2013 Cotton for a New Age- Part I

Mississippi State University's Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising program was fortunate to receive a grant for cotton research and the means to put on a fashion show, The New Age Traveler, from Cotton Incorporated Importer Support Program. The focus of the research was to find new ways cotton could be incorporated into travel wear and be competitive with synthetic fibers. Charles Freeman, assistant professor in Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising at MSU, explains that the students "will participate in a series of educational activities to increase their understanding of the vertical production process of cotton and the effects on regional economies as well as the use of cotton for a specific target market."

A Project Proposal 

Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising students were offered the opportunity to either design a travel wear garment of cotton or create a merchandising storyboard that marketed cotton in travel wear. In order to come up with the best projects, Charles Freeman organized trips and speakers to provide insight into the world of cotton and travel wear. 

Delta Cotton Farm Trip

The first step in the process was for students to learn as much as they could about cotton and cotton production. Mississippi State University's Delta Research and Extension Center (located in Greenwood, MS) allowed ATM students to travel to their cotton fields to learn from their farmers. Students learned about the preparation of soil for planting season, the ginning process, and how farmers are working to promote ecologically beneficial solutions to environmental concerns. See more about the trip here: http://msufashion.blogspot.com/2013/11/cotton-farm-adventure.html

REI Designer Ellen Sheppard Visits Mississippi State

Mississippi State was fortunate to have a designer from Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI), Ellen Sheppard, visit their campus on October 3rd-4th, 2013. Sheppard gave various talks about design and merchandising, travel wear as a whole, and all about REI. Sheppard also came to the sewing lab to meet with each student about their projects and offer advice. She advised both design and merchandising students on how to best reach their target market. Students also received help and advice from their ATM professors Charles Freeman, Caroline Kobia, and Phyllis Miller. 

Photo is from State Snapshot by: Kat Lawrence

http://www.msstate.edu/web/snapshot/?id=3459



Part II coming soon.

Blog post by: Hannah Reynolds