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Ten CLASS: The NYC Experience participants representing different universities pose together on a rooftop overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Kirkland stands in the back row wearing a purple TCU Horned Frogs shirt and making the Horned Frog hand sign.
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Where Sports Meet Style: TCU Fashion Student Takes on New York Fashion Week

September 18, 2026, by McKenzie Campbell

TCU senior Camryn Kirkland, a Fashion Merchandising and Marketing double major and student-athlete, recently traveled to New York City for CLASS: The NYC Experience, an immersive professional development program held during New York Fashion Week.

We caught up with Kirkland about taking her trip, representing the university as a TCU distance runner and discovering new possibilities for a career at the intersection of sports and fashion.

Camryn Kirkland, wearing a light blue shirt and plaid skirt, stands with other CLASS participants as a fashion industry professional speaks to the group in a showroom surrounded by clothing racks.
Kirkland and fellow CLASS participants meet with fashion industry professionals during an immersive visit in New York City.


What were some of the highlights of CLASS: The NYC Experience and experiencing New York during Fashion Week? 
CLASS was such a valuable opportunity because it allowed us to connect with industry professionals working across a variety of roles within fashion. Touring the G-III Apparel Group headquarters and showrooms was probably my favorite part. We met with the president of the sports division and heard from a panel of four other professionals working in different areas of the company. I especially enjoyed hearing about the experiences and opportunities that led each of them to where they are today.

Being in New York during Fashion Week made the experience especially exciting because so many events and industry professionals were in the city at the same time. Several people on our Saturday panel were representing their brands for Fashion Week, so it was interesting to hear what such an important week looks like from a brand and business perspective.

I also attended pop-ups and brand collaborations throughout the city, including SKIMS x Community Goods, Medicube, e.l.f. and Lola Blankets. What surprised me most, though, was how quickly I formed friendships with people from across the country. That sense of community ended up being one of my favorite parts of the experience.

A three-photo collage shows Camryn Kirkland participating in CLASS: The NYC Experience, including visiting a fashion workspace, walking through New York City with other students and attending a sports fashion event.
TCU senior Camryn Kirkland participates in fashion industry experiences across New York City through CLASS: The NYC Experience during New York Fashion Week.


How did you apply what you've learned at TCU? 
We spent quite a bit of time discussing our personal brands, and I was able to draw from what I've learned through both fashion merchandising and marketing at TCU. Concepts like brand identity, image and structure were areas I could explore more intentionally because of that foundation.

In my Name Image and Likeness class in the Neeley School of Business, we also spent time developing my personal brand as a student-athlete. Revisiting that work in a completely different environment allowed me to connect ideas from different areas of my education and think more intentionally about how I want to present myself professionally.

What did the experience teach you about preparing for a career in fashion? 
One of my biggest takeaways was thinking more deeply about what I'm genuinely passionate about. I realized that although I have several different interests, I don't necessarily have to narrow myself down to just one when thinking about my career.

There are so many opportunities within fashion that could allow me to combine different interests and strengths. That made me even more excited about exploring where my career could take me.

A three-photo collage features a “Building Your Personal Brand” presentation, personal color analysis materials and a garment bag labeled with TCU student Camryn Kirkland’s name.
CLASS: The NYC Experience gave Kirkland opportunities to explore personal branding, styling and other aspects of professional development within the fashion industry.


How has being a student-athlete shaped the way you approach opportunities like this? 
Athletics has taught me to be disciplined, adaptable and intentional with the opportunities I'm given, while fashion merchandising has allowed me to explore a completely different side of myself creatively and professionally.

Representing TCU in both capacities was really special because it brought together two major parts of my college experience. Sports and fashion intersect in so many ways, especially today, so having the opportunity to represent both sides of my experience was incredibly meaningful.

As a senior, did the experience change or reinforce what you'd like to pursue after graduation?
The experience reinforced how many opportunities exist within fashion that could allow me to combine my interests in athletics and fashion. Being exposed to such a wide variety of roles gave me a better understanding of the areas I could see myself exploring professionally.

I'm also thankful to have another year of eligibility in track, which gives me additional time to grow as an athlete and young professional. As I prepare for internship interviews, I'm excited to continue gaining experience, learn which areas of the industry I'm most drawn to and hopefully turn one of those opportunities into a full-time position after graduation.