NYU's FBA is stepping stone to life after college

May is fast approaching and many NYU seniors are preparing for life after NYU. Erica Eng, president of NYU's Fashion Business Association, is no exception.

"I think all people get really depressed when it comes to thinking about graduation," the CAS senior said.

Eng, whose interests include metropolitan studies, urban design and architecture, the development of sustainable housing and fashion, is not quite sure what her next move will be. But she will certainly have a lot of options.

Eng interned at Laird and Partners, an advertising and branding company that specializes in fashion, and the city planning office. But she's leaning toward fashion, something a little more familiar and accessible.

"When we bring our speakers [into FBA meetings] I get so inspired about everything I want to do [in fashion]," Eng said.

NYU's Fashion Business Association is a group that functions as "a forum for students at NYU to figure out what the fashion industry is ... and see how they fit in," Eng said. Through self-organized fashion shows, an online fashion magazine, do-it-yourself workshops, internship help and panels featuring major industry players, the FBA tries to help students feel more comfortable and confident in the world of fashion.

"FBA provides students access to this industry that is so often thought to be exclusive and pretentious," said Stern sophomore Jason Tsai, FBA's designer and show coordinator. "Fashion is often thought to be difficult to get into, but FBA's frequent internship postings and guest speakers offer opportunities and insight."

FBA vice-president and CAS junior Sarah Ferguson added: "There are a lot of students at NYU who are interested in fashion-related careers but don't necessarily have the opportunity to take fashion classes and to use the resources of schools like FIT. FBA provides an outlet."

Eng's involvement with the FBA began several years ago during her freshman year when she wanted to get involved in a community at NYU. She and an older member took it upon themselves to write a newsletter to be distributed at the meetings, which quickly transformed into a 32-page magazine. The rest is history.

"Erica has been great with stepping in when we needed a leader for FBA," said treasurer and Stern junior Anna Podkovyrova. "She does a great job of keeping the team on track and ensuring that everyone is playing their role in making the organization come together."

Eng's position as president of the FBA involves keeping abreast of daily happenings within the organization and collaborating with everyone to make the FBA more appealing to both NYU students and the fashion industry at large.

"I never view leadership positions like a dictatorship," Eng said. "It's more like a cabinet."

Although Eng and the FBA are involved in an ongoing process to bring a variety of speakers and events to NYU, Podkovyrova said the FBA this semester is "positioned for success."

FBA is sponsoring a fashion show at Kimmel's Rosenthal Pavilion on March 29 at 7 p.m. The line-up includes designers from Parsons, FIT and NYU, and fashion industry moguls are expected to attend.