The Dreaded Question

“WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?”

This dreaded question looms over the head of nearly all seniors during their final year at their undergraduate institution. Just last year, I spent my last semesters at Wake Forest University skirting around ever having to answer that question. I had NO idea what I was going to do. I knew I wanted to go to graduate school, but many questions followed – which school? Which program? Where in the world was I going to go? Then, I discovered Dana McMahan and the FashionMash program at UNC. As stated in its “What We Do” section (2019): “FashionMash is an interdisciplinary design program in the UNC School of Media and Journalism focused on branding for the fashion and lifestyle industry” (para. 1). This program seemed right up my alley; not to mention it’s located at UNC Chapel Hill – a top notch research institution with a myriad of amazingly talented, qualified professors and the vast network to help students reach their highest potential. It was set – UNC was the answer.

Garment created by the 2019 FashionMash Product Design class.

At this point, you are probably saying to yourself, “Okay, McGee, no one cares about your postgraduate experience. We want to know about the fashion industry!” Yes, I know! I give you a little background on why both UNC and the FashionMash program are so special to help you understand what an exciting opportunity is coming up next week – Career Week for the FashionMash program! Fitting with the theme of this blog – luxury and sustainability – the FashionMash program is bringing in British designer, Sarah Angold. Sarah Angold is the creator and designer behind Sarah Angold Studio, a highly successful jewelry brand based out of London.

Since her graduation from the Royal College of Art just over ten years ago, Sarah has made quite the mark on the fashion industry. In 2015, she designed the WGSN’s Global Fashion Awards’ “skyscraper” industry trophy. Then in 2016, she won Vogue Italia’s “Vogue Talents” award as well as London Hospital Club’s 100 People’s Choice Fashion award. And on top of that, Sarah’s pieces are carried and sold internationally (“#FashionTech,” 2017; “Story,” 2020). What makes Sarah’s work so unique and innovative is the way in which she integrates modern industrial and technological processes into handcrafted, artisanal pieces of jewelry. Sarah’s work is often seen as “cross-disciplinary,” bridging the gap between industries that no one ever thought could work together (#FashionTech, 2017, para. 6). Sarah has been addressing the design and construction of jewelry through a progressive lens for many, many years, proving that counterintuitive relationships, like the one between sustainability and luxury, is not only possible, but also sleek, streamlined and stylish.

Window display at British luxury department store, Selfridges, designed and created by Sarah Angold.

Be sure to keep an eye on the @uncworkroomfashionmash Instagram page, as well as the website, www.workroomfashionmash.com, to stay up-to-date with the happenings of Career Week.

Bye for now,

McGee