For aspiring fashion innovators, the path to becoming a successful apparel designer is paved with passion, education, and hands-on experience. Jillian Hackett, a standout graduate from Texas Tech University’s apparel design and manufacturing program, embodies this journey. Her story, marked by early entrepreneurial success and a commitment to continuous Apparel Designer Learning, serves as an inspiration for the next generation of creatives.
Hackett’s dedication to fashion design was evident long before she arrived at university. As a high school senior, she launched her own brand, Lillian Jenae Designs, and garnered national recognition by winning a prestigious dress design contest. This early achievement underscored her innate talent and ambition in the competitive world of fashion. It’s a testament to how early passion, combined with formal apparel designer learning, can set the stage for significant achievements.
Her trajectory at Texas Tech was equally impressive. Hackett was named the 2024 Outstanding Senior in the apparel design and manufacturing program. However, instead of celebrating on stage, she was immersed in a fashion design internship with Nordstrom in Seattle. This hands-on experience at a major fashion retailer is a crucial step in her apparel designer learning process, bridging academic knowledge with real-world industry practices.
“I did their fashion ambassador program my senior year of high school,” Hackett explains, highlighting the proactive steps she took to engage with the industry. “So that’s how I got started with them. I started in their high school program at my local store and then was able to kind of find my way here to corporate.” This initiative showcases the importance of networking and seeking out practical opportunities to complement formal apparel designer learning.
While Hackett’s ascent appears seamless, her journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. Winning the national dress design contest in 2020 was a significant milestone. Her design was slated for mass production for the 2021 prom season, offering her invaluable participation in the production process with brands like Faviana and SCALA. This was a golden opportunity for applied apparel designer learning, poised to provide insights into the complexities of bringing a design to market.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these plans. The collaborative meetings were repeatedly postponed and eventually canceled, halting production. This setback, though disappointing, underscored the unpredictable nature of the fashion industry and the importance of adaptability in apparel designer learning.
The Nordstrom internship, therefore, became an even more vital learning experience. It offered a practical substitute for the lost production opportunity, allowing her to immerse herself in the intricacies of the fashion industry.
“A lot of it is assessing different steps of the process,” she says, detailing her internship responsibilities. “I’m learning from some senior designers, and I’m able to see all of the different steps in the design process. And so, really, I’m just helping out in any way I can and learning a whole lot about how things go from being a concept to being on the floor.” This direct exposure to the design lifecycle is invaluable apparel designer learning that textbooks can’t fully replicate.
Hackett is actively applying this knowledge to expand Lillian Jenae Designs. Her senior project, a streetwear collection, pushed her creative boundaries beyond her established feminine daywear, formal, and bridal styles. This strategic diversification reflects a keen understanding of market trends and the evolving demands of fashion consumers, critical insights gained through her comprehensive apparel designer learning.
“For my senior project, I worked on creating a streetwear collection, which for me was a bit more outside my comfort zone,” she notes. “A lot of my work had been more in feminine daywear, formal and bridal. I want to be able to take my brand and implement it in a way that caters more to the streetwear customer.” This proactive approach to brand development showcases the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured through apparel designer learning.
Oxford Fashion Studios, recognizing her brand’s potential, invited Hackett to showcase an eight-look collection at New York Fashion Week in September 2022. This pivotal moment, along with subsequent showcases at Austin and Texas Fashion Weeks, significantly elevated her brand’s visibility. Coupled with an active social media presence, these platforms are instrumental in building brand recognition and reaching a wider audience – essential components of modern apparel designer learning and brand management.
The Texas Tech program played a crucial role in bridging the gap between creative design and the practicalities of large-scale manufacturing. Hackett emphasizes this, stating, “Really, starting the program, you learn the creative side, but then you have to learn how to implement… I feel like the program does a really great job of being able to help you build that portfolio through your different classes, being able to implement it and understand how the process is going to work on a much larger scale. I think for me, being able to visualize the scaling-up process as an apparel designer is really what the program enabled me to do.” This highlights the program’s strength in providing holistic apparel designer learning, encompassing both creative and logistical aspects.
Reflecting on her educational journey, Hackett acknowledges the transformative power of embracing continuous learning. “The biggest challenge for me in the past four years has been being willing to admit that I don’t know it all,” she admits. This realization is a cornerstone of effective apparel designer learning – recognizing that education is an ongoing process, extending far beyond the classroom.
“There’s always going to be something to learn, and there’s always going to be someone with more expertise than you, and that should never be a problem. If you look at it through that lens, everything is an opportunity to grow or to learn or to build a connection.” This mindset of continuous apparel designer learning is what sets successful individuals apart in the dynamic fashion industry.
Looking ahead, Hackett is open to diverse opportunities, prioritizing learning and professional growth. Her ambition extends beyond personal success; she aims to empower future generations of designers. “I want to be able to say that I contributed to empowering the next generation to be willing to learn, to be comfortable enough in their own skin to pursue what they want,” she states. This desire to inspire and mentor others underscores the importance of passing on knowledge within the apparel design community and fostering a culture of continuous apparel designer learning.
She expresses deep gratitude for the faculty at Texas Tech, especially her mentor Mahendran Balasubramanian, for their guidance and support in her apparel designer learning journey. For those embarking on their own paths in fashion, Hackett offers this advice: “To the people who are now seniors, there is no opportunity that is too small… But there is no goal that is unattainable if you’re willing to put in the time, effort and commit yourselves to what you want to achieve.” This encapsulates the essence of successful apparel designer learning: dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge and experience.
