FAB Lab Students design a jacket for the Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed
Baton Rouge, La. - Southern University College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences Fashion and Business Laboratory (FAB Lab) fellows Darlynn Marks, Amaya Johnson, Maya Campbell, Kyra Reeves, JaNeice Allen, and Monica Pitts alongside FAB Lab Program Director, Dr. Samii Kennedy-Benson were commissioned to design a Bayou Classic jacket for Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Dr. Reed wanted the jacket to incorporate aspects of Southern University and Grambling State University with gold accents to signify the Bayou Classic's 50th anniversary.
After two separate meetings for consultations and fittings, the students delivered the completed Jaguar and Tiger print garment to Dr. Reed’s office on November 22, 2023.
The students and Dr. Kennedy-Benson were also interviewed on the LA Board of Regents podcast to discuss their experience making the jacket. The interview is available at, https://bit.ly/47uEBFH.
The jacket was recently displayed during the Fab Lab's Winter Showcase and Holiday Pop-Up Shop held on Saturday, December 2. 2023.
The FAB Lab is sponsored by a USDA grant to foster entrepreneurship amongst fashion students.
“The FAB Lab is for students who either have a business and they want to develop it more or students who want to step into that realm and learn how to develop their own business,” stated Dr. Kennedy-Benson.
There are a total of six FAB Fellows in the program. The fellows are selected through an extensive application process. As a part of the fellowship, the students receive a stipend, mentorship, and other opportunities through the program.
For additional information on the FAB Lab, contact Dr. Kennedy-Benson at samii_kenedybenson@subr.edu.
Information for this article was provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents Louisiana’s Got Talent A Higher Education Podcast.