Berkeley College recently welcomed its newest designer-in-residence, Bach Mai, with a “Catwalk and Conversations” fashion show that included previous designers-in-residence who have mentored Fashion Merchandising and Management students.
The Designer-in-Residence program began in 2022 to further students’ experiential learning from industry professionals. Berkeley College interns and volunteers have prepared garments for New York Fashion Week, created public relations campaigns, and supported the designers’ creative visions while receiving real-time feedback.
“I am excited to be a part of the Berkeley College community, an environment where creativity and education intersect,” Mai said at the July 1 event at Berkeley College's New York City campus. “I look forward to engaging with the students and giving them real-world insight into the fashion industry. I know their youthful energy and fresh perspectives will give me much to think about in return.”
The Catwalk and Conversations panel was moderated by students Joy Figueroa of Newark and Gerahmee Crooks of the Bronx. Berkeley College students participated as models and coordinated pre-show planning along with executing front-of-house and back-of-house tasks throughout the evening.
“The more you give, the more you receive,” said previous designer-in-residence Chuks Collins about working with the Fashion Merchandising and Management students. “Berkeley College is family. I will always see Berkeley as home.”
The designers answered questions throughout the evening between runway showcases featuring student models wearing the designers’ latest works.
Kibonen Nfi, the first designer-in-residence at Berkeley College, spoke of the importance of the global perspective the Fashion Merchandising and Management program provides for students and designers.
“Berkeley has a very international vision,” Nfi said. “From the moment I walked into Berkeley College, I felt so much at home. The students become some of the greatest ambassadors of your brand.”
Mentoring and teaching others helps to remind you of lessons you might have forgotten, Mai said. “As an entrepreneur and an artist, you can get ‘lost in the sauce’ of your work, and working with students reminds you of why you started doing this in the first place.”
With the launch of Mai’s residency, Fashion Merchandising and Management students, along with others in the Larry L. Luing School of Business, can look forward to collaborating on projects involving fashion design, research, styling and accessorizing, pitching ideas and business plans, and more.
“Catwalk and Conversations uplifted and empowered our students and allowed for us to get to know all three designers in new ways and what drives their amazing work,” said Andrea Kennedy, lead faculty, Fashion Merchandising and Management, Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business.
Kennedy said students will learn from Mai while interning in the showroom, design room, and sample room. Students will also work on publicity, wholesale accounts, and more.
Photo Caption: (L-R) Berkeley College designers-in-residence Chuks Collins, Kibonen Nfi, and Bach Mai at the Catwalk and Conversations event on July 1. The event launched Mai’s residency with the Berkeley College Fashion Merchandising and Management program. – Image courtesy of Berkeley College.
About Fashion at Berkeley College
Berkeley College’s degree programs in Fashion Merchandising and Management focus on the business side of the fashion industry, training students in all aspects of the fashion global supply chain, including consumer behavior, product development, brand communications, marketing, and more.
About Bach Mai
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, to Vietnamese parents, Bach Mai developed a love for fashion and haute couture at a young age. He went on to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York City and was nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year. His journey includes design roles at Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, and Prabal Gurung, and a pivotal position at Maison Margiela under the direction of the legendary John Galliano. In 2019, Mai launched his own label in partnership with Hurel, one of France’s most prestigious textile houses. His brand, Bach Mai, offers luxury, ready-to-wear and made-to-order collections inspired by irreverent glamour and unabashed femininity.