Klim Outfitters partners with BYU-Idaho for new degree
Apparel entrepreneurship has joined the list of degrees offered by Brigham Young University-Idaho. The Bachelor of Science will be a collaboration between family and consumer science and the business department.
Just like every industry, technology has greatly changed the apparel design industry. BYU-Idaho was looking for something that can fill the need for both business and technology for its design classes. Due to a working relationship with Klim Outerwear in Rigby, BYU-I will be able to offer the best of both worlds for students.
Genet Orme, head of the Apparel Design Concentration said, “Clothing is the number two grossing business right behind food because everyone wears clothes.”
“I’m an accounting major with a clothing construction minor,” said Melissa Asher. “I did that so I could do tailoring or go into fashion design, but still run my own business.”
The new degree will contain business and fashion.
“It’s a degree that combines business entrepreneurship with clothing construction and apparel design,” said Derrel Higgins, Home and Family Department chair.
“We saw the need that for our students to get a job in the industry, or even to be able to stay home and run a business from home,” said Orme. “We needed to add the technical or the computer side to it.”
Klim Outfitters out of Rigby will be bringing its technology and experience to the school with a new CAD pattern-making class starting spring semester.
“We decided it was a real sensible partnership. It would help them. It would help us both,” said Orme. “And it’s just been an amazing opportunity. It’s been a long time coming, it’s taken about a year and half to get here.”
In response to the announcement, Klim released this statement Thursday :”We are very excited about the collaboration between Klim and BYU. It’s important to us as a company to be a part of the local community. This will provide the students real world experience in the classroom working alongside industry professionals. It will also position the students to have needed technical skills for their future.”
Classes will start this coming spring semester, which begins April 18 . Those wanting to join the program won’t have to worry about a hike in tuition. BYU-Idaho has shared the resources across many departments to keep the cost down for students.
