Division and Alumni News

CBS DFW does story on TWU fashion division

1/12/23

CBS DFW News did a story on the TWU fashion design students creating garments for homeless men.

TWU fashion students create clothing for homeless

12/5/22

Fashion Design and Merchandising's Remy Odukomaiya and the students in her Mass Production Techniques class designed, patterned and crafted two outfits, then produced 13 sets of those clothes for the specific needs of homeless men.

Art and design take center stage at Circle of Light

11/30/22

Holiday festivals on the Texas Woman's University campus have gone through a few incarnations and themes over the years, but this year's Circle of Light is a celebration of art and design.

Holiday festival returns to TWU

11/7/22

After a three-year pandemic-related hiatus, a holiday celebration returns to the Texas Woman's University's campus on Dec. 6, 2022. The five divisions of TWU's School of Arts & Design – dance, fashion, music, theatre, and visual arts – are joining forces to create the Circle of Light, an art-themed festival in and around Pioneer Circle between the Visual Arts Building and the Music Building. The Circle of Light will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.

TWU alumna Tiana James a rising marketing star

10/17/22

Tiana James's road to the L.A. fashion scene is one less taken: Edmond, Oklahoma, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, through the Texas Panhandle and finally to Dallas-Fort Worth.

"You can call me a bit of a nomad," said James, a 2014 graduate of the Texas Woman's University fashion merchandising program.

According to Ad Age magazine, you can also call her a rising star in the ultra-competitive business of public relations and marketing. In September, Ad Age named James one its 2022 40 Under 40 honorees.

Jennifer Stanley brings message of empowerment, social change to the runway

11/1/19

For TWU fashion student Jennifer Stanley, who designs under the moniker Jen•Ley, runway events are more than a showcase of her work. They also provide an important platform to advocate for the support of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

TWU alumna Joyce Ababio advises young designers: 'Don't give up!'

1/5/21

In a recent interview with "Graphic Showbiz," Ghanaian fashion designer and TWU alumna Joyce Ababio encouraged aspiring designers to work hard and persevere in order to overcome industry challenges. She acknowledged that "young people lose focus and get distracted mostly when they feel overburdened by the stress of financing their projects," but noted that there was nothing wrong with failing at the initial stages.

Ababio has designed winning garments for a number of beauty queens, including Matilda Alomatu (Miss Ghana and Miss ECOWAS 1994), Manuela Medie (1995), Sheila Azuntaba (1996), Marian Sugri Bugri (1999) and Maame Ewurafua Hawkson (2000); and former First Ladies Madam Theresa Kufuor and Mrs. Naadu Mills.

Jen•Ley Designs brings awareness to domestic violence and sexual assault through fashion

9/29/20

A woman in Jen•Ley clothes is bold, daring and sophisticated, giving her the confidence she needs to conquer her dreams, said Jen•Ley Designs owner Jennifer Stanley. Stanley, 23, is a fashion design and women’s studies senior at TWU. Through her work in fashion, she aims to bring awareness to various social justice issues. Her newest collection, named Overcome, will focus on domestic violence and sexual assault.

Fashion student designs store for children with disabilities, wins scholarship

9/15/20

TWU student Taylor Davis, a double-major in fashion design and fashion merchandising, was awarded first place and a $2,500 scholarship in the digital merchandising store planning category of this year’s Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas Scholarship Competition. Davis’ winning design concept, “Metrix,” imagines an adaptive clothing boutique designed for children with special needs. 

TWU fashion merchandising alumnus participates in National Retail Federation panel

3/11/20

Christian Sopoco, a 2016 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalist and TWU fashion merchandising alumnus, participated in a recent panel discussion with two other young retail professionals during the NRF Foundation Student Program 2020. Sopoco is now a merchandise analyst at Nordstrom in Seattle.

"You have to have confidence, but you also have to understand that you don't know it all and you need help. Mentorship is a route that you can take to get you where you need to be," said Sopoco.

Carla Robertson (BS '85): Mending seams and broken dreams through education, community service

2/5/20

For Texas Woman’s alumna Carla Robertson (BS ‘85), fashion has always been a do-it-yourself endeavor. At the age of six, Robertson learned how to sew from her mother. By the time she was 12, she was making all of her own clothes, and at 16, she began sewing custom creations for private clients.

Out of the dark and into the light: A domestic violence survivor’s journey to the runway

11/4/19

In less than a month, domestic violence and sexual assault survivor turned fashion design major Jennifer Stanley will have her three-piece collection, “Rise of Venus,” walk the runway. Her collection was chosen by Fashion for Good for the Celebrate Texas Runway event, which will take place in Houston Nov. 15-16. Anna Magie, Ph.D., associate professor of fashion merchandising, said Stanley is highly motivated and always working on a project to help the community.

Doctoral program alumna Doze Y. Butler named dean/director for University of Arkansas school

9/30/19

Doze Y. Butler, Ph.D., has been named dean/director for the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS) at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). In this position, she will provide leadership for the three academic departments in the School as well as its research, Extension, outreach and international programs. She earned her doctoral degree in clothing and merchandising in 1992 from Texas Woman’s University.