edition v letter from the editors
By Kat Barden & Tate Schmergel
Kat –
For MASH, the opening months of the Fall 2021 semester have been filled with firsts. First in-person club fair, first in-person team meeting, first industry expert panel. We even expanded our team by over 50%, with thirty-two diversely talented, creative individuals now contributing to MASH at USC. In many ways, this period has reminded me of our first semester as a student organization. We are re-greasing the training wheels and mounting them back on the bike as we learn how to navigate MASH’s on-campus presence. Edition V: Back to Work, mirrors this transition period.
In Edition V, we have challenged our community to answer a very difficult, yet important question: what does professionalism look like in a post-quarantine world? As always, our contributors have chosen incredibly thoughtful responses to this question, ranging from discussions about fashion in the tech industry, to the environmental effects of revamped office wardrobes, to the influence of TikTok on workwear.
Watching MASH expand is truly one of the greatest joys of my academic career. Every time someone points out the sticker on my computer or water bottle, I am reminded of just how much we have grown up over the past year. I could not be more thankful to our incredible team, our contributors, the industry professionals and inspiring entrepreneurial speakers who put their faith in our team for our first-ever panel (for an audience of over 120 students!), and our ever-expanding readership. We have a hell of a lot more to come. Stay tuned.
Tate –
I often reference how MASH functions like a Warholian Factory – an idea I borrowed from Lady Gaga and her creative team, Haus of Gaga. Each team member has a distinct position with unique responsibilities, however, creative direction comes from every individual at every level. Ideas for themes, events, content, web design, collaborations and merchandise (the list goes on and on) come from no single position description or responsibility, but rather our brilliant team's holistic creative and innovative spirit.
The creative process for Edition V was born into a post-vaccine world. The concept for this edition theme – back to work – was proposed over the summer as we returned to in-person workspaces. Impelled by the notion of being seen again, our executive board brainstormed how re-emerging from our bedrooms and artificial realities would impact the world of business and fashion. As a result, the industry transitioned quickly: from the hybrid runways of Paris fashion week to synthesizing increasingly comfortable business apparel to the re-introduction of in-person retail.
Like studio artists, our team took this muse and tactically crafted events (including an in-person panel of industry specialists and headshot popup for our team!), content calendars, marketing strategies and imaginative branding to encompass our latest vision. Voilà – Edition V has arrived! I cannot begin to describe my growing pride, gratitude and admiration for this organization. The hard work of each team and individual is unparalleled. So go forth and read our latest edition with a curious eye, and as always, stay in touch.
For MASH, the opening months of the Fall 2021 semester have been filled with firsts. First in-person club fair, first in-person team meeting, first industry expert panel. We even expanded our team by over 50%, with thirty-two diversely talented, creative individuals now contributing to MASH at USC. In many ways, this period has reminded me of our first semester as a student organization. We are re-greasing the training wheels and mounting them back on the bike as we learn how to navigate MASH’s on-campus presence. Edition V: Back to Work, mirrors this transition period.
In Edition V, we have challenged our community to answer a very difficult, yet important question: what does professionalism look like in a post-quarantine world? As always, our contributors have chosen incredibly thoughtful responses to this question, ranging from discussions about fashion in the tech industry, to the environmental effects of revamped office wardrobes, to the influence of TikTok on workwear.
Watching MASH expand is truly one of the greatest joys of my academic career. Every time someone points out the sticker on my computer or water bottle, I am reminded of just how much we have grown up over the past year. I could not be more thankful to our incredible team, our contributors, the industry professionals and inspiring entrepreneurial speakers who put their faith in our team for our first-ever panel (for an audience of over 120 students!), and our ever-expanding readership. We have a hell of a lot more to come. Stay tuned.
Tate –
I often reference how MASH functions like a Warholian Factory – an idea I borrowed from Lady Gaga and her creative team, Haus of Gaga. Each team member has a distinct position with unique responsibilities, however, creative direction comes from every individual at every level. Ideas for themes, events, content, web design, collaborations and merchandise (the list goes on and on) come from no single position description or responsibility, but rather our brilliant team's holistic creative and innovative spirit.
The creative process for Edition V was born into a post-vaccine world. The concept for this edition theme – back to work – was proposed over the summer as we returned to in-person workspaces. Impelled by the notion of being seen again, our executive board brainstormed how re-emerging from our bedrooms and artificial realities would impact the world of business and fashion. As a result, the industry transitioned quickly: from the hybrid runways of Paris fashion week to synthesizing increasingly comfortable business apparel to the re-introduction of in-person retail.
Like studio artists, our team took this muse and tactically crafted events (including an in-person panel of industry specialists and headshot popup for our team!), content calendars, marketing strategies and imaginative branding to encompass our latest vision. Voilà – Edition V has arrived! I cannot begin to describe my growing pride, gratitude and admiration for this organization. The hard work of each team and individual is unparalleled. So go forth and read our latest edition with a curious eye, and as always, stay in touch.