Joan Chandler
Textiles and Clothing is a department, two majors (TXC and FPS), a broad field of knowledge, a part of a major university, and most importantly it is a community of people who work together to teach, learn, conduct research, and provide outreach. For me TXC is about this amazing community that I am blessed to be able to serve. My position as an adviser and lecturer allows me to work with creative, talented students as we explore connections, opportunities, and dreams by learning the history, theories, and applications of our interdisciplinary programs. These gifted students are preparing for life and for internships and innovative careers in the fashion industries and all of the supporting and related fields. I really enjoy the relatively short time I share with them when I provide advice and make connections to courses, programs, alumni, internships, and mentors. My students are stellar! At graduation I cry as they leave me, but before long I’m basking in their achievements as they report back about the worthwhile contributions they are making in diverse fields all over the world. Then the cycle starts again as new first year and transfer students arrive for orientation and I have a whole new crop of recent graduates to tell them about. I am the luckiest!
Ryan Looysen
Underestimated and often overlooked, the textiles industry is an incredibly important part of the global economy. Career opportunities, from fiber development to protective gear to the fashion world are housed under the unique and fertile umbrella of Textiles & Clothing / Fiber & Polymer Science. All people, in all parts of the world come into contact with textiles – some through production, and many others through consumption. As future leaders in the industry, it is essential that we are aware of the impact of decisions ranging from the application of a new fiber or finish or how to reach a market segment.
As a Teaching Assistant and Lecturer in the Division of Textiles & Clothing and a graduate student in Cultural Studies, those issues (and many more) are always in the forefront of my mind. I bring my experience as a fashion model, small business owner, and retailer to exemplify the practical value of the issues discussed in the academic setting, so the students understand that what is discussed belongs outside of the classroom as well as within it. I believe we should all “be the change we wish to see in the world,” and if we pursue our goals with the benefit of others in mind, we will always find success. We are building a network of dynamic individuals who are excited about textiles and the opportunities the industry offers…join us!
Erica Betnun
The world of textiles is more than just the fabric that clothing is made out of, but rather how each person expresses their individual style. It’s the culture from which you stem that gives you the freedom to wear your most comfortable pair of jeans or the religious head covering that is a sign of respect. It’s learning not only about how the fashion industry has been flourishing, but what can be done here and now to make it keep flourishing. There are so many aspects of the textiles division that people are not aware of, and learning more about the new developments only makes me want to become exposed to all that I can to be successful.
I have always been intrigued by both the writing world and fashion world, so my ultimate goal is to combine my interests and possibly work at the New York headquarters of Vogue or W. Ever since I was a little girl; I have had a love for learning about the fashion industry. Now as a junior at UC Davis I have been exposed to academic classes that I believe will be a benefit to my future goal of working at a well-known high fashion magazine. While becoming a high-fashion editor is a dream of mine, I know that having a sturdy background in textiles will be a huge asset when I’m applying for that once in a lifetime experience that will let me have an office that over looks the New York City skyline.
Ashley Eslick
Please check back later for Ashley’s bio.
Sarah Haroon
When I first came to Davis I had the intention of pursuing a career in medicine. Those plans changed my sophomore year when I was introduced to the Division of Textiles and Clothing and followed my true interests for a career in business, which fit perfectly with the TXC emphasis in Marketing & Economics. Having a father who has his own business in the textiles industry gave me the initial interest in the field, and my hobby of designing and creating my own handbags and clothing also furthered my interest in the industry. I have always been involved in student government and I feel law school with an emphasis in corporate law and potential joint masters in business degree (JDMBA) is something that will suit my future career path.
Depending on how my interests develop, I plan on either working for my father’s business or entering the corporate world relating my law degree to textiles and clothing and international or global trade. Overall, I love being a TXC major because it’s something I have a natural interest and passion for. When you’re studying something you love, it isn’t a burden because school and all of the work associated with it becomes a gift, not a chore. I enjoy every class and feel that is what life is about—finding a happy medium and spending your time on something you genuinely enjoy.
Luis Legaspi
Text-iles, to me, is the ability to interpret and read the (not-so) subtle cues presented in every-day life. Textiles, typically defined as the interwoven or a network of fibers, demonstrates the nexus found in social discourse. These intersectionalities drive my desire to work for this industry because, ultimately, it is a pursuit of knowledge. I don’t believe in the post-industrialized model to specialize in one area, it assumes that the social world is linear and simplistic. I do not want to say that I am a(n) __________ (politician, economist, entrepreneur, etc) but that I am an aspiring renaissance man, someone who seeks a wide breadth of knowledge and continually develops all skills. I feel working in this field accomplishes my desire to know and “be” a part of everything
I leave you with a quote that I feel addresses that one can only perceive as much as one aims to understand by continually experiencing and learning, fashion being one of them:
“Nature always wears the color of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Courtney Lorca
UC Davis is where I have found so many of passions – one of them being Textiles and Clothing. I thought I was headed towards a path in medicine when I first applied to this campus, but once I started taking a breadth of classes to fulfill GE requirements, I found that my true love in school was TXC. My very first TXC class was TXC 7, and it introduced me to everything I love about this major: the faculty, the chance to study and talk extensively about fashion and all its implications, and the wide scope of opportunities available to TXC majors. I knew I was in love when reading textbooks and going to labs, discussions, and lectures were actually enjoyable for me.
Textiles and Clothing covers such a broad range. Whether the emphasis is in marketing and economics or textiles science, you still experience a wide spectrum of everything that is Textiles and Clothing. Fashion itself is expansive and inescapable. It isn’t solely about what is popular or what is selling the best in stores, it is about expression, representation, visibility, and so much more about how you appear to others. It is universal; no matter what ethnicity, gender, body type, etc. you are, you can make your clothes fit YOU. That is why I love Textiles and Clothing … there are so many definitions and interpretations that you can just make it your own.
Samantha Pinnock
I L♥ve Textiles and Clothing! I am very passionate about this major for many reasons. I believe it shapes students to attain a wide range of knowledge that will enable them to intertwine many aspects of the fashion and textile industries. It is a very versatile and career applicable major. The Division of Textiles and Clothing explores many aspects of the industry including cultural studies, business, and textile science. My interest lies within the environmental and social concerns of the industry. I am pursuing major in Textiles and Clothing (emphasis in marketing and economics) along with a minor in Environmental Policy and Analysis. My goal is to work for the government or an environmentally conscious textile company such as Patagonia or Simple Shoes. I believe there are many ways to sustainably manage businesses in order to ensure a healthy future for our planet and generations to come.
Material Matters 