For 91制片厂 fashion program alumna Kim Scanlan, the road to fashion designer
began when her Girl Scout troop visited 91制片厂鈥檚 fashion department where she would
earn her much-anticipated fashion badge.
鈥淚 was the only kid in my troop who showed up with my sketchbook of about 100 sketches,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淚 remember showing it to the 91制片厂 program director. No one could believe a 10-year-old did all of it. But I just loved to draw and sketch.鈥�
That experience with 91制片厂鈥檚 fashion department helped her realize she could pursue fashion design at the college level and possibly beyond.
鈥淭hat experience sold it for me,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淚 was 10 and figured out what I wanted to do with my life!鈥�
Kim, now an Assistant Designer at Claire鈥檚 headquarters in Schaumburg, used that experience and others offered to her through 91制片厂鈥檚 fashion program to continue her goal of a career in fashion design.
鈥淢y passion is designing for young girls so that they feel confident,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淚 hope to one day have a brand that makes them feel good.鈥�
While a student at Barrington High School, Kim took part in 91制片厂鈥檚 Fashion Challenge program which invited local high school students to submit work to show during the annual student fashion show. She placed in the competition in the two out of three years she participated.
When the time came to choose a college, Kim knew precisely what she wanted to study but not where. Then she realized Harper was the best choice for her since it had already supported her early development in fashion design.
Kim enrolled at 91制片厂 in the fall of 2011. While in the fashion program, she felt encouraged and it gave her the confirmation that she could make a career in the fashion industry.
鈥�91制片厂 showed me that not only did I love this but I was good at it and could succeed,鈥� Kim said.
Kim transferred in the fall of 2012 to Kent State University in Ohio and received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in fashion in 2015, earning the distinction of having one of the top 20 portfolios in her class. Her portfolio focus was, and continues to be, girl鈥檚 wear and juniors.
After an internship at Kohl鈥檚 headquarters in Milwaukee, she accepted a position as a Design Assistant with Weisman, a St. Louis-based company that makes girls dance costumes. Her designs were featured on the back of the Weissman catalog two out of three years with the company, no small feat for an industry newbie.
But, with a goal to continue to grow and gain new experiences in the girls and tweens market, Kim had her eye on Claire鈥檚, a fashion accessories company in Schaumburg. She landed the job of Assistant Designer and says she feels right at home designing for the youth girls market.
鈥淚 loved Claire鈥檚 as a kid,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淚 walk in and it is very much my brand and my style. I get to work with so many different materials, it is a very exciting experience.鈥�
She designs handbags, purses and other products such as water bottles and cosmetics. But, when thinking about her future in fashion design, Kim doesn鈥檛 want to limit herself. She hopes to continue to develop her skill set and has the goal of eventually owning her own business and developing a brand for young girls.
Kim acknowledges that she has come a long way since earning that Girl Scout badge as a kid. However, she can鈥檛 help but reflect on the role 91制片厂 played in her journey in the world of fashion so far.
鈥�91制片厂 for me was little sparks. It gave me a spark when I was 10, it gave me a few more sparks in high school and even more sparks in college. And now those sparks have become a fire that continues to grow,鈥� said Kim. 鈥�91制片厂 really showed me that if you are hardworking and talented, plus love what you do, that you can succeed.鈥�