A trio of University of Arizona students is sharing their experiences from a behind-the-scenes look at New York Fashion Week after winning a competitive campus program that offered firsthand insight into one of the industry’s most exclusive events.

Through a partnership between UofCLC, an educational initiative run by the Collegiate Licensing Company, and IMG, the New York-based global sports, fashion and media company that produces Fashion Week, the students attended runway shows and panel discussions with major brands — experiences they say reshaped their understanding of the business.

UofCLC and IMG have hosted students from 10 colleges across the United States to attend Fashion Week since 2018. With behind-the-scenes panel discussions and select runway shows, the program gives students an opportunity to network with fashion industry leaders.

The University of Arizona hosts a twice-yearly competition that awards two students the opportunity to attend. Magnolia Hilvert, Luciana Purdy and Andres Behrens were among the students selected to participate in 2025.

Hilvert, who attended in spring 2025, said applicants were required to submit a personal statement before being assigned a campus building as inspiration for designing a clothing or accessory item.

Hilvert became interested in fashion after growing up sewing with her grandmother and later majored in humanities with a fashion emphasis.

Purdy, a business major, said she was glad the competition was open to all students instead of just those majoring in fashion.

When she arrived in New York last fall, she learned that more fashion-focused schools required more intensive applications. At some institutions, students had to design and produce an entire fashion line, while at others a professor selected a representative, highlighting how the process varied from school to school.

Behrens, who attended with Purdy last fall, said the experience was an eye-opener for many students. Having grown up around an uncle who designed jewelry for a major brand, he said he had some understanding of the industry, especially after hearing professionals explain that much of the work often goes unrecognized.

While programming varied by group, students during the 2025 seasons attended panels hosted by Aviator Nation, Amazon, WME, IMG and ICNCLST, a creative agency and management group.

The night Behrens and Purdy arrived, they attended a group dinner where students brought merchandise from their schools for a professional photo shoot led by Trashhand, a photographer known for his work with Nike and Adidas, and hosted through ICNCLST.

The Amazon panel discussed the use of artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and how the company is applying it to sell clothing through its “Creating Lux” fashion initiative.

During the IMG panel, industry professionals, including casting agents, spoke about the demands of the job. Even as the discussion continued, they fielded emails and phone calls, underscoring the workload required to remain competitive.

Students participated in a workshop that challenged them to define their personal brand and compare it with how they present themselves to others.

They also attended a separate event with Klein Designs, a studio that began in college dyeing clothes in a bathtub and now operates multiple stores across the country. The students said it was inspiring to see the company’s growth.

Many of the students said the highlight of the trip was the runway shows. Hilvert’s favorite was The Blonds, a glamorous fashion duo known for creating extravagant avant-garde designs.

The fall cohort was split into two groups to attend Kim Shui’s runway show, held on the 102nd floor of the World Trade Center.

“These fashion shows are very exclusive, you can’t just go and buy a ticket. You have to be invited to it or have an opportunity like this,” Purdy said.

Because designers work a season ahead, she said it was remarkable to see collections that will not reach consumers until later this year.

Despite the impact of the experience, UofCLC will pause the program next semester.

“I wish the program was still around,” Behrens said. “It was eye opening for someone who had never been to New York and didn’t know what Fashion Week was going to be like.”

Purdy echoed his sentiments about the intensity of the industry.

“You have to be at the top of your game, it’s so competitive,” Purdy said, noting the talent of her cohort members, who are “going to do crazy inventive stuff.”

Lily Cottam is a journalism major at the Universsity of Arizona and intern at Tucson Spotlight.

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