a full scholarship to study fashion at Kent State University in Ohio, when he decided to apply to a new program in Philadelphia. It was too hard to get to New York Fashion Week from where he was studying and found the opportunity to work at a brand he admired while completing coursework appealing.This week,, and Drexel University launched a new fashion program that aims to break down barriers of entry into the industry.
“What we felt and what we continued to see and hear in the industry was that there was a lot of creativity being left on the table and being unrecognized,” said Matt Strode, chief people officer at URBN. “It’s not about what you know, but it’s about who you know,” he said. “If you never got to the room to know anybody, it’s kind of hard to make your way.”
The inaugural class of students began orientation on Monday, with students from California, Maryland, New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.