Alumni
Student Melyka Sucaldito Designs Luxury Menswear in IMPD Partnership With Color Solutions International
Each year, FIDM partners with a brand in our International Manufacturing & Product Development (IMPD) program where students master all facets of the product development cycle. This year, thirteen students were accepted into the exclusive program and partnered with Color Solutions International (CSI). We caught up with student Melyka Sucaldito to learn about her experience in the 9-month program, and to find out how she’s staying inspired during these challenging times. Melyka also has a degree in Merchandise Product Development, and will continue next quarter with her Bachelor’s in Business Management.
What was one of the highlights of your experience in the IMPD program? One of the highlights was competing in IMPD Shark Tank with my peers. Jeff Streader was the instructor who officiated that competition and it was an amazing experience to learn under his mentorship. Four teams had to present a business idea whether it was white space or green field concept in front of a panel of industry leaders. It required my team to develop a thorough business plan that not only included a go-to-market strategy and branding, but it also required us to provide financials to back up our concept. My team won second place! I will never forget that experience.
Describe your designs in the IMPD collection: I was assigned luxury menswear. After thorough research on the market, I learned that luxury is becoming an aspirational lifestyle for everyone. My teammate and I developed our trend “Reluxe.” With increasing demand for product circularity and social, environmental, and agricultural sustainability, the luxury millennial consumer has developed conscious buying habits. With a less-is-more mentality, they are willing to make “guilt-free” purchases trading the immediacy of fast fashion for high quality, long-lasting and transeasonal pieces. A “guilt-free” mindset not only entails a long product lifetime, but supporting businesses that commit to reducing their impacts on the environment, manufacture certified products, support the welfare of workers and contribute to the regeneration of raw materials in a circular supply chain. Bearing this in mind, I produced three approved samples for men’s luxury for Autumn-Winter 2021. Two apparel pieces and one accessory were made. These products focused on quality, incorporated technology, and product circularity.
In The Upcycled Anorak Jacket, the product is made with recycled nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent finish. The oversized chest pocket is made with RFID signal blocking lining, to protect against identity theft during commutes and travels. The Upcycled Trouser pants is utilizing textile waste and adding value to a new product. Refurbishing the classic chino silhouette, upcycled corduroy panels are added for aesthetic and the buttons are made from vegetable ivory.
The last sample is the Everyday Carrier Bag which is made with pinatex. It is a classic duffle bag with a compartment for storing shoes during travels and an RFID signal blocking front pocket to protect credit card information and prevent identity theft. There is a magnetic panel installed at the front of the bag to place customizable embroidered patches, giving the bag a new look every season. The cost per wear must reflect in the quality of the products. The products must provide not only physical durability, but an emotional durability for the consumer. This is what allows the product to be used until its end of life.
Tell us about your journey to FIDM: I graduated high school in 2010. I chose not to pursue college right away because I was not sure about what direction to take with my career. Choosing a college and a course of study is a big investment. I wanted to be sure I made the right choice for me. It’s funny because initially, I wanted to go into fashion, but I immediately shoved that thought away because I did not think it was a practical means of making a living. However, life has a strange way of leading you where you need to be.
Regardless of how many twists and turns I experienced, I found myself working in the fashion industry. In place of college, I went straight into work, landing my first job as a Visual Merchandising Manager for American Apparel. From there on, I pursued visual merchandising with companies such as Uniqlo, Topshop, Gypsy Warrior, and Macy’s. I developed styling and merchandising directives for store locations across the United States and opened four stores in New York and New Jersey for Uniqlo. Every now and then, I would also work as a wardrobe stylist for editorial and video shoots. When I was not working, I was a member of an all-female rock and roll band and toured the East Coast.
Through my experiences, I was able to recognize that I wanted to delve deeper into another aspect of industry—product development. When I learned that FIDM offered a Merchandise Product Development program, I took that as a sign. On a whim, I took the test on FIDM’s website and next thing I knew, Bryanne Hill was contacting me to apply for the program. Since I was out of high school for seven years, I was required to take an entrance exam. It was a surreal moment to discover that I had passed with flying colors and was accepted into the school. I quit my job at Macy’s, sold most of my belongings and moved across the country. I changed the whole trajectory of my life just to have the opportunity to pivot the direction of my career. After graduating Merchandise Product Development, I wanted to understand how to orchestrate the sourcing and production process on an international scale. I wanted to learn more about the international marketplace which led me to the IMPD program.
What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? I aspire to become the senior director of brand management of a company either fashion-related or technology driven. I envision myself excelling in brand management, and then taking on the role of an editorial director for a trend forecasting company. In the later years of my life, I would like to establish my own sustainable, apparel brand or a retail solutions provider company with a focus on experiential and/or UX design.
FIDM is helping me get there by providing me a foundational understanding of product lifecycle management, business organizational structure, product development and production, sourcing and trend forecasting. The IMPD collaboration with Color Solutions International allowed me to further develop my skills in trend forecasting, supporting concepts with market research, data analytics and competitive shopping in Paris and Milan.
This month, I start the Business Management program and I look forward to how to have a better relationship with numbers and how financials are imperative to fueling the business. I aspire to master the art of budgeting and learning techniques on how to help grow a business. Whether or not I step into a corporate business or start my own, this knowledge is critical to my success.
What are you doing to stay inspired at home during the coronavirus lockdown? In order to find inspiration, you need to have a clear mind. I think during these uncertain times, I make it a priority to keep my mental health in tip-top shape before anything else. I accept that there are some things that are beyond my control. However, there are things I can control like giving my body proper rest, reaching out to loved ones, cultivating my creativity through music, poetry, art, and meditating. This also means being more kind to yourself and taking each day by day. Grounding yourself during this time is essential because in order to produce amazing work or come up with groundbreaking ideas, you need to be mentally in the right place.
How are you showing up for your community, your career, and yourself right now? I have this belief that little droplets lead to big lakes and those droplets take shape in our daily actions and decisions. How I show up for my community starts at my home with my roommate and providing the support she needs to get through this difficult time. Showing up for my community takes shape in reaching out to the people closest to me and lending emotional support. It also includes taking all the precautionary measures such as keeping up with the news and sharing it with the people around you through discussion or social media. How I lend support to our economy is by making sure to order take-out at restaurants, shop at local supermarkets, and conservatively make purchases with brands that I admire and believe in.
What brands are inspiring you right now, in terms of their response to the needs of the world during this pandemic? I am inspired by The Reformation’s response to the needs of those facing the severity of this pandemic. They pivot their operations to manufacture medical supplies needed by hospitals. Partnering with Mayor Garcetti on a new program called L.A. Protects to organize local manufacturers to help facilitate the protective gear supply chain. In addition to their contribution, they have given employees that were furloughed severance pay due to the closure of their storefronts. It is truly refreshing to see how brands are stepping out of their perfectly curated image to help those in crisis during this turbulent time.
What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic is over? The surge of productivity. I think once the pandemic is over, it will dispel the idea of millennial nesters. No one will be nesting once this comes to an end! I predict that everyone will be eager to put their best foot forward and contribute to the global marketplace. I can also predict that there will be a surge of new job opportunities, and companies will reform their policies and develop effective contingencies in the event of another epidemic and/or disaster. On a more personal note, I look forward to going on more adventures with my friends and seeing my family who live on the East Coast.
Keep up with Melyka Sucaldito on Instagram @m.e.l.y.k.a.
Categories: Business Management International Manufacturing & Product Development Merchandise Product Development Alumni Student
