LETTER: Give us some credit; we’re not just about shoes

Dear Editor,

Despite recent articles published by your paper I lament that there are still many students out there who just don’t get it. I am an apparel and textiles major, formerly known to most as the fashion merchandising major. The Statesman has printed two articles informing the masses about us, one Fall Semester and another one this spring. A few days ago I sat in class and listened to an uninformed student generalize myself and the rest of my major as no more than people who think they need 40 pairs of shoes. Call it fashion, clothing, apparel or dress, there are a myriad of levels to our misunderstood major. As the name implies, we are much more than just fashion merchandisers. In fact, there are many of us who are not interested in the merchandising/marketing aspect of the business. In addition to our talented apparel merchandisers and designers, there are students who are concerned with textiles alone, mostly from the scientific viewpoint. Contributions from professionals in this particular field are helping all of you out there be more comfortable exercisers while working up a sweat, or even just making sure than your winter clothes actually keep you warm. Other areas of the major include the historical, anthropological and psychological aspects of our near environment, or dress. Believe it or not, those things do affect us. Last semester I was one of many students who researched and wrote a paper about police uniforms and how we react to them. In my own research I found evidence supporting the fact that a simple change in the police uniform could actually have a noticeable effect on the crime rate. And, though I’m sure much to my critic’s dismay, I did enjoy researching the paper even more than perusing the most current issue of “Vogue.”

Kristine Negron