Student Achievement
“NDSU has this amazing community that inspires you to really go after your passions and what you love to do. I am really thankful to have chosen NDSU and become a part of the family.”
- Mariah Billadeau
Meet Mariah Billadeau
Mariah Billadeu,a senior in the Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design program was awarded 2nd Place in the 2019 NDSU Research & Technology Park Innovation Challenge Mariah will create a new textile, EcoTex using wax that eliminates micro-plastics, thereby being environmentally friendly. EcoTex is an eco-friendly, all natural, ethically produced textile that is still breathable and flexible as well as water-resistant.
The NDSU Research and Technology Park hosts the Innovation Challenge each year, an idea competition for students. They come with any ideas, things that have the potential to become a business one day or are at least a cause for future research. The student participants are encouraged to develop their ideas over the course of a semester long competition and compete for prizes up to $4,000. They are coached along the way from professionals with the NDSU Research and Technology Park, Flint Group, and Dr. Jeffrey Stamp a business mentor. Teams can compete in one of three innovation tracks. The social impact track consists of projects related to the overall improvement of community, regional, or world issues.
See information about the NDSU Innovation Challenge ⇒
Mariah Billadeau made a striking gown from a variety of plastic bags, straws and plastic lids and displayed it on a mannequin at NDSU’s student innovation showcase. She told the audience her idea: a new, water-resistant fabric that uses natural fibers and waxes to reduce pollutants that end up in our bodies and the world’s oceans. The plastic dress also helped make her point: “If we don’t clean up our act, this is what we’ll be wearing in the future.”
Professors inside and outside her area of study have supported her dream, providing guidance on a project that relies on knowledge of many fields, including engineering and physics. Billadeau’s curiosity, ambition and experiences led the way to developing an innovative new textile that helps save the planet. Mariah graduated from our ARMD program in May and is studying at the University of Seville in Spain this summer. She wants to learn Spanish as her second language and feels immersing herself in the culture is the best way to learn the language.
Learn more about Mariah’ experience ⇒
View article featured in ARMD Newsletter ⇒
Meet Katie Fischer
Katie is a 2019 graduate of the Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design Program. When Katie was a student, she received the Inside Fashion Design Scholarship (spring 2018) and interned in New York City (summer 2018). Katie was also one of the student designers featured in 2019 FABO Fashion Show.Katie Fischer has accepted a position as an Assistant Manager for an Evereve store in Madison, WI. She is also a May graduate of the ARMD program.
Find out more about the 2019 FABO Fashion Show and how students create their designs ⇒
“I love to create classic items with a unique twist. My line is very chic and sophisticated with a splash of fun. I am creating a tiered midi skirt, a pair of wide-leg pants, and a satin cocktail dress.”
– Katie Fischer
Meet Sierra Steenson
Sierra Steenson, a 2019 graduate in Apparel Studies at NDSU and spent her summer in Los Angeles interning with fashion design house Moda Seta. Moda Seta designs private label merchandise for retailers like Urban Outfitters, Tilly’s, PacSun, Forever 21, and Macy’s. Most of Sierra’s duties in her internship revolved around product design. She primarily worked in graphic design. She also assisted with selecting fabrics and silhouettes for new product, put together inspiration boards, sat in on business meetings, and worked in the warehouse.
Meet Britta Cabanos
Britta Cabanos studied Apparel and Textiles at NDSU and Fashion Design at F.I.T. in New York City. She has over 25 years of experience as a swim and athletic apparel Designer & Director at Creative Capital Design, the design studio she co-founded with her partner. Past work includes designing for Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Champion, Nike, Inc. Perry Ellis, Jantzen, Zumba and Engine Swim in Australia. She is currently a consultant for clients in NYC, California and Portland. Britta is a gifted designer and maker with technical expertise and skill to design each collection at both the macro and micro levels. She is the Founder & Chief Editor at InsideFashionDesign.net. IFD is a global online resource for the apparel industry with the vision to inspire, inform & connect creative thinkers, makers and brands. Britta overseas all IFD content development, producing design and development workshops, behind the scenes stories, mini-documentaries and major industry events. Britta also works with interns and serves as a mentor to students at the high school and college level.
Competitions
“The ESRAP… Student Merchandising Competition is a juried poster competition where students will incorporate Triple Bottom Line practices in the development of a business plan for a socially responsible fashion retailer. The business plan may be for a traditional brick and mortar or a non-store retailer.” - Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Practices (ESRAP)
A business plan poster submission “Timeless Fitnesswear” created by a group of four students in ADHM 481 Capstone in Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design was selected as one of the top ten submissions in the Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Practices (ESRAP) 2017 Student Merchandising Competition.
Learn more about the ESRAP Student Merchandising Competition ⇒
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are designated for students majoring in the department; additional scholarships are available to all college majors. Be rewarded for your hard work and apply for some of the many scholarships available to NDSU Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design students.
Learn how to succeed in a dynamic industry!
Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design Program Coordinator
Jaeha Lee
E. Morrow Lebedeff Hall 308D
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Phone: 701-231-8220
Fax: 701-231-5273
Email: jaeha.lee@ndsu.edu
