New York Fashion Week

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Wildcats in New York

Each semester, undergraduates at Arizona compete to go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. 

Will you be the next Wildcat to win?

The fashion industry is made up of more than designers and clothing. There is innovation, technology, finance, marketing, communication, analytics and trends, and much more.

Through a collaboration between University of Arizona Trademarks & Licensing and the Norton School of Family & Consumer Sciences, students at Arizona compete to go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. And each semester, Wildcats set the bar higher for each other and their peers nationally with their design pitches, business analytics, and professionalism.

All Students, Regardless of Major, are Welcome to Apply!

Love fashion? Or the business of fashion? Tell us about it! Your pitch could land you a unique chance to go behind the scenes, gain exposure, experience select runway shows, participate in on-the-job shadowing with retailers and talk to top leaders in the fashion industry.

New York Fashion Week Experience Fall 2025 Updates

To be considered for the competition:

Submit a personal statement to licensing@arizona.edu and include the following:

  • The email subject line should read: “YOUR NAME” and NYFW Statement.
  • Why you would be an exceptional representative for the University of Arizona? Include how this experience will impact your professional goals.
  • The email should also include a copy of your Unofficial U of A Transcript or transcript from another accredited university.
  • Two letters of reference - these can be from professors at the university (that are not judging the competition) former/current managers/supervisors, or advisors.

Dates & Deadlines

Application Phase

  • Applications for the Fall 2025 experience are closed. Stay tuned for the Spring 2026 application opening in Fall 2025.

Spring 2025: NYFW Experience

Neal and Magnolia won the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at New York Fashion
Week Spring ‘25, gaining firsthand insight into the fashion industry. They attended The Blonds
fashion show and a BruceGlen pop-up experience.

Beyond the runway, the students participated in insightful panels with industry executives,
learning about different career paths in fashion.

 

New York Fashion Week Worthy

Spring 2025 Experience Highlights

Neal and Magnolia pitched unique design ideas that were innovative, chic and functional. Their out-of-the box thinking helped them secure spots this spring and they were both blown away by their experience in New York!


See why Magnolia believes she won a seat at NYFW and how Neal crafted his pitch for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Neal McGinnis

Major: Finance
Minor: Fashion Industry’s Science & Technology

“We've been really enjoying all of the different fashion experiences. We went to an in-fashion industry panel that was fantastic. We got to learn so much from different sides of the industry, from creative to talent management. And the product of that panel was with BruceGlen, which was just such a great pop-up! To be able to be here and experience this as a fashion student, as an aspiring fashion designer, as an aspiring fashion professional, is just so valuable. I just couldn't get enough!”

Neal McGinnis
Magnolia Hilvert

Magnolia Hilvert

Major: Applied Humanities, Fashion Emphasis

“I feel super giddy, like I'm dreaming. We gotta see The Blonds! It was very glamorous. A lot of feathers and sequence. We also went to Aviator Nation and got to hear a little bit about the brand, and Klein Designs. We got to ask a lot of questions, hear about different positions that work there, and how they built up, from dying clothes in a bathtub to having multiple stores across the country. It was really cool to hear about the company's growth.”

Fall 2024: NYFW Experience

Two University of Arizona students won the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week Fall ’24, gaining firsthand insight into the fashion industry. As part of their experience, they attended the SIMKHAI fashion show at The Edge.

Beyond the runway, the students participated in insightful panels with industry executives, learning about different career paths in fashion.

 

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Why Participate


Past winners of this unique competition have not only added the experience to their resume, but many made connections that they would never have had otherwise to start their fashion industry careers right after graduation!

You have nothing to lose and everything to win:

  • Gain firsthand exposure to the fashion industry.
  • Meet industry leaders and executives.
  • Experience top fashion shows and networking events.
  • Explore various career paths within the fashion world.

 Take the next step in your fashion career