El Paso Community College students are getting a reality check on the world of fashion design, courtesy of Project Runway's Belania Daley. The Fashion Technology program at EPCC invited the seasoned fashion designer for a candid Q&A at their Transmountain campus, offering students an up-close view of the industry's ins and outs. Daley, who has made a name for herself with the BCD Planet brand, shared pearls of wisdom garnered from over a decade in corporate fashion technical design.
"My community college experience definitely shaped my career," Daley described her own educational journey, which began at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. In her interaction with EPCC students, she emphasized the importance of foundational skills like organization and punctuality. "It was my first interaction with being organized, consistent, being on time, and showing up for myself and being serious about your craft," Daley said, according to EPCC News.
The visit is part of EPCC's series of talks aimed at connecting students directly with pros in the fashion world. Sarai Tave, the EPCC Fashion Instructor, and program director Irma Villanueva had a hand to play in orchestrating Daley's session, which turned the spotlight on community involvement and sharing knowledge. "Local is the most important part—family, friends, the community college at your start. Everything you gather is important, but knowledge is useless if you do not share it," Daley imparted, as per EPCC News.
EPCC's approach to preparing students for the diverse landscape of fashion careers includes specialization in Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Illustration, and Fashion Design. Such initiatives are applauded by visiting professionals like Daley, who commended the program's comprehensive coverage and real-world applicability. "This is a great degree program, connecting the dots in all aspects of fashion like marketing, public relations, budgeting—everything that goes into being a fashion designer," Daley praised during her tour of the lab, as obtained by EPCC News. Sarai Tave underscored the importance of these industry interactions: "The reason we do this is to inspire students and motivate them to understand that anything is possible," she pointed out, highlighting the role of networking.
