If you’ve already purchased every T-shirt and pullover in the bookstore, you’re in luck: there’s some brand new Marist merchandise to be bought — and it’s really cute.
Fashionology is now offering everything from bralettes to hoodies to tote bags emblazoned with old school images and the official Marist seal, which has seen its popularity rise since Admissions led a social media overhaul last year. In fact, the seal can now be spotted on most official Marist Twitter and Instagram profiles. The shop, located in the Donnelly Hall Fashion Plaza, has diversified its merchandise and sells licensed, Marist-brand apparel at the request of none other than President Murray.
“About a year and a half ago, President Murray actually approached the Fashion Department about going into the archives because he had been abroad and he wanted to bring the history and the vintageness of what’s there with Marist and then incorporate it through a fashion sense,” says Jennifer Finn, instructor of Fashionology. “It was really his presidential challenge that approached us a while back.”
Inspired by old photographs and the Marist logo, which dates back to the 1960s, the new clothing line is a sophisticated look back at Marist’s history and is designed for men, women and even infants and toddlers in an effort to reach alumni as well as students. Thanks to trend analysis performed by Marist fashion students, sophisticated new options include a T-shirt that says “Red Fox Nation” in French and a draped tank with the “M” seal.
After a successful test run in November, in which 75 percent of new merchandise sold within four days, a full line of apparel is available for purchase. Not meant to compete with the bookstore, it offers a more stylish approach to school spirit than the bookstore’s athletic-driven apparel.
When the full line finally became available in late March, it caused a buzz among Marist collegiettes and faculty.
“Young and old alike” are enjoying the new clothing options, Finn says. “I haven’t seen any kind of kickback of whether this was for the students. There were definitely faculty that said, ‘I love that. I want that.’”
To check out the new line, head to the Donnelly Hall Fashion Plaza on Mondays and Thursdays and follow Fashionology on Twitter at @mc_fashionology.
Photo credit: Nicole Knoebel