Town & Gown:
Home Economics Has Come a Long Way
Reprinted here in its entirety.

04-11-2007

Jacksonville State University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences was once known as the Home Economics Department back in the days when the discipline was aimed more at the young homemaker rather than professional or scientific students.

Today, the new emphasis on science brings many job opportunities. We asked fashion merchandising instructor Robbie B. Boggs to explain how this shift in emphasis has changed her discipline.

”Family and Consumer Sciences, as a discipline, integrates content areas like clothing, nutrition and foods, housing, human relationships, and child development into a body of knowledge that addresses some of the problems that face individuals and families in our ever-changing world,” Boggs said. "As a result of input from focus groups, our department periodically adjusts course content to meet the demands of the workplace to keep up with market trends. The merchandising discipline has changed our content within the past few years, and the curriculum now includes more courses in business, as well as courses in planning, buying, and selling apparel. There are courses in buying with emphasis on retail math. There is a ‘global’ class covering international industry trends for textiles and apparel. Technology changes rapidly and courses must be structured to reflect these changes.”

But what about the old-fashioned classes, such as sewing and taking care of the family’s clothing? Are they relevant any longer?

According to Boggs, “When I was in college majoring in fashion merchandising, the majority of the courses were in clothing construction—courses like tailoring, flat pattern, and draping -- as well as textile science courses. Now, instead of sewing courses, the courses are concerned with the functions of planning, buying, and selling apparel items. Today, it’s all about consumers -- their behavior and lifestyles.

“One has to understand how to merchandise a line for the target market and then market or promote that line with a profit. Fabrics come from all over the world. Retailing goes beyond the boundaries of the United States through licensing and franchising ventures.”

Today, the department has only one construction course that is required, but only the Education, Merchandising, and Human Sciences concentrations have this course requirement. All the students in this class make a pair of pajamas -- shirt and pants.

“This is something that is actually useful and most students are proud of their accomplishment,” Boggs said. “I believe it is important to understand what constitutes quality in a garment and what makes one garment cost more than another.

“Consumers want the best buy for the money and demand quality. Besides, everyone should know how to hem or sew on a button. Granted, not everyone is destined to be a designer, but the skills learned last a lifetime.”

What does the future of merchandising look like? Will students continue to find good jobs?

Boggs says: “Fashion is everywhere! Those who know the business and have talent, ambition, and ability can succeed in a wide variety of jobs. These jobs are available in all geographic locations. Many exist in the retail industry.

“However, good fashion jobs are not easy to get. People who are interested in textiles and fashion and who understand the needs and wants of consumers are most likely to succeed. It demands hard work & dedication.”

Want to know more about fashion merchandising or Family and Consumer Sciences? E-mail your questions to rboggs@jsu.edu.

About William A. Meehan

Dr. William A. Meehan is president of Jacksonville State University. His column, Town & Gown, appears in The Jacksonville News.

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