MISSISSIPPI STATE – The fashion world is beginning to take notice of Mississippi State University’s apparel, textiles and merchandising students.

Many MSU students have interned with cutting-edge design houses and popular fashion magazines or performed well against peers from all over the United States in prestigious design competitions. Others have someone closer to thank for spurring their interest in fashion.

Senior Jessie Ajluni of Birmingham, Ala., worked for the creative director of Elle magazine. She assisted stylists with selecting designer items for fashion spreads in the magazine. She also secured an internship with Doucette Duvall, an upcoming design company that specializes in ecofriendly fashion.

Ajluni, along with her teammates senior Danielle Carter of Natchez and senior Kari Gibson of Tupelo, won first place in the 2010 Mississippi Association for Family and Consumer Sciences research competition.

Terkina Miller, a senior from Goodman, secured a competitive scholarship to participate in the National NeedleArts Association’s Pathways into Professional NeedleArts program in Washington, D.C., to learn ready-to-wear stitching and work on a variety of clothing projects. She hopes this career move will allow her to own a boutique one day and perhaps teach the art of embellishment as a professor of design. She also interned with Dallas-based designer Nicholas Villalba, who specializes in haute couture bridal and evening attire, and bedding accessories for the home.

Amber Bland, a junior from Starkville, will be one of several MSU students traveling to London for a month-long study of cross-cultural design, merchandising and marketing to be led by Phyllis Bell Miller, MSU associate professor of apparel, textiles and merchandising.

Bland won a merit award in the art competition at the 2010 Starkville Arts Festival.  

Jay Grishby, a freshman from Jackson, won third place in MAFCS design competition this year. He also competed in Dallas Career Day, where his design made the runway. During the summer, he works as an apprentice to Jackson-based dressmaker Tracy Ducksworth, who trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Tiffany Brady, a senior honor student from Ripley, received a competitive marketing internship with the Country Music Association. She won second place with teammates senior Kallie Bounds of Wiggins and senior Alex Dukes of Meridian in the MAFCS competition. Lauren Hoover, a senior from Niceville, Fla., placed second in apparel design in that same competition.

Margret Stegall, a sophomore from Pontotoc, was inspired to study design by her mother, an employee at Reed’s department store. Stegall’s mother retrieved scraps from the store’s alterations shop and gave them to her daughter. Stegall used the scraps to design a luxury wardrobe for her Barbie.

Writer: Patti Drapala