Just as the newsroom is the epicenter for information on current events and Wall Street the go-to for financial reports, the RSO College Fashion Connect seeks to inform students about fashion-related events and opportunities in Champaign-Urbana and serves as the bridge between various fashion organizations.

“We’re more of the business side,” said Jade Williams, president of the RSO. “Our goal is to just connect everyone within the fashion community on campus so they know what’s going on, but also to prepare you more for the online world and the professional aspects of fashion to get you to that next level.”

Originally called I-Style, the organization recently changed its name and took a new direction in order to increase membership and have more of a distinct presence.

“We didn’t host many things on our own, and that was something I was really wanting us to do by switching over just have things that have our own name on them rather than working in the background,” Williams said.

Although this will be the first semester College Fashion Connect is active under its new name and focus, Williams said they already have a number of plans.

Each month, they plan to hold a short meeting in which representatives from other fashion organizations, such as College Fashionista, College Fashion Week and The Fashion School, come and “just have kind of a big ‘call all fashion’ meeting and let everyone know what’s going on,” Williams said.

Along with each meeting will be a workshop in which members will learn different aspects of working in the fashion industry, such as how to get a fashion internship, how to build an online portfolio and blog, how to use social media and how to write a fashion-specific resume.

“All of the exec members have fashion blogs,” said Elizabeth Deuel, vice president of operations. “So we teach members how to create your own brand from that and your own voice.” 

The focus is on getting hired in the fashion world, Williams said.

All of the exec members work with fashion companies, including College Fashionista, Akira Chicago and Vince Camuto, Deuel said.

“We offer networking and internships and we offer that all through the club, and just kind of notify them of opportunities that are coming up and meetings on campus and applications, stuff like that,” Deuel said.

The organization also hopes to bring back Fashion Night Out and host craft nights — such as a DIY studding party — and a philanthropy event for the Crisis Nursery and a women’s shelter, Williams said.

Not only will the club inform members about what is going on in the Champaign-Urbana fashion world, but they also hope to extend to Chicago by taking weekend trips, she said.

Williams said the club hopes to show students that, despite what they may think, there is a lot going on in Champaign-Urbana concerning fashion.

“We know there are students on campus who really do have a passion for fashion,” Deuel said. “And (we want to help them) just kind of branch out and take initiative so that people see Illinois as a fashion center.” 

The club will hold its first meeting at the end of January. Although many of the members are studying journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising and business, anyone can join, Williams said.

“If you’re just trying to get yourself out there and make connections with other people that have the same interests as you, then this is for you,” Williams said.

Those interested can contact the club at [email protected].

“I just hope that people can find their niche in the fashion industry,” said Adriana Garst, vice president of marketing, “and maybe find out different things about different aspects of the fashion industry, whether it’s modeling, design, anything, and find what they really love.”

Julia can be reached at [email protected].