SUNY Oneonta Students Showcase Creative Fashion Displays

During the fall 2024 semester, Fashion and Textile students at SUNY Oneonta had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by creating themed window displays for Shakedown Street, a local thrift and consignment store, as well as inside the Human Ecology building on campus.

The project allowed students to apply their skills in visual merchandising, fashion styling and retail display while incorporating sustainable practices by curating secondhand garments. Students worked either solo or in pairs to design displays that featured seasonal themes such as "Rich Layers of Fall," winter holiday concepts and New Year's Eve fashion. Each display was carefully planned to highlight color coordination, layering techniques and accessorizing to create cohesive, eye-catching presentations.

Through this experience, students strengthened their collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills. Working under time constraints and with limited resources helped them adapt to real-world challenges often faced in the retail industry. Additionally, students explored ways to attract customer attention, promote sustainable fashion choices and engage with the local community.

This hands-on project provided valuable preparation for future careers in fashion merchandising, retail management and creative marketing, allowing students to combine their academic knowledge with practical experience.