Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles

Recent Involvement with Extension:  In addition to these funded projects, the MAT department has also contributed to programs in summer 4-H and lectures to Extension groups in the area of rural retailing.

Project coordinator:  Kim Spillman, Ph.D.
Funding:  4-H Venture Grant

Description of project:

With less tobacco production, farm, low income, and Hispanic youth are vulnerable. Through this project, youth learned basic sewing skills and entrepreneurial skills to prepare for self employment in sewing related cottage industries – apparel construction, alterations, auto manufacturing, and museum/historic preservation. The project was pilot tested in four counties.

Project Coordinator:  Susan Michelman, Ph.D.
Funding:  HEEL

Description of Project:

Students in FCS 350: Design Issues in Family and Consumer Sciences, taught by Dr. Kim Spillman, made therapy turbans during class with the assistance of Marjorie Baker, Extension Clothing Specialist.  As a community service project, the turbans were donated to chemotherapy patients at Markey Cancer Center who have suffered hair loss during treatment. The knit turbans are best sewn on a serger, a machine that both stitches and finishes a seam in one step. Two Baby Lock sergers were donated to the construction lab (retail value of nearly $1,200.00) by John and Susan Michelman in support of the project

From left to right: Lindsay Stevens (FCS major); Craig Rogers (Director of Cancer Services, Markey Cancer Center); Sherri Sullivan (Master's student in FCS); Dawn Durham (FCS major), and Cara Drury (MAT major).