Fashion Students Learn Real-World Skills at Holiday Pop-Up Shop

The holidays came early for three classes of fashion merchandising and management students. Embracing Jefferson’s emphasis on real-world and hands-on learning, they worked together and spent most of the fall semester preparing for the program’s annual pop-up shop.

The Nov. 18 event on Jefferson’s East Falls Campus showcased diverse student-designed products inspired by multicultural influences in textiles, colors and patterns, embodying self-expression and creativity. The event in the Kanbar Performance Space also featured 10 alumni entrepreneurs selling their merchandise.

This year’s theme, “Eclectic Spirit,” inspired global fashion insight students to passionately brainstorm and develop brand concepts and vibrant product lines, says Joohye Hwang, fashion merchandising and management assistant professor, noting the net proceeds from student sales will support attendance to the National Retail Federation’s annual conference.

“Their creations showcase a diverse range of exciting designs,” she says. “Visual merchandising students elevated the event by creatively adding eye-catching, hand-crafted visual textures to the window and in-store displays.”

In addition, students in retail strategies and structures ran the shops, developed the overall trend, theme and marketing, posted on social media and monitored sales for potential markdowns, Hwang says.

The trio of Nicholas Potts, London Mitchell and Dennis Rafter created the center display at the holiday pop-up. They wanted to lean into a ’60s and ’70s vibe with their look, Potts says.

Mitchell says the project allowed him to gain a greater knowledge of retail strategy and make displays more appealing to customers. Rafter agreed, saying the pop-up gave him valuable real-world experience and took him one step closer to his goal of working in visual merchandising for a high-end department store or luxury brand after graduation.

Global fashion insight student Maeve Laplace sold backpacks with a hood as part of team Fluid. The group worked together to complement each other’s strengths.

“Everybody did a little bit of everything,” she says. “After this, I think any one of us could make anything. My team got pretty close, and I think we built a community around this project.”

Student Gracie McMahon, who wants to go into buying after school, also says the pop-up helped her gain more insight into the fashion industry. She helped with the marketing and manufacturing of reversible tote bags. Her team focused on sustainability and used upcycled denim jeans and skirts and fabrics from curtains and sheets.

As one of the entrepreneurs at the show, Class of 2023 fashion merchandising and management alumna Eliana Prado sold looks from her “Autumn Aura” collection. The owner of Eli’s Boutique, Prado has participated in the holiday event for the last few years.

“I learned so much at the first pop-up, and I’m so grateful the faculty continues to give me this opportunity,” Prado says. “One day, I would love to have a storefront, so doing these pop-ups allows me to talk and shop with my customers. I love to help them pick out an outfit.”

Aside from the Jefferson students, faculty and staff shopping at the pop-up, 21 juniors and seniors from Lenape High School in Medford, N.J., visited the space after touring the university’s fashion and textile studios.

Class of 1998 fashion design alumna Amanda Schramm-Keeports teaches fashion classes at the high school and wanted to give her students an up-close look at the pop-up in action.

“They’re buying stuff up like crazy,” she says, motioning behind her. “Everyone seems to have a bag.”