Confessions of a BA in Applied Fashion Retail Student: More Than Just Pretty Clothes

By Tori Riebler,

FEDISA 2nd Year Student,

BA in Applied Fashion Retail

BA in Applied Fashion Retail student Tori Riebler shares how a gap year of uncertainty led her to FEDISA, why retail and marketing turned out to be more strategic and creative than she expected, and what her classmates Chiara Ariu, Ella Miller and Emma Pinto love most about the qualification.

During my gap year in 2024, I honestly had NO idea what direction I wanted to take. I knew I had always been more of a creative, but I didn’t quite know how to turn that into a career. But before I knew it, I found FEDISA and their BA in Applied Fashion Retail, discovering the world of fashion marketing and retail. Looking back, fashion has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve always absolutely loved fashion, creativity and visual storytelling, so finding a qualification that combined all of them together felt like everything just snapped into place.

Choosing to pursue the BA in Applied Fashion Retail really opened my eyes to how fashion is so much more than the surface-level perception that most people have of it. I’ve fallen in love with not only the space for creativity within the industry, but also how complex and strategic it really is. What I love most isn’t just the pretty clothes or the incredible people I’ve met here, but the thought, research and decision-making behind every brand, campaign and customer experience. From consumer psychology and trend forecasting to visual merchandising, buying and marketing, each module has helped me to gain a much deeper understanding of the industry. I find myself looking at brands, picking apart store layouts and analyzing social media content in a completely different way than I did before. It’s made me realize just how much actually goes into building a successful fashion brand.

And that’s exactly what makes this qualification so exciting. One of my classmates, Chiara Ariu, shared that her favourite part of studying at FEDISA is that we aren’t restricted to a single niche, but instead we are pushed to explore the fashion industry from every possible angle. “In a week, we pivot from social media marketing strategies, to the creativity of visual merchandising, to analyzing garments to brief to a buying team at industry level.” Of course, being exposed to so many different aspects of the industry means that no two modules, assignments or practicals ever feel quite the same, which has made choosing a favourite incredibly difficult.

While it’s hard to choose just one, if I had to pick, one of my favourite assignments so far would definitely be building a textile library for our Fashion Buying & Sourcing module. We were asked to source and collect a wide variety of fabric samples, while researching their properties, characteristics and uses. After a lot of trial and error and WAY too many trips to Studio47, this assignment became more than simply collecting fabric swatches and completely changed my perspective on the role textiles play within the industry. It taught me to not only be more intentional when purchasing my own clothing but to look at fabrics as more than just materials and more as decisions: what works, what lasts and what sells. Safe to say, despite all the chaos in between, I was SO obsessed with this project.

What has made the experience even more memorable has been the people I’ve shared it with. Being surrounded by so many creative and passionate individuals has really pushed me to think differently and challenge myself more. Although everyone has their own experience, it’s fascinating to see how each one of my peers is taking what we’re learning and applying it to their own goals, passions and future careers… Whether that’s growing a business, building confidence in their creativity or discovering where they fit within the industry.

For example, Ella Miller, a fellow BA in Applied Fashion Retail student, explained how FEDISA sets you up for success, not only during your studies, but long after graduation too. As the owner of her own business, Angel Wear, she shared that the qualification has helped her to better understand, plan and execute many of the day-to-day tasks involved in running your own brand. Despite the challenges that come with balancing studies and owning your own business, she summed up her experience perfectly when she said, “Although the degree is quite demanding, the experiences we’re gifted and the creativity we’re encouraged to express is definitely worth it.”

While Ella’s experience highlights the more entrepreneurial side of the qualification, our class representative, Emma Pinto, reflected on the personal growth that FEDISA has encouraged throughout her studies.

Emma shared that what she has loved most about her time at FEDISA is how it has allowed her to be completely herself, while also discovering who she wants to become. As someone who has always been creative, curious about people and passionate about fashion, she explained that the degree has given her the space to bring all of those interests together and turn them into something meaningful. Reflecting on her experience, Emma shared, “Beyond the projects and assignments, FEDISA has helped me grow in confidence, trust my own ideas and realize that there is a place for my creativity, personality and perspective within the industry,” something she says she will always be grateful for.

I would honestly recommend the BA in Applied Fashion Retail to anyone who is passionate about fashion, creativity, branding, marketing or retail, but also wants to understand the business behind it all. Whether your passion lies in building a brand, creating content, developing campaigns, managing retail spaces or understanding consumer behaviour, the degree provides such a strong foundation while allowing you to discover where your own interests and strengths fit within the industry.

It’s funny to think that a time of uncertainty during my gap year ultimately led me to discover a qualification that felt like the most perfect and natural fit for me. As for what comes next, I’m still only in my second year, so the thought of graduating feels both exciting and a little bittersweet. FEDISA has become such a big part of my life that I’d definitely be sad to leave. With that being said, the qualification has already given me so much confidence in the direction I want to pursue and the skills needed to get there. After graduating, I would absolutely love to pursue a career within fashion marketing, branding or creative direction. And while I’m still discovering exactly where my path will take me, I know that FEDISA is equipping me with the knowledge, experience and confidence to step into the industry… No matter what comes next.