Presentations

Industry leaders regularly partner with Thomas Jefferson University for a sneak peek at our talented Textile Designers through immersive, innovative projects. Take a look at a few of our recent visitors:

Urban Outfitters: This Philadelphia-based brand continues to have a strong and ongoing relationship with our textile design faculty, and regularly recruits our students as interns and full-time employees.

Nike Portfolio & Recruitment Presentation: Nike representatives come to campus to present corporate opportunities and recruit interns and full-time employees.

Abercrombie & Fitch Company Presentation/Assignment Challenge: select students were awarded internships and full-time positions.

Our students gain valuable exposure by showcasing their work in international design competitions and gallery-style exhibitions, before audiences of industry leaders, faculty, family and friends. Our Textile Designers routinely participate and win top awards in the International Textile Alliance Virginia Jackson Design Competition, the Alpaca Owners Association Student Design Competition and the Kravet Design of Distinction Award. 

In 2023, our BS in Textile Design and MS inTextile Designstudents were awarded 8 of the 9 total prizes in the Virginia Jackson Design Competition. This premiere design competition sponsored by the International Textile Alliance was launched in 1995 to recognize outstanding talent in textile design. Textile Designers from Jefferson were awarded all 3 prizes in the Jacquard Design and Dobby Design categories, and the top 2 prizes in Print Design.   

Textile designers participate in design exhibitions at the completion of their degree. Textile design holds an annual exhibition in December, to showcase the work of graduating students. In May, textile designers participate in a university-wide Design Show, highlighting work of all graduating design majors, which draws industry talent scouts to campus.

In May 2023, Textile Designer Emily Radomski ’23, debuted her sustainable swimwear collection entitled “Circular Swim” in the Textile Design Exhibition.  This capsule collection draws inspiration from 1940s fashions, while integrating modern-day design and color trends.  Emily utilized state-of-the-art automated knitting technology in the Fashion & Textiles Futures Center to realize her vision.  Encoded in her design files is the pattern of the garment silhouette, where Emily assigned knit structures that inherently draw in or expand the width of the garment to achieve the desired silhouette, virtually eliminating the need for cut and sew. This contemporary approach to textile design reduces much of the waste created in traditional fast fashion.

Jefferson hosts two major hiring events each year: Design Expo in the Spring and the Career Fair in the Fall.  Students network in advance of these fairs with prospective employers by posting their portfolios and resumes online.  Additionally, we welcome employers to campus throughout the academic year to recruit our talented textile designers. Jefferson Textile Designers are in demand.