Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University's Fashion Marketing Innovation (FMI) program will host its annual Portfolio Show on April 8, 2025. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the EMU Student Center in Ypsilanti.

The Portfolio Show serves as a capstone experience for students in the Senior Portfolio course, providing a platform for emerging fashion professionals to connect with industry leaders. Attendees have the opportunity to network and explore career paths, potentially securing internships or job opportunities. Organized by faculty members, this event has become significant for showcasing student talent and fostering professional growth.

Dr. Julie Becker, professor and director of the Textiles Research and Training Institute, along with Holly Mosher, full-time lecturer, oversee the event. Mosher expressed enthusiasm about leveraging industry relationships to create opportunities for students: “As we prepare for this year’s show, we are excited to leverage our industry relationships to create meaningful opportunities for our students,” she said. “Watching our students develop their skills and launch their careers is incredibly rewarding, and this event plays a crucial role in their professional journeys.”

Since its start in 2013, the FMI Portfolio Show has engaged over 20 employers annually. Many participating students secure jobs or internships through these connections, sometimes receiving offers before the showcase due to strong industry partnerships.

The Fashion Marketing Innovation program at EMU focuses on equipping students with expertise in textile science, product design, analytical buying, and manufacturing. It aims to bridge education with industry needs.

For more information about the EMU Fashion Marketing Innovation program or Eastern Michigan University itself—founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university—interested parties can visit their respective websites.