CLC Fashion Experience
This unique academic enrichment program provides a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry.Quick Links
At the Center of Fashion and Retail in New York City
The Center for Retailing Innovation at Mays Business School presents the CLC Fashion Experience, an immersive, multi-day program in New York City designed for students ready to step beyond the classroom and into the world of fashion and retail.
Built around the theme “Owning Your Brand Journey,” this experience is designed to help you do more than observe. You will create, collaborate, and define how you show up in a competitive, fast-moving industry.
Through workshops, brand immersion, and hands-on creative work, you will see how ideas move from concept to execution while building your own personal brand along the way. This experience is made possible through partnership between Texas A&M University, Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) and the Center for Retailing Innovation.
What You Will Gain
Media and Storytelling
Develop how you communicate your personal brand through visual content, storytelling, and social media.
Leadership and Career
Build confidence, expand your network, and engage directly with industry professionals.
Innovation and Industry
Understand how fashion, consumer behavior, and modern retail come together in today’s marketplace.
The Experience
This program demands active participation.
As an immersive, hands-on intensive, it is designed to empower you to grow, create, and lead through every stage of the journey.
Welcome and Social
Kick off the experience with a welcome dinner, social hour, and introduction to the weekend. Connect with fellow students in a relaxed setting and begin defining your personal brand.
Brunch and Branding
Participate in a guided workshop focused on refining your personal brand through authenticity, innovation, and impact. Learn how to articulate who you are and how you want to be perceived.
Immersive Retail
Spend time with NYC-based brands and retailers to understand how they bring their identity to life. Explore how strategy translates into real-world retail experiences.
Creator Studio
This is the centerpiece of the experience.
In a hands-on creative studio environment, you will work alongside industry creators to build your personal brand into a realized identity.
You won’t just learn the branding process. You will live it.
The Voice
How your brand sounds and how you communicate it with clarity and confidence.
The Look
How your brand shows up visually through style, color, and presentation.
The Presence
How you carry yourself in a room and on camera.
The Scene
How you bring your brand to life through photography, content, and environment.
You Will Leave With
- A clear personal brand foundation
- Original visual content and assets
- A story you know how to tell and show
The Closing
End the experience with a red-carpet closing event in New York City.
This is your moment to step into the brand you have been building all weekend.
A Night to Celebrate What You Have Built
Students will dress for the occasion, walk through a red-carpet entrance, and document their professional brand with high-quality photography. The evening brings together students, creators, and industry professionals from retail fashion brands for a memorable night of connection and recognition.
The Experience Concludes With
- A rooftop “red carpet” celebration and networking event
- Recognition of your growth throughout the program
- An official certification and LinkedIn badge
- Curated gifts and a final send-off
Testimonials
The CLC Fashion Experience provided me with invaluable insight and the confidence to navigate the business side of the retail industry. Gaining this out-of-the-classroom experience has left me inspired for my future career path and provided connections that will last a lifetime.”
Attending this trip was a truly transformative experience. It offered a unique opportunity to represent Texas A&M on a national level while gaining exclusive professional insights into the retail world that you simply cannot get in a traditional classroom setting.”
How to Apply
We are looking for students who are ready to create, not just observe. This program is open to students from all majors at Texas A&M University who have an interest in fashion, retail, and innovation.
Apply NowApplication Requirements
- Application: Complete our application that will include attaching the below additional required documents.
- Resume: Highlight your academic achievements and relevant involvement.
- One-Page Essay: Outline your personal brand foundation and how this experience will impact your professional trajectory.
- Personal Brand Video (The “Content Creator” Requirement): Produce a short video (under 2 minutes) using a content creator format (e.g., Reels or Vlog style). The video should showcase your aesthetic style, personal interests, and unique “Voice.” We are looking for high-energy, edited content that demonstrates how you visually and verbally articulate your personal brand to an audience.
Need Some Inspiration?
Here’s a sample “Day in the Life” video
Key Details
Timing: Anticipated dates are Sept. 10-13 (the same week as New York Fashion Week)
Location: New York City
Duration: Thursday through Sunday
Program Coverage: This is an all-expenses-paid experience for selected participants, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and program activities. Four students will be selected to attend in Fall 2026.
Application Deadline: April 24, 2026 at 11:59 pm CT
Make Your Next Big Move
Request more information to dive deeper into your program of interest.