s students at Yale are more interested in “policy making, decision making, management, and leadership types of positions”. Among the 2010 –2011 courses offered are Sustainable Development in Post-Disaster Context: Haiti, Greening Business Operations, Indigenous Religions and Ecology, Managing Resources, and Water Quality Control.

These are only a glimpse of the numerous environmental programs offered in America today. According to James E. Crowfoot, the former dean of University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources, “the pressure for interdisciplinary environmental problem solving in both curricula and research programs will continue to increase”, along with the growth and severity of environmental problems.

American Fast Food in Fast Decline

Yahoo Finance’s Daniel Gross believes that a business model based on low-quality products, such as “a pressed, processed protein product that bears little resemblance to roast beef”, is simply unsustainable. Just last year, private equity firms acquired Carl’s Jr. in February and Burger King in September. With the American public’s growing health consciousness, fast food corporations are realizing that their futures lie in international markets. One of the main consequences of this new focus is a trend of brand downsizing. Food corporations are quickly learning that concentrating their international efforts in one brand allows for new store growth and increased opportunities for differentiation in a crowded market. According to Yahoo Finance, Wendy’s announced on January 20 that it is trying to sell Arby’s, whose sales dropped 5.9 % in the last fiscal quarter. In addition, YUM Brands, who currently owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, is selling A&W and Long John Silvers as of January 18. YUM! understands that A&W and Long John Silver’s are irrelevant to their long-term global growth strategy. YUM! is now opening KFCs in China at a rate of one per day. Emerging overseas markets may prove to be the savior of many historically American fast food chains.

Departure of Eric Schmidt as Google’s CEO to Bring Change?

On January 20, following its reported fourth quarter earnings, Google announced that Eric Schmidt would be stepping down from his position as CEO. There is much speculation throughout the business world about how this change in Google’s management will affect the company’s structure and strategy. However, Google’s management has not shifted as dramatically as one initially think. The company’s founders and co-presidents, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have essentially been running the company for the past decade. According to ZDNet’s Tom Foremsky, Eric Schmidt has always had a minority vote in the corporation. As CEO, he assumed the company’s legal responsibilities and provided the two founders with, in Schmidt’s words, the “adult supervision” of an experienced Silicon Valley executive. But the three leaders basically managed the company as a self-proclaimed “triumvirate,” according to Larry Page’s 2004 Founders’ IPO Letter. On April 4, Larry Page will reclaim the title of CEO. While many believe he is ready, others worry that his emphasis on technology instead of brands and services might hurt the $30 billion global corporation in the long run. Only time will tell if Google will undergo any significant changes as a result of Schmidt’s departure.

Artificial Intelligence Driving the Auto Industry – and Us

The next step in the evolution of smart cars goes far beyond automatic parking and avoiding crashes. Stocked with sensors, GPS, and state-of-the-art computing power, modern cars are gradually taking the steering wheel out of our hands. For example, the new Mercedes-Benz S550 boasts a next-generation cruise-control system that uses radar emitters to calculate the distance of surrounding vehicles. This info streams to the car’s central control unit, a computer that efficiently adjusts the brakes and throttle to move the vehicle through traffic without the help of a human pilot. The driver indicates a maximum speed, and the car attempts to reach that number given current traffic conditions. According to Wired Magazine, the 2011 Chevy Volt operates on over 10 million lines of code, surprisingly more than Lockheed Martin’s new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Jet. Last year, Google tested its self-driving Toyota Prius on the hectic city streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, clocking over 140,000 miles. However, it will take many more investigative trials and increased government supervision before fully auto-piloting cars are available to the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will not allow the proliferation of such futuristic vehicles before they are undoubtedly verified to safely navigate the madness of American streets and highways. Nevertheless, these new technologies have a great potential to alleviate traffic jams and decrease the amount of car crashes.

Will China or the U.S. Prevail in the Green Tech Race?

Van Jones, author of The Green Collar Economy, believes that green technology is unquestionably the future of energy production – and consequently, the future of economic growth and sustainability. It is becoming increasingly clear that publicly held energy companies can only thrive in the crowded international market with strong government support. While the Obama administration has promoted green technology as a staple of its agenda, American firms are still struggling to contend with powerful foreign producers. According to the New York Times, Evergreen Solar, Inc., an American company that develops and manufactures solar cells, announced in mid-January that it is closing down its barely three-year-old Massachusetts factory and shifting production to China, despite receiving over $58 million in government aid. 800 workers will be laid off by March 31 as a result of the move. The U.S. is currently responsible for only $1.6 billion of the total $29 billion global solar panel market. China’s bold energy policies have caused the Obama administration to file multiple cases with the World Trade Organization against China for violating world trade regulations. The most recent case was filed on December 22, 2010, whereby the Obama administration accused China of illegally subsidizing the production of wind power equipment. China’s aggressive initiatives and rapid economic growth have led many to predict that China will be the undisputed dominant green technology producer in the near future. However, Congress is trying to counteract this trend with such policies as requiring the Pentagon to only purchase domestically made solar panels. Von Jones urges Washington to make green technology a central focus of industrial policy if America is to stand a chance against the rising power of China.

Siemens’ New Wind Turbine Plant

According to the January 20 issue of the Financial Times, the German industrial conglomerate Siemens announced its next wind turbine project. The plant will be built in the Alexandra Dock of Hull, United Kingdom, and will be Britain’s first major offshore wind turbine manufacturing plant. Doubling the capacity of the largest plant in the world to date, it is estimated to create up to 10,000 jobs and will foster exportable expertise in the field. This project is a huge advancement for England’s renewable energy sector, which has been lax in the past due to the fear of limited government subsidies. It is very possible that this large investment of £80 million from Siemens and £100 million from Associated British Ports could put the U.K. at the forefront of wind power technology.

China’s President Visit Promising for Sino-American Cooperation

China’s president, Hu Jintao, met with American political and business leaders in Washington D.C. and Chicago during the week of January 17. While geopolitical differences inevitably tinged his visit, Obama and Jintao mainly focused their joint news conference on business collaboration. “We want to sell you all kinds of stuff,” Obama said to Hu, according to the New York Times. The Chinese president was delighted to accept this offer, and throughout his stay made deals for approximately $45 billion in U.S. exports to China. Obama stated that more than 500,000 American jobs are supported by American exports to China, which currently amount to $100 billion annually. Considering China’s size and that its economy grew by 10.2 percent in 2010, Jim O’Neill, the chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, estimates that China’s GDP will increase by $1 trillion in 2011. The rise of China is the principle reason why the global economic growth rate is rising, which in turn gives the U.S. economy a better chance of recovery in upcoming years. According to the New York Times, Mr. O’Neill said, “The notion that China grows at everybody else’s expense is at least three years out of date.” The significance of maintaining a robust economic relationship with China cannot be overemphasized. We will, however, have to face our unresolved political and ideological disparities if our economic alliance and political amiability is to survive.

Los Angeles is all about glitz and glamour.  Red carpets, celebrity appearances and after-parties in Hollywood dominate the entertainment industry.  Judging by Los Angeles Fashion Week events this past March, it seems that Los Angeles has “entertainment” engrained in almost every industry, including fashion. I had the opportunity to experience LAFW firsthand during spring break. Running around from event to event was extremely hectic but I enjoyed every minute of it.

Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) officially took place March 16-March 25 at venues across Los Angeles – including, the California Market Center and Cooper Building in downtown LA, Fred Segal in Santa Monica, The Key Club on Sunset Blvd. among other various locations. I attended several fashion week events where I met and chatted with designers like Greg Alterman of Alternative Apparel, Richard Chai and Yotam Solomon, stylists, photographers and fashion PR giant Kelly Cutrone to learn more about their brand, creative inspiration, and business strategies. And this being Los Angeles, I spotted some of Hollywood’s young trendsetters and tastemakers such as Shenae Grimes, Olivia Munn, Monet Mazur, Peaches Geldof and Nikki Reed during the week.

In most other cities that host fashion shows, like New York City, Milan, Paris and London, designers have a runway show or presentation. A select few have after-parties to celebrate their season’s accomplishments and industry reviews. In Los Angeles, every runway and presentation was followed by a party. Yotam Solomon presented his Fall/Winter 2010 Collection at a Hollywood Hills private estate. Yotam frequently draws inspiration from his European and Middle Eastern roots and Southern California childhood and lifestyle. He makes use of geometry, architecture and cut-outs to form futuristic, avant-garde pieces, while using natural fabrics which compliment the silhouettes of the clothing. The models wore Solomon’s creations on a red carpet with the Hollywood Hills and greater Los Angeles as the backdrop where guests and photographers were mesmerized. Afterwards, guests went indoors for an intimate gathering to celebrate the new collection.

Alternative Apparel showcased its new collection at its downtown Los Angeles studio.  The venue was transformed into a carnival-esque space, all produced by fashion production and PR powerhouse, People’s Revolution. Greg Alterman, designer for Alternative Apparel, focused on knits, layering, floral tights, overalls, long johns, waffle

thermals and even some tulle. The cuts and silhouettes were up-to-date but the overall feeling was a western nostalgia. The brand is known for its extremely comfortable and casual pieces, but this seasons show showed great promise for more styles. Kelly Cutrone and Brent Bolthouse DJ-ed the event until The Walkmen hit the stage during the after-party.

Another characteristic inherent to Los Angeles Fashion Week was that not all presentations were for highlighting individual designers. A few brands and showrooms, like What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA), showcased their Fall/ Winter 2010 Collections as well. WGACA is a brand famous for carrying vintage goods at its unique boutique Soho and Hollywood stores. You can find one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry at WGACA as well as pieces from the WGACA label. Seth Weisser (co-founder and President) and Gerard Maione (co-founder and Creative Director) celebrated the one year anniversary of the Hollywood boutique with a model installation and celebration party.

ConceptLA and BOXeight both held exceptional three-day exhibitions. ConceptLA had runway presentations by Chelsea Rebelle, B Scott, Fremont, Jen Awad, martinMARTIN and The Battalion. Mike Vensel shot photographs of models in his clothing upstairs while Farm Tactics created an organic shelter to showcase its pieces. The space represented what their brand is all about.

BOXeight Studios was a photography and creative haven during LAFW. Skin Graft, Gold Spun, Funktional, Kanvis, Future Heretics, Postage and a slew of other brands and designers shot their lookbook campaigns on-location. Designers and fashion brands create lookbooks, which are compilations of photographs of models in their clothing line. Lookbooks are typically compiled every season and sent to buyers, fans and potential investors to showcase their wares. Guests had the opportunity to observe the entire styling, shooting, editing and processing development. The three day event gave admirers the opportunity to witness what goes on behind-the-scenes. It was a unique approach and a creative alternative to a typical runway show.

The Green Initiative and Hope in the City were two great events with even greater causes.  The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show was sponsored by The Green Youth Movement (GYM). The show highlighted the very real issue of sustainability in fashion and showcased the work of designers who utilize eco-textiles, organic bamboos and fabrics, and environmentally-friendly dyes in their design processes. The Emily Factor show was fun and flirty while the Lizzie Parker pieces were uber-casual. Puridee presented simple dresses and gowns, which incorporated bridal elements. Hope in the City hosted their 3rd annual fashion show event that featured “a gallery of over 25 local and professional artists and a runway show of 22 established and up-and-coming designers.  Each creation is centered on the theme “Wear Your Story.” All ticket proceeds went to Beyond US projects and serveLA.

Gen Art, BOXeight, FGI-LA, ConceptLA, Directives West, California Market Center, California Apparel News, Los Angeles Times IMAGE, LA Confidential Magazine, l.a. models, SMASHBOX and countless partners, sponsors and hosts made Los Angeles Fashion Week possible. The visions of these innovators created a truly unique experience.  LAFW made me realize that Los Angeles has a unique personality, as does Los Angeles Fashion Week. LAFW is event-driven, but who says that’s a bad thing? Los Angeles knows how to have a good time, especially with fashion!

Danny Chung is a senior at UCLA and blogs, as the modman at themodman.net/www.modmen.wordpress. com/ and as the LA General Fashion Examiner at examiner.com, runway trends, fashion news, styling tips and event reviews. He has interned at entertainment and fashion public relations companies in NY and LA during his summers and has been to numerous New York and Los Angeles Fashion Week shows and events. Be sure to check out his blog and examiner page and follow his tweets at mm_modman!

The road to a career in fashion is fierce and competitive but well worth the effort.  UCLA students are well positioned for immersion, as Los Angeles is one of the world’s fashion capitals joining cities such as Paris, New York, Hong Kong, and Milan.

The processes for obtaining internships and entry- level positions are similar in many ways to applying for a job in other industries. Companies will request a resume and cover letter, and most likely additionally require a list of references, a writing sample or portfolio.  Preliminary goals for finding an internship or job in the fashion industry are to research and to find out what exactly inspires you about the industry. A motivated individual must research local and top global companies, such as Condé Nast and TimeWarner, Inc. for competence and possible openings. For example, a Promotion Copywriter position currently posted on Condé Nast requests applicants have excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, and ability to think creatively under tight deadlines. A position for Promotion Coordinator at Condé Nast requires applicants to possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, professional phone skills, attention to detail and ability to function in a fast-paced environment.

Fashion industry careers are extensive, such as fashion designer, photographer, model, editor, or marketer.  The job of a fashion designer varies between designing clothing labels to supervising a design team at a company. The future fashion designer has knack for drawing or sketching, which is essential in order to create a marketable portfolio. Similarly, becoming a fashion photographer requires a portfolio demonstrating photography skills and experience. For candidates aspiring to be fashion models, an agent is an invaluable and necessary resource. Los Angeles has many agencies searching for talent, such as Elite, Wilhelmina and L.A Models.

The fashion editor career has two different paths – in-house fashion editor or market editor. An in-house editor is the creator of the themes featured through fashion editorials, while the market editor is an expert of the magazine, traveling to different cities and establishing relationships with designers and showrooms. Both positions require candidates to work their way up from an assistant, possibly even beginning at a non-fashion magazine. Yet another career path in the fashion industry is that of fashion marketer, which involves elements of sales, advertising, design, and business administration.  Marketers are responsible for determining which products are most likely to be successful by analyzing pop culture as well as predicting future trends. They analyze the best ways to reach potential consumers. These five possibilities are only a few of many possible careers within the fashion industry; one can also become a personal stylist, graphic designer, public relations specialist, product manager, or show-room manager among others.

Due to fashion’s competitive nature, positions require diverse and unique qualities from applicants.  Many of the job postings look for candidates that are organized, energetic, fast learners, detail-oriented, skilled in Photoshop and above all have an interest in fashion. Each position and each company will have different standards for the new hires, which is why it is very important to research the companies beforehand.

The most direct way to get hired at a fashion company is contacting human resources or responding to an online job posting. For example, if you want to work for a fashion magazine, contact a company such as Condé Nast Publications or Time Warner, Inc. Condé Nast owns Vogue, Lucky, Allure, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Modern Bride and more, while Time Inc. owns Essence and InStyle. You can find their contact information and job postings on their websites.  Both companies have special internship programs that recruit starting around February through their websites, while full time recruiting happens more heavily. There are postings now on BruinView and the company websites for full time positions.  Search through the company websites about deadlines and due dates if there aren’t current listings now for the type of position you want. Also, don’t be afraid to email the human resources department with your credentials and the types of position you are seeking so that they can contact you when a position becomes available. When contacting the human resources department, include any material that may be applicable to the position being sought. Lastly, there are third party websites dedicated to careers in fashion, such as StyleCareers, so be sure to scan these for opportunities as well.

The road to becoming a top fashion editor in a magazine such as Vogue, might require one to start as an assistant performing simple administrative tasks.  When starting out and even at senior levels, gaining experience and networking are essential to advancing within the industry. Highly successful individuals in fashion combine creativity and vision to drive companies forward.

Tired of waiting for the most recent fashion styles to appear at your local retail stores?  Fast fashion has been the latest trend among retailers and consumers.  The term “fast fashion” describes the newest collection of clothing based on the styles introduced every year during Fashion Week in the spring and fall.  Fast fashion is the collection of clothing derived from ideas and elements of high-end designers that is rapidly manufactured and available to the mass market.  While quickly producing replicas of designer clothing in a cost-efficient manner, fast fashion caters to mainstream consumers who want to follow current celebrity-inspired looks at a low, affordable price.

Fast fashion companies combine quick response (QR) production and enhanced product design capabilities to maximize profits while fulfilling customer needs. QR methods aim not only to create and introduce new products in a short span of time, but also to find effective approaches to draw consumers back for more. Enhanced product design methods, on the other hand, focus on ways to offer products that customers value more now, making them less willing to wait for a clearance sale later.

Along with their main collections every spring and fall, fast fashion companies also provide customers with smaller lines to keep up with the changes in trends throughout the year. With the latest styles rapidly changing, consumers want to maintain their images without having to spend a lot. These smaller product lines allow customers on a tight budget to update their wardrobes and copy the styles of those strutting down the catwalk. With the high demand for affordable and fashionable clothes, fast fashion companies sell their products at relatively lower prices than do other retailers. These companies are able to sell their products at low prices by taking advantage of the lower labor costs in developing nations, significantly cutting manufacturing costs.

Currently operating in 37 countries and employing 76,000 workers, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) is one of the largest retailers in fast fashion. Established in 1947 by Erling Persson, H&M opened its first store in Sweden. While it has most of its major markets in Europe, H&M is also available in the Middle East, Asia, and North America. In addition to expanding geographically, H&M has also broadened its range of products. Offering a varied selection of clothing, it has recently launched new lines in cosmetics, accessories, and footwear. H&M also offers online shopping for its customers located in major market locations, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

H&M caters to women, men, teenagers, and children, and provides them with new fashion items every day in each of 2,000 retail locations. According to the company’s 2008 full-year report, H&M’s revenue rose by 73 percent over a five-year period.  Moreover, since 2008, H&M’s success in fast fashion has contributed to its goal of increasing sales and the number of retail stores by 10 to 15 percent every year.  To meet this goal, H&M has effectively utilized online marketing tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, for closer communication with its customers. H&M uses these online marketing tools to attract and acquire new customers as well as to drive its fans to visit the H&M Web site, where they can view the latest styles and purchase items online, thus increasing sales. The fast fashion giant also has its own YouTube.com page with Fashion TV and other related fashion clips. H&M uses mainly its Web site to promote upcoming events and introduce viewers to the latest collection.

The latest women’s collection, the ecofriendly line, emphasizes floral designs, soft cottons, khakis, and ocean blues. The Green Garden line encourages fashionistas to create wardrobes that blend nature prints and colors with homemade pieces. Inspired by famous designers like Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana, and Rochas, the Green Garden line promotes mixing and matching earthy colors with feminine floral ruffles. Released in March, the Green Garden collection

While fashion has existed in all countries, it is widely believed to have originated in Western Europe during the 12th century.  The fashion norm during the 12th century included long tunics for men and elegant clothing such as gowns for women.  In the 17th and 18th centuries, men wore long sleeve clothing such as coats, waistcoats, and breeches. Women of this period wore clothing that emphasized their curves by wearing corsets underneath their dresses and gowns. While fashion began in Europe, it grew and spread to other continents such as North America and Asia through increased trade and ease of transportation. Fashion has changed immensely from the past and continues to change as many of today’s western fashions put more emphasis on comfort unlike many styles of the past. It plays an important role in the aspects of people across different cultures and has done so for thousands of years. Fashion today is represented in a multitude of ways in society encompassing both the corporate and casual worlds.

The Business of Fashion

Nike, one of the industry leaders in athletic wear brought an estimated $19.2 billion of revenue during its 2009 fiscal year. Gucci, one of the world’s leaders in high end and luxury fashion reported an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue for 2009. Bloomingdales, a clothing department store chain that carries numerous different clothing labels, reported a revenue sum of $26.3 billion in 2009. While it is difficult to tabulate accurate revenue numbers for the fashion industry, the revenue streams of these and other companies show the high consumer demand for fashion.

Tokyo, London, New York, Milan, and Paris are widely regarded as some of the largest and most prestigious fashion hubs in the world. These cities are home to many famous fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, and Calvin

Klein. These cities also possess shopping districts that create significant amounts of economic impact due to high volume of tourists and revenue they generate. Luxottica, the world’s most successful eyewear company is based in Milan, Italy. In 2008, Luxottica reported revenues of $7.02 billion.

One fashion destination close to the UCLA campus is the L.A. Fashion District located in downtown L.A. The L.A. Fashion District does not carry brand name clothing brands but sells independent brands’ apparel and accessories for both wholesale and retail customers. These independent retail shops carry clothing for all demographic groups of shoppers.  Even though the L.A. fashion district does not carry large retail brands, according to an economic study from 2006 published on its website, the Los Angeles

Fashion District was responsible for generating $5.76 billion in business volume that supported over 66,000 jobs in 2006 and the revenue figure is expected to reach $6.7 billion by 2011. This center that supports small and independent fashion brands is able to create significant economic impact for its merchants and the city of Los Angeles.

Careers In Fashion

Fashion designers are responsible for creating new patterns and styles for clothing and accessories designed for the consumer market. They usually work in a specialized market such as men or women’s wear. Designers are responsible for overseeing and creating clothing that consumers are able to find in stores. While many people think of designers as the main career in fashion, there are many other careers in and interrelated in fashion.  Aspiring designers should aim to hone their knowledge on different textiles, fabrics, fashion trends as well as working to improve and hone their design creativity.

Fashion Merchandising is a field in where professionals work closely to research trends in their markets to report back to the manufacturing and design departments of their firms. Professionals in this field also create marketing campaigns for advertising in television, Internet, and billboards.  Cosmopolitan, Instyle, and Elle are three of the most notable fashion magazines. Magazines are just one form of Fashion Media. This field employs creative individuals with strengths in writing such as writers and editors as well as those with visual strengths such as photography, and illustrating. Fashion Media is responsible for keeping its readers and audience informed about news, trends, and other information in the fashion industry.

Since fashion and physical appearance plays a role in everyone’s lives, there are careers dedicated to this field as well. Many famous celebrities and athletes hire personal stylists to oversee appearance and also shop and maintain their personal wardrobes and fashion. Personal stylists not only work with individuals but also with department stores and clothing brands to coordinate outfits for models in runway shows. To become a celebrity stylist, individuals should intern for positions related to the fashion industry while also working to build their own fashion portfolios and industry relationships.

For those interested in a more traditional business position, the fashion industry also offers many positions in its corporate operations including corporate finance, human relations, and various types of management. Major clothing companies such as Banana Republic offer specialized business oriented internships and full time positions in fields such as Merchandise Planning. Merchandise Planning Analysts review and analyze sales performances of stores and products to create projections for store sales as well as supply of future products. Clothing companies offer business related positions and for both undergraduate and graduate students. Individuals interested more in the business aspects of fashion can search for positions under the careers sections of fashion company websites.

Schools In Fashion

For individuals interested in entering the fashion industry, there are many schools across the U.S. and international institutions that have programs dedicated to fashion and design. Notable schools in these fields include the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising located in Los Angeles, Parsons School for Design in New York, and Instituto Marangoni located in Milan, Paris, and London. These schools offer a variety of certifications and degrees in areas such as interior design, merchandise marketing, as well as business management. Individuals who have passion for the Fashion industry and desire to pursue a career in this field should contemplate fashion school. The fashion-based coursework offered at these schools such, as jewelry design and apparel manufacturing management are usually not available to students at traditional four-year universities. Many of the instructors at these schools have had experienced working in different industries such as manufacturing, retail management, and entertainment. Fashion schools such as the

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising have career centers and networking events designed to put their students on the fast track to a career in fashion. Those individuals who have a strong passion to enter the fashion industry should look at the exclusive benefits and career training offered by these schools.

Conclusion

Fashion will continue to play a big role in the daily lives of individuals and in the business world. There are schools dedicated to the craft and different aspects of fashion as this industry grows and becomes more popular. The fashion industry provides careers for a variety of individuals including those with skills in design, marketing, writing, and finance.

Although careers in fashion are typically associated solely with clothing design, there is a large business component to fashion as well.  Possessing the business acumen needed to identify fashion trends, understand costs, and, more importantly, developing a network are crucial to succeeding in this industry.  Consequently, more and more of today’s students are looking to obtain an MBA from a fashion business school.

Founded in 1939 and originally known as the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM), LIM College is the only college in the United States to offer an academic curriculum focused on the business of fashion. LIM College is conveniently located in New York City (midtown Manhattan), one of the premier fashion capitals of the world. Because of its location, LIM College students have a wide range of internship and career opportunities available to them. The college partners with many well-known fashion companies such as Avon, Calvin Klein, and Gucci looking to hire LIM College students and graduates. In addition, LIM College offers both part-time and full-time MBA programs that prepare students for a career in the fashion industry. The Princeton Review recently listed LIM College as one of the “Best Northeastern Colleges.”

MBA

LIM College’s MBA program is designed to prepare candidates for a career in the fashion business. Like most other MBA programs, LIM College requires students to take general business courses in addition to fashion-specific courses. Business courses offered include topics such as supply chain management, financial management, business law, and fashion merchandising.

The MBA degree requires the student to complete 51 credits spread over the course of four 12-week terms and one 11-week term. Roughly half of those credits will be obtained through fashion-specific courses, while the other half will consist of a general business curriculum seen at most MBA programs around the nation. The program also offers students the option of adding two specializations: Fashion Management and Fashion Entrepreneurship. The Fashion Management specialization is suitable for those wanting to work at a large fashion company such as Kenneth Cole, while the latter prepares students to launch their own fashion venture.

For the first two terms, students take courses in business administration covering a range of standard business topics such as management theory and strategy, business law, finance, and marketing.  During the third and fourth terms, students switch gears and focus their studies on either the fashion management or entrepreneurship concentrations and take a variety of elective classes focused primarily on fashion:

• Fashion merchandising

• Retail management

• Project management in fashion

• Luxury marketing

The fifth and final term (11 weeks) concludes with an internship or exchange requirement, allowing students to apply their book knowledge to the outside world. Students are typically placed well, often interning in brand-name companies such as Liz Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger.

In addition to the above, students are also required to attend several pre-MBA seminars before the start of the MBA program. These seminars cover a wide range of basic business courses, such as mathematics, economics, and accounting, which are designed to prepare the MBA candidate for the program. These courses are graded on a pass/fail basis and can be taken online.

Overall, LIM College would be a strong fit for an individual set on a career in the fashion industry.  The MBA curriculum is a solid combination of business principles and fashion-specific courses that should prepare the student well for this industry.  With small classes and experienced faculty, students will be able to develop meaningful contacts.  Finally, the location is a strong factor to consider, as it is certainly suitable for obtaining internships and networking.

Application Requirements

A completed Graduate Program Application, including two letters of recommendation, essays, and a non-refundable application fee of $50

• Proof of an earned bachelor’s degree (120 credits)

• GMAT or GRE test results. Please use code ZXH-QV to direct your GMAT scores to LIM and DI Code 2380 to direct your GRE scores.

• Applicants whose native language is not English need to submit proof of English proficiency in the form of TOEFL or IELTS test results. These results should not be more than five years old.

• A resume demonstrating appropriate work experience

• An interview with the Admissions Committee LIM College has a rolling admissions policy and has two application filing dates in March and September.  To download the MBA application form, go to http://www.limcollege.edu/LIM_MBA_App10_09.pdf

More questions? Contact them at http://www.limcollege.edu/academics/3120.aspx

Phone

(212) 752-1530

Mailing Address

12 East 53rd Street

New York, NY 10022

As the consulting field has become increasingly popular among undergraduate business students, many students commonly ask themselves two important questions: how can I differentiate myself and how do I break into the consulting industry?  Are you among the many who are interested in landing that consulting job with prestigious firms such as Bain and Company, ZS Associates, Mercer, and Deloitte?  If so, the best way to get your feet wet and get one step closer to that full-time offer is to participate in a case competition.  A case competition is a competition in which contestants choose teams of three to five persons to tackle a business problem by a hosting firm.  This spring’s Strategy and Operations Case Competition was held on Saturday, April 17, and was hosted by Bruin Consulting, who gathered contestants from CAST Management Consulting, Inc.; Bain and Company; L.E.K. Consulting; Monitor; Mercer, and ZS Associates.

The competition consisted of groups of three to five members who had a 36-hour window to prepare for the competition.  Participants came up with creative solutions to present to a panel of prestigious consulting firms.  More importantly, participants had the opportunity to not only make a great impression on recruiters but also to network with the firms after the event.

Interview with Elaina (Contestant)

BBR: I understand this is your first time doing a case competition.  What motivated you to participate?

Elaina: I started to have a spark of interest in consulting after talking to alumni in the field and decided to go on a mission to find out as much as about consulting as possible.  As a Communications major, I really had no background in business problems and wanted to get a feel of what to expect.

BBR: What do you feel were the main challenges and what did you learn from the entire process?

Elaina: Because this was my first time doing this and given my major, I went into this really not knowing what to expect.  When we were given the actual case of trying to figure out why many underprivileged people do not use banks, I felt the task at hand was extremely daunting because of my lack of knowledge in consulting, let along banking issues.  Even though it was a bit difficult to learn about banking issues in a 36-hour time window, I felt undertaking this case competition forced me to learn more about the banking issues that I would ever learn on my own.  Because of the time pressure and the fact that I had to really know my subject to be able to present to a panel of judges, I felt that it was a great learning experience that had a lot of value.

So, you talked about how you formed your team, read your case, and formulated some solutions.  What was the actual presentation day like and how was it set up?

Elaina: As I said before, I was pretty nervous about presenting to a panel of judges.  The competition was run by CAST Management Consultants and they created a first and final round of presentations.  Initially, we would sign up for a time slot to present and then have to wait a little bit for the previous team to finish.  They would then have each team present in separate rooms.  The first round had three judges each from different consulting firms who really focused on asking us where we got our numbers from and why we came to the conclusions we came to.  The first round was generally a bit more relaxing and less pressure, given the judges had to judge 12 groups.  In the end, only three groups moved onto the final round where they faced a panel of all the consultants from each company.  While each round was characterized by a 14-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q & A, I felt the final round was much more intense, as all of the consultants were free to mump in at any time to grill the teams.  Unfortunately, we didn’t move onto the final rounds, but I felt the entire experience as a whole was a great learning experience and a great opportunity to network with firms after, even if you did not place.

BBR: Did the judges talk about how your team could have improved and what do you think the teams that won did right?

Elaina: The judges told use that they could tell we were a bit nervous and that with more practice and confidence we would do better next time.  I think the teams that were successful went in there with a rip-through-it mentality that really impressed the judges.  It’s one thing to stress and over-prepare in the preparation part of the competition, but I think once you get to the actual presentation, you have to take a step back and tell yourself to relax and not stress the moment.  A lot of people were saying how hard it is to prepare yourself for a consulting case competition given how broad the topic is they gave us, but I saw that the teams that came up with very specific answers and were able to defend their answers even when they were grilled did the best.  

Lastly, being confident, flexible, and quick on your feet during the presentation is necessary because judges may sometimes ask you a question that you may have never thought of.  For example, the judges asked us have you consulted any other companies with this sort of business problem, and if so, who?  Of course, we had never consulted anyone, after all, we are undergraduates.  However, just adapting to the situation and telling them that we did consult other companies established credibility for ourselves and was actually what they were looking for.  I’m not saying you have to lie to win a case competition, I’m just saying you have to be confident enough to think quickly on your feet.

Overview of Consulting

Let’s face it, running a business is a messy ordeal in which a myriad of details can hamper productivity and expose businesses to excessive risk. The job of the consultant is to be an expert in a specific field to help organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems.  Moreover, consultants offer skills in assessing and solving business problems, and they are hired by companies who need consultants’ expertise, fresh outside perspective, and/or extra sets of hands. For example, a manufacturing company may go to Deloitte with their dilemma: the company has maintained its revenue but profits have been falling, what should they do?  Since there is so much information and various processes within one business, it is extremely difficult for a company to keep track of what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. In this situation, Deloitte would send a team of three to five consultants to work with the client to analyze the client’s data and understand why their profits are falling. After careful analysis, the consultant may find some inefficiency in the storage of unsold products and that many of the products are being broken during storage, which is increasing their costs. This is an operations example where a consultant would analyze the problem and subsequently create and implement a solution for the client.

While this case competition focuses specifically on strategy and operations, there are also a number of other branches of consulting that include technology, sales and marketing, economic, litigation, and human capital.

The strategy part of management consulting deals primarily with solving business problems that are external to the business. Some common business problems that often arise in cases include helping a company increase revenues and decrease costs, navigate mergers and acquisitions, how to introduce a new product, and evaluate the market to determine whether to enter into it. Conversely, operations management deals with the internal processes of a company. Thus, a consultant working on an operations case will primarily be trying to improve the client’s organization, process, and productivity.

How to Best Prepare

Just like any other industry, putting time into due diligence and research for every company is essential to be prepared for the behavioral interview. In addition to the behavioral interview, most consulting companies, with the exception of Accenture and Triage, will have a case interview. The best way to prepare for the case interview is to participate in case competitions such as a BC Case Competition, and read through Vault Guides and books such as Case in Point. Furthermore, by practicing with your peers who are also looking to go into consulting, you will not only know what to expect but will also have the confidence to tackle any curve ball case interviewers may throw. In addition, you want to fill your résumé with experiences that relate in some aspect to consulting. Essentially, any type of internship that is project oriented and involves improving internal processes are all great experiences to have. Lastly, joining list-servs such as UBS, Bruin

Consulting, and ACT will allow you to search for every opportunity to gain relevant consulting experience.