Apparel Industry Management Student Wants to Run Clothing Stores

Name: Amanda Warzecha

Age: 18

Major: Apparel Industry Management Professional Designation

FIDM Campus and Start Date: Los Angeles, Fall 2011

Admissions Advisor: Jodi Emerson

Tell us a little about yourself. I am from a small town on the north shore of Minnesota. I graduated high school with 33 people in my class and am moving to LA by myself. I enjoy volleyball and photography, but my true love is fashion.

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? When I was 16, I started taking college classes at a community college in Duluth. Under Minnesota's Post Secondary Enrollment Program (PSEO) I was able to test out of high school and go to college in eleventh and twelfth grade. I earned my two year Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and graduated with a 3.5 GPA. I am on the Phi Theta Kappa and earned two big scholarships for FIDM.

I worked on two fashion shows this past summer with the help of a friend who is a designer. In July I was a backstage assistant at a 14 piece fashion show. In August I was a designer in a fashion show with two other designers. I designed two dresses. This is one of the dresses I made for my fashion show debut.

What made FIDM right for you? The big city environment is something I need because growing up where I did, I've never experienced much diversity. I love FIDM's creative environment and the Apparel Industry Management Program is perfect for me because I want to start a clothing franchise by myself in the future. I know that the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has the industry connections and reputation to help me get my name out in the fashion industry.

Describe your entrance project. I sketched and colored six designs that consisted of bright colors and unique designs. I felt that my project was really original. I use a lot of color and try to create original dresses that haven't been seen before.

What are your career goals? I want to start my very own franchise of clothing stores for young women and name it "WARZECHA." The long term big dream I have for myself would be to have a store on Rodeo Drive.

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I expect to learn what it takes to own and manage a successful store. I want to learn everything I can possibly know about the fashion industry and I know FIDM can give that to me.