It’s celebration time for guys and gals who have a flair for working in a fashion-related industry. The Fashion Industries Organization has come for them.

— For more information on TAM program, e-mail your questions to [email protected].

— Students interested in being a part of FIO can also email [email protected].

“FIO is an organization on campus that was designed to help textiles, apparel and merchandising majors and minors,” said FIO President Melissa Karson. “Now FIO has opened its gates to all majors and minors and whoever has a penchant for its activities.”

FIO has many ambitious projects planned for the current year.

One significant project of the year is the Glass Slipper Project. It aims to collect prom dresses and accessories and give them to inner-city high school girls in Chicago. NIU is a prominent collection site for the project.

TAM majors are offered a broad perspective and when leaving NIU they have a myriad of career opportunities. Some of them can find work as buyers, sales representatives and visual merchandisers.

It’s important to know that FIO is just an organization and they don’t offer any jobs or employment. They run a few charity events and go on small trips. FIO does not offer any courses.

FIO is very much interested in putting together career resources in the form of a possible job and internship fair for TAM majors. It would be a major breakthrough for students who have an appetite for fashion to accomplish this task, which requires a lot of energy and hard work.

FIO is on the lookout for deserving students.

“FIO is a group for any individual on campus who is interested in fashion,” said FIO secretary Brigitte DeBruyne. “We hope that we will have a big response this year. The executive board has come up with some new ideas for this year. We hope to have a job and internship fair, set up an FIO Web site, and do more things for the community.”

The body image awareness week organized by FIO received a tremendous response. This gave incentive to FIO to come out with a wide variety of programs this year. They are looking forward to this year’s event with much more anticipation.

FIO has a very good program this year, and this time they want to put the focus on eating disorders as they have proven suicidal for people aspiring for a career in fashion. This comes as great solace for victims of obesity and other eating disorders. FIO wants to provide them with much-needed support.

FIO also has a very encouraging message for young women.

“We want girls to know that they don’t have to be small to look beautiful and healthy. After all, beauty has a manifestation in all sizes,” Karson added.

For more information on TAM program, e-mail your questions to [email protected].

Students interested in being a part of FIO can also email [email protected].