Alumni

Student Mina Sanders Says FIDM Means Community and Creativity

One of the three students featured in our new video, Mina Sanders has her A.A. in Visual Communications and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree. Mina visited FIDM for the first time when she participated in the 3 Days of Fashion Summer Program as the co-president of her high school’s FIDM Fashion Club. She said she knew she was “in the right place...home” on that first visit to campus. Watch the video to see for yourself how she feels about FIDM, then read this Q&A to find out more about her experience, career goals, and aspirations.

Tell us a little about yourself and your journey to FIDM: FIDM Fashion Club in high school led me to FIDM and Los Angeles. The first time I visited FIDM for 3 Days of Fashion, I knew I was in the right place…home!

What does FIDM mean to you? FIDM is community and creativity to me! I love the versatility on campus. It is amazing creating and sharing ideas together as a community.

What do you love about FIDM? I love the environment most at FIDM. We are all free to create in our own way and I love that encouragement. Coming from a small town, some things are seen as too much, but not at FIDM. We are all encouraged to truly tap into our creativity.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you to get there? I would love to be a creative director. I am a current business owner, so I also plan on expanding my business.

What advice do you have for someone thinking about going to FIDM? My best advice for someone who is interested in FIDM is visit! The Downtown Los Angeles campus is amazing and adjacent to a beautiful park. We have amazing tour guides and staff who can answer all your questions. I would also encourage chatting with our FIDM Ambassadors and asking about their experiences as well.

What are you doing to stay inspired during these challenging times? During these challenging times I find myself reading, creating digital content, brainstorming new business ideas, doing puzzles, baking, and self reflecting. I am looking at this time to really focus on myself and my mental and physical health. I have been reminding myself of all the things that there are to be grateful for!

How are you showing up for your community, your career, and yourself right now? I am showing up for myself by taking time for myself. My career is ever growing right now and I am so excited to see what comes. I am currently doing freelance work and can not wait to see what the future has in store. For my community I am truly trying to be a light to others. These are weird times and we all need to be there for each other. We need to come together even more now! I try to post uplifting and fun content on my social media platforms—if I can make someone laugh that makes me so happy!

What brands are inspiring you right now, in terms of their response to the needs of the world during this pandemic? Designer Christian Siriano and swimwear brand Dippin’ Daisy’s have both truly inspired me with their generosity and drive to help their community. They are both producing masks for workers in the medical field and others. I think this is such an amazing act of kindness.

Anything else you’d like to share? Don’t isolate yourself! We all need to come together right now more than ever!!

Keep up with Mina Sanders on Instagram @mina__sanders.