By Abigail Olear

UMD’s MasTERPiece is in fashion. 

After taking a hiatus during the pandemic, the club reconvened this semester. MasTERPiece aims to connect students interested in the fashion industry, according to club president Midiene Joseph, who spent a year curating an executive board and garnering interest to revive the club.

“We all wear clothes, we all buy clothes, everybody’s involved in fashion in some shape or form,” said junior information science major Jordan Goodman, the club’s vice president. 

MasTERPiece explores the fashion industry through educational sessions, hands-on activities and networking sessions. Recently, the club met for a clothing swap where they also discussed fast fashion and sustainability. They plan to host a fashion show in the spring with student designers, marketers and models.

UMD does not offer a fashion degree. Joseph, who is a junior marketing major, was able to connect with other students who are interested in fashion but did not previously have an outlet to explore their interest through the club.

“I basically wanted not just for me to do something fashion related, but also to learn from others,” Joseph said.

Club members cited community and self expression as important elements of fashion, something MastTERPiece gives them a place to explore. 

“Our club is an outlet for creative Terps because we are not an art school or a fashion school, but you’d be surprised [there are] a lot of people on campus who are involved in the arts, creative work and fashion,” said Goodman.

MasTERPiece gives its members a space to explore their personal fashion interests. Joseph expressed interest in creating a modest clothing line to fit the standards of her church. The club’s vice president of marketing Cyann Jordanel, a senior marketing major, is in the midst of starting her own sustainable fashion business. She would like to create a secure way for shoppers to thrift shop online.

Senior operations management and information systems major Oreoluwa Joy Alale, the club’s secretary, would like to create a size-inclusive clothing line. Though she is against fast fashion, she has had to resort to it in the past when struggling to find things that flatter her body. Her line could change that problem.

“The fashion industry, even when they do try to be inclusive, they just make bigger sizes, but different body shapes, you will need to make it in a different way that’s more flattering to their [the wearer’s] body type,” Alale said.

MasTERPiece wants to continue to create an inclusive and collaborative environment for anyone interested in exploring fashion.

“Anybody can be involved; it’s for everybody’s enjoyment whether you want to go towards it in a professional manner or just for straight up enjoyment or just curiosity,”  Goodman said.

Featured Image: members of MasTERPiece during a clothing swap event on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo by Liya Osiyemi.