Student

Student Designs Wearable Tech in IMPD Program Partnership

Each year, FIDM partners with a top 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 Ellie Smith to learn about her experience in the 9-month program, and her career goals in sustainability.

Tell us your industry story--your path to FIDM and the IMPD program: My love for the fashion industry started at a young age. I first learned to sew when I was nine and when I was 15 I taught young children how to sew and design their own garments. For me, FIDM was a natural next step in my journey, and it was the only school I wanted to attend. I had actually heard about IMPD before even attending FIDM, and it was one of the main reasons I chose FIDM.

Describe your designs in the CSI industry collaboration: For the CSI industry collaboration I was challenged to design a collection of wearable technology products for children. In line with the direction the wearable technology market is heading, my goal was to make all of my products as customizable as possible. For instance, the backpack I designed has an LED screen that allows the child to customize the screen with any gif or image they want.

I also designed bluelight blocking glasses with colorful interchangeable frames. It was a unique challenge in the sense that the designs we created are serving as a forecast that CSI put in their industry trend books to share with their global clients.

What was one of the highlights of the 9-month program? For me the most prominent highlight of the program was collaborating with the amazing cohort of women in the IMPD program this year. The students in IMPD truly work together to create a stimulated, smart, and safe creative environment. It was so amazing to witness what we could accomplish when we worked together and it taught me so much about real world collaboration.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? My foremost career goal is to aid in implementing sustainable practices into the fashion industry’s supply chain, starting with sourcing and helping to cultivate responsible raw materials. FIDM has been so helpful in nurturing my love of sustainability through their special projects. FIDM special projects has allowed me to attend eight specialized sustainability classes partnering with some of the most prevalent brands in the industry including Guess?, Lucky Brand, and Cotton Incorporated.

What are you doing to stay inspired at home during these challenging times? The state of the world is quite overwhelming at the moment, but some silver linings are the amount of time I am able to spend furthering my education and spending time with my family. I was a Merchandise Product Development major, so hand fashion sketching was never a part of my curriculum. However, I purchased Nancy Reigelman’s sketching textbook from a previous FIDM student, and I have been trying to learn to sketch the nine head figure from her book.

How are you showing up for your community, your career, and yourself right now? I have been trying to help my community by sewing face masks for my neighbors and a local day care center. It's a wonderful way to stay busy and help out, even if only in a small way.

What brands are inspiring you right now, in terms of their response to the needs of the world during this pandemic? I was quite impressed with Reformation’s quick response to commit their U.S factories to making face masks. People want the brands they shop at to be a positive impact on the world, and brands that are setting examples during the pandemic will be the brands that survive and have the most success afterwards.

What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic is over? I am most looking forward to returning to LA and seeing my friends! I also really enjoy the routine of attending in person classes and being able to take classes with my friends, so I am also looking forward to returning to that.