Ava Shapiro
Communications 305
Portfolio 

I am a senior at the University of Michigan studying sociology with a minor in writing. I am originally from Youngstown, Ohio, and I have spent a lot of time in Cape May, New Jersey, both of which I consider my home. I plan to work in the fashion and beauty industry in PR, marketing, or other public-facing aspects of brands, particularly in the luxury space. My love for sociology has allowed me to understand how people feel about what they consume and why individuals desire certain products. I have learned how people's lives began to influence their interests, beliefs, and behaviors, and I can now apply that knowledge to the fashion industry. I plan to use this within the PR and marketing space as a way to dissect customer bases and understand why certain groups of people respond to material in the ways they do. In addition to my studies, I am the Vice President of Digital for the Michigan Fashion Media Summit, a student-led organization that puts on an annual summit in the University’s business school. I am responsible for running two publications and our website, acting as the online face of the MFMS. I am also a Features Writer for SHEI Magazine, where I write articles about the intersection of fashion and sociology, such as an article about big brands copying small designers and a piece discussing Dennis Rodman’s reputation as a fashion icon. 

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I first noticed an interest in fashion as a child through my mother. She has always been very fashionable and chic, and I have memories of watching her get ready for dinner parties or helping me do my makeup for dance recitals, unknowingly guiding me toward a passion for beauty and clothing. As I got older, I remember waiting by the TV to see what outfits celebrities would wear to glamorous award shows. I dressed myself — and did my own makeup — for all of my school dances, treating the gym floors like my red carpet, always dressing to impress with the latest fashion innovation from the Oscars to the Met Gala. While I informally learned about the fashion industry when I was younger, I have been afforded opportunities to receive hands-on experience in event planning, fashion business, and journalism in college through the University of Michigan and The Fashion Institute of Technology. 

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What I have come to realize is that I love beautiful things, and I love learning how to make the world beautiful. Whether that be in a traditional sense or not, I see beauty as something that makes life more exciting, interesting, and rich. Utilizing my lens of sociological imagination towards fashion helps me illuminate the industry with a more concrete understanding of why people gravitate toward certain trends and items. I love witnessing — and hopefully being a part of in the future — new endeavors in fashion, especially through celebrity and other professional relationships. As I mentioned previously, I plan to work in the fashion industry on the business and marketing side. My dream career is coordinating innovations in partnerships and endorsements for a luxury brand. I also have experience in event planning, which I would love to incorporate into my future occupation. As one could imagine, I have dreamt about styling at an award show or putting on a luxurious gala. Wherever my career path leads me, I want to share my knowledge of sociological trends to create and execute exciting projects within the fashion industry.