Where Fashion Becomes Business

The Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (MAT) program prepares students for careers in retail and merchandising industries by blending creativity with business principles and developing the business skills they need to succeed in the global consumer marketplace.

The MAT program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to interpret and forecast consumer and market trends, develop retailing and buying strategies, and communicate cross-culturally.

Our project-based curriculum and internship experience facilitates the learning of industry practices related to marketing, brand management, visual merchandising, buying and sourcing materials, retail management, and much more. You will be challenged to exercise creative thinking in business operations, merchandising strategies, and consumer issues.

Careers

The Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles degree will prepare you for careers in domestic or international markets in the merchandising, apparel, and textile fields, such as:

  • Brand manager
  • Communication specialist
  • Digital merchandiser
  • Entrepreneur
  • Fashion merchandiser
  • Product developer
  • Retail manager and merchandiser
  • Stylist
  • Textile lab supervisor
  • Visual merchandiser

Accelerate Your Career Into Graduate School

For highly motivated students, the opportunity exists to integrate up to 12 credit hours of undergraduate and graduate coursework through the Accelerated Master’s Pathways or AMP program. Students will save time and money by receiving dual credit for select courses taken during their senior year of undergraduate studies. Those interested in pursuing this path to a graduate degree should consult with their academic advisor.

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Beyond the Classroom

Many opportunities are available for students to learn outside the classroom. Our required credit-bearing internship helps students develop their professional skills under the joint supervision of a qualified manager and internship supervisor. Students can also take advantage of study abroad experiences that offer behind-the-scenes insights into top fashion markets around the world.Whatever your interests, our faculty and staff will work with you to identify the opportunities that best fit your career goals.

Modeling UK Plaid
Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show

Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show

Organized and led by MAT students, the annual Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show is one of the hottest tickets in town. This unforgettable experience celebrates style, creativity, and the Kentucky spirit. Through a semester- long project, students use skills from the retailing, merchandising, and entertainment sectors to create a total customer experience. Produced by students from start to finish, the Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show has raised nearly $100,000 to support student learning and engagement opportunities.

Experiential Learning

Hands-on learning is at the heart of what we do in MAT. Our program provides real-world experiences for a variety of merchandising, apparel, and textile fields, both in and out of the classroom. From transformative coursework to internships to study abroad opportunities, our students are supported through all stages of their academic journey.

MAT 120 Textiles for Consumers

Students learn about fibers, yarns, fabric structures, colors, and finishes related to consumer applications.

MAT 237 Aesthetic Experience in Retail

Students learn about methods of visual merchandising, special event promotion, and public relations.

MAT 315 Merchandise Planning and Control

Students analyze company and industry merchandising and operating results to understand profitability and make data-driven decisions.

MAT 433 Creating Consumer Experiences

Students explore how fashion and entertainment industries engage consumers across physical and digital spaces.

Living Learning Program

The Living Learning Program (LLP) supports student success by placing students with similar interests into smaller communities in particular residence halls.

Academic Enrichment

Our college believes in learning by doing. Our students are required to complete at least one type of experiential or hands-on learning opportunity, such as undergraduate research, an internship or an education abroad experience.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous alumni, donors and community partners, we have one of the largest scholarship programs at UK. Only one application is required for our college’s scholarships, but there are hundreds of potential awards.

Student Services

We’re here to help you grow personally, academically and professionally.

Ready to turn your passion into a career?

Explore endless opportunities at the University of Kentucky and take the first step toward your future.

Academic Advisor II
Jennifer Disponette

Academic Advisor
Amber Gray-Kurz

Director of Undergraduate Studies
RayeCarol Cavender, PhD

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