Stevenson students in the fashion design and merchandising program will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., from Feb. 12-14 for the second annual trip to see MAGIC, the largest fashion apparel trade show.

According to UMB Fashion, “[At MAGIC], you will find the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing. From the height of advanced contemporary luxury brands, to the latest trends in fast fashion, MAGIC fuels the business of fashion.” The show includes a variety of apparel for men, women and children.

On the first day of trip, the students will need to adjust to the desert climate, but the next day they head to the show and will meet with various boutique owners. On the third day, the students will finish exploring the exhibit and prepare for the journey back to Stevenson.

Last year, the list for the trip filled up within hours and this year filled within a few days. Dr. Holly Lentz-Schiller, assistant professor of fashion merchandising, said that this experience is important for the eight Stevenson students attending.

“Most students have never seen a trade show,” she said, “and this gives them a leg up in the industry seeing how buyers and salesmen do business and make contacts.”

The students can take this time to meet with vendors and exchange resumes and business cards. At last year’s show, Lentz-Schiller introduced the students to the CEO of the World-Wide Responsible Accreditation Program (WRAP) and invited him to speak at Stevenson about the program. A senior, who was intrigued with the idea of sustainability, was able to get an internship and then a full-time position with the company, explained Lentz-Schiller.

“It’s a worthwhile trip,” she said. “Because I was able to talk to this company, it opened the door to one of our students getting a job opportunity.”

In the future, the fashion program hopes to open the trip to more students, go to the MAGIC trade show again in August, and visit the New York trade shows as well.