ATLANTA, GA (February 12, 2024) –  CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, and IMG, the operator of New York Fashion Weekpartnered to deliver the 12th installment of the successful U of NYFW, a one-of-a-kind education experience for 27 students from 18 universities at this February’s New York Fashion Week. This unique academic enrichment program, which is an extension of CLC’s continued efforts to support innovative education initiatives for its partner institutions, provides future fashion leaders a behind-the-scenes look at the industry, including entry into select runway shows, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. 

The students were treated to runway shows with iconic fashion brand Badgley Mischka and top Korean designer Son Jung Wan, as well as a tour of curated fashion showrooms. The students also received an NYFW Backstage experience that included special access to the TRESemmé Style Studios, an IMG Models Photo Studio and an exploration of the creation of runway looks. Additionally, students participated in a Q&A with representatives from WME Fashion.  

“Our longstanding collaboration with CLC and their participating university partners aligns with our mission to deliver opportunities for future leaders in the industry and support the development of new perspectives in the ever-evolving fashion business,” said Kim Fasting Berg, EVP, Marketing at WME Fashion. “As we continue to evolve our programming and experiences, we are proud to help provide this generation of college students the chance to interact and learn from some of the best designers and experts in the world of fashion at NYFW.” 

In addition to the unique New York Fashion Week experiences, the students spent the day at top athletic fashion brand and collegiate licensee Champion where they had the opportunity to learn firsthand how a clothing line is developed and merchandised. University participants also had the opportunity to visit the Champion Flagship Store in Soho, where they learned about retail in New York and collaborated with the store team to customize their own Champion garment.  

“Our enduring goal for the U of NYFW college program is to deliver innovative experiences and once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities to students at our partner institutions, which adds tremendous value to the participating universities beyond our traditional role of brand licensing,” said Cory Moss, CEO of CLC. “Since the inception of this unique program, we have been honored to help inspire and assist many talented students on their path to a career in the fashion industry, and we are excited about prospects that are available for each new class.” 

The collegiate Fashion Week program delivered unique academic enrichment opportunities for the students with expenses covered by their universities. Institutions that participated in the collegiate enrichment program at NYFW: The Shows included Auburn University, Baylor University, Howard University, Liberty University, Michigan State University, NC State, Sam Houston State University, Syracuse University, TCU, Texas A&M University, University of Arizona, University of Missouri, University of Oklahoma, University of South Carolina, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, West Virginia University, and Western Michigan University.

Participating students chronicled their experiences through social media using #UofNYFW and were asked to share their learnings with other students upon their return to campus.  

About IMG

IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company. 

For media inquiries, contact:

Tammy Purves, CLC, tammy.purves@clc.com, 770-799-3275