Meet Fashion and Business | University of Houston Student Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fashion and Business and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fashion and, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
FAB defines success without using metrics. Instead, we emphasize personal growth and development within each and everyone of our members. We started as a small org of only 15 members, and have grown to 10 times our size by cultivating a stress-free, creative environment. Instead of pushing our members to complete certain projects by certain deadlines, or give them a specific goal to achieve, we favor guiding our members to determine what success means for them and how we can utilize the resources at our disposal to help them achieve it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
FAB owes its uniqueness to its members. We continuously foster an inclusive, diverse learning environment where differences are celebrated, which makes FAB a hotspot for students’ artistic endeavors. We’re most proud of the events our members have helped make great, including our end of semester Gala put on last Spring and our ongoing creative photoshoots. We as an organization made it to where we are today by forming long-lasting relationships with students on campus as well as with creatives in the greater Houston area. We collaborate with brands, other orgs, and industry professionals alike to create opportunities for our members. Regardless of one’s participation in our organization, we want individuals to feel our passion for the fashion industry and see the work we’re putting in to continuously build and refine FAB.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely stop by to visit our friends at Magpies & Peacocks. They are the nation’s only 501(c)3 non-profit design house dedicated to the collection and sustainable reuse of post-consumer clothing, scrap textiles and accessories diverted from landfill – in order to disrupt the cycle of waste in the fashion industry and mitigate its enormous environmental and social impact. They collaborate with a network of designers, makers and artists to create unique up-cycled products, offer skill building and sustainability education, and incubate circular fashion innovation. Their model rests on four pillars: Collaborate, Create, Educate and Invest.

Next, we would go to Franks Pizza for lunch! Located in downtown and only a few metro stops away, Franks Pizza serves New York style pizza by the slice and is a Houston staple. Craving something else? Then we’ll head over to New Chinatown over on Bellaire Blvd. With many businesses and restaurants, there is no shortage of things to do and places to see. First we’ll grab some food at Tan Tan like fried squid balls and curry beef, then head over to Yumcha to grab some delicious boba tea, and end the festivities at Black Ants- a gaming lab!

Everyone needs a nice good relaxing time after a big meal, so we’d head over to Memorial Hermann Park and lounge out by the outdoor theatre on the hill. Afterwards, we would walk over to check out the museums being that they are right next door! The Fine Art museum is a must see, along with the Natural Science and Contemporary Arts museum.

To end the night off, we would head back to campus, check out the FAB office, and sit down to talk and grab a drink over at the Nook. The Nook is an on campus cafe with a bar and outdoor area upstairs. They have different themed nights as well, most recently being SZA, Disco, and Frank Ocean night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We would like to give our shoutout to the group of women who first started FAB! Back in 2016, President Kenisha Smith alonside co-president Mahek Hooda and vice president Jacquelyn Gomez, created FAB, the only fashion student org at UH and thus creating history. Thanks to their talented minds and hard work, we have been able to craft FAB into what it is today. Occasionally, I’ll take a look back at their previous events, accomplishments and impacts they left on not only the UH community but also the Houston fashion community. It truly inspires all us officers to get out there and continue to explore fashion through all of its avenues and bring people together.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fab.uh/

Image Credits
First one (group officer photos): Jean Paul Fuentes Second Photo (man with basket of head): Raphael Fernandez Third Photo (girl with technology): Daniela Maureira, David Leon, Phalyn Honora Last Photo (alice in wonerland, three people holding hands): Jean Paul Fuentes, Daniela Maureira