Hartwick Announces New Fashion Merchandising Minor

“Fashion merchandising isn’t just about the clothes,” said Weiwei Zhang, associate professor of marketing. “It helps students understand how the fashion industry really works—from branding to buying and selling.”

Hartwick’s new fashion merchandising minor, launching this fall, will challenge students to explore customer behavior and the connections between design houses, storefronts, and global supply chains. They will also examine how social media and influencers shape purchasing decisions and styling trends.

As part of the program, students can earn two key certifications: Just in Time Inventory Management, which focuses on minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency, and Six Sigma, which enhances quality and reduces defects. Students will also have opportunities to intern in marketing, buying or design firms.

“It’s about understanding how culture, consumer behavior and market trends come together to create that desire for the customer,” said Zhang.

Students can also take advantage of the Global Fashion in Italy travel experience over J Term. This year, Zhang and Aaron Stephens, department chair and associate professor of business and finance, took students to Milan, Florence and Rome to experience Fashion Week.

“People had on the craziest outfits,” said Cooper Francis ‘25, a business administration major with a double minor in finance and sports management. “And everyone was invested in what Milan was wearing.”

And, as Cooper realized, fashion went beyond the runway and the Fifth Avenue storefront – it reached sports merchandising.

“We went to an AC Milan football game and everyone there had jerseys, hoodies and hats,” he said. “I brought home two scarves and they’re hanging in my room.”