When women fans of the Washington Redskins want to show their support for the team, they have had few fashion-forward options in team apparel. Offerings are mostly limited to basic T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and some accessories.
Dr. May Chae, Marymount University assistant professor of fashion design, saw an opportunity for her students to address the needs of this niche market and assigned her two Product Development classes the task. At the end of course, the students in each class would present their lines, as well as production and marketing plans, to a panel of judges, which included Carlyle Abbott, marketing manager for the Washington Redskins, and her associate Morgan Hamlin.
Each class was divided into teams with a mix of fashion design and fashion merchandising majors. Half the teams designed for the 18-to-34 market, and the other half for those 35 and over.
The teams researched trends, developed their individual brands, and combined the creative side of fashion with business savvy. The students considered fair labor practices when sourcing production and researched the needs of each target demographic. High on the list were fashionable comfort, femininity and sporty styling. The younger set preferred tighter, flirty silhouettes and lower cost, while those 35-plus looked for quality materials and classic designs to flatter different body shapes.
The company names for the student lines were as creative as the designs, including N.F. Elle, Row 10, and Second Skins.
In the morning class, the N.F. Elle team won, with designer Sarah Wheeler and fashion merchandisers Katie Currier and Teddy Myers. The Hogwarts-inspired garments were sporty, warm, comfortable, washable, and affordable. Keeping fair labor and quality concerns in mind, the team sourced textiles and production in California.
For the afternoon class, the winner was the Row 10 team, with designer Jessica Forbes and fashion merchandisers Niya Lawrence and Ashaunte Smith. Also designing for the 35-plus market, they went for quality fabrics and a timeless look. Capri pants, a belted tunic with cut-outs on the shoulders, and a cowl scarf in a Redskins fleece can take the wearer from work to game.