LSU Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising

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LSU Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising

Louisiana State University Department of Textiles, Apparel Design, & Merchandising The department houses the LSU Textile and Costume Museum.
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Textiles and apparel play an important role in everyone’s daily life – from clothing to the textiles that surround us in our homes, cars, businesses, public spaces, and even in the outdoors – and in the global economy. According to Fashion United, the global apparel market in 2018 was valued at $3 trillion, employed 58 million people and accounted for 2 percent of the world’s gross domestic produc

t. In the United States, the domestic market is valued at $386 billion and employs 1.8 million people, 79% of whom work for apparel retailers. The fashion industry focuses on culturally creative and diverse products and has potential to cultivate small businesses in Louisiana and across the nation. There has been an increase in the number of fashion entrepreneurs in Louisiana. Many graduates of the department have started their own businesses in apparel design and fashion merchandising. The Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising prepares students to enter this vast and changing world through creativity and an eye to the future. Among the many innovations in the department is the development of a Digital Design Technology Hub to provide students and faculty with the latest technology used in the apparel industry. Starting with the fall semester of 2017, students can digitally design a garment and fit it on a 3-D computer-generated avatar. The new computer classroom, together with the department’s 3-D and 4-D body scanner (4-D adds the capability of recording the dimension of body movement), will also allow students to create their designs, obtain a body scan of their model, print a pattern scaled to the model’s figure and then construct their garments. They will even be able to design and print fabrics specifically for their garments on a new textile printer. Student works are shown to the public every spring in the Fashion Association’s annual student fashion show. Textile scientists investigate natural and synthetic organic polymers used in textile materials, together with preparation of sustainable composites made of plant-derived polymers and fibers. The cultural and historical significance of textiles and apparel is also extremely important. The museum's holdings are global in scope and include prehistoric and ethnic textiles and garments as well as contemporary high fashions and high-tech textiles. The museum supports the teaching and research efforts of faculty and students. Special collections within the museum preserve a vital part of local, state and regional history. The museum's LSU collection documents innumerable aspects of the university's unique history. Its Louisiana collection includes Native American and Acadian textile artifacts, inaugural garments of previous governors and their families, Red Cross attire used during the Katrina recovery effort, and post-World War II feed sack clothing. The university recently provided new physical space to the museum where it will have a much larger public exhibition gallery with a dedicated entrance. The Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising works to expand its scope and continue to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed in the contemporary job market. Graduates are sought after to fill design and merchandising management positions in the fashion industry. Many students after participating in national and international internships choose to stay in Louisiana to use their skills and increase the recognition of Louisiana as an important player in the fashion world.

04/18/2026

TAM students Cadence LeBlanc and Anna Stookey did a wonderful job representing us at discovery day! Way to go!

04/02/2026

Experience the future of fashion where tradition meets innovation.

Join us for the Fashion Symposium Exhibition, featuring AI-assisted designs—including garments and accessories that reimagine craftsmanship through cutting-edge technology—alongside a silk-themed exhibition sponsored by the China National Silk Museum.

📅 April 10–12, 2026
📍 LSU Textile Museum, Human Ecology Building

From heritage-inspired silk creations to forward-thinking digital design, this exhibition highlights how AI is transforming fashion creativity and storytelling.

Come explore, get inspired, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of fashion.

02/20/2026

Amazing Work!

LSU researchers are helping to develop a smart, AI-powered exoskeleton to protect construction workers from strain and injury. Blending engineering with apparel design, the team is creating wearable technology for diverse body types and real-world job demands.

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays Everyone! Enjoy your break!

11/24/2025

Several of LSU’s TAM Students spent last week in St. Louis, Missouri at the 2025 ITAA Annual Conference. They were able to present their research and meet colleagues from around the world. Way to Geaux!

11/19/2025

Our TAM 3045 students are back at it. The newest window displays are up in the Human Ecology building lobby. Be sure to come check them out before they’re gone! (Coming down Tuesday, November 25th.)

11/06/2025

The Human Ecology Building is now home to a new campus sustainability project. In support of .co (A New Orleans based glass recycling organization.) please bring in your glass recyclables to our new recycle bin in the lobby!

08/13/2025

Dr. Casey Stannard's work will be featured as part of the "Contemporary Views of the Castellated Capitol" exhibit at the Old State Capital. The opening reception will be from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Please invite your friends to join us for this event, which celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Old State Capitol's construction.

RSVP:

Join the Old State Capitol for a very special evening celebrating our new exhibit in honor of our 175th anniversary.

07/16/2025

Holy Cow TAM Tigers! Check out this amazing donation we received today! Tons of books, fabric, yarn, and other fun supplies! We’ll be sorting through it over the next couple of days but we can’t wait to share this with you in a few weeks! Sending a HUGE shoutout to Mrs. Ellery! We can’t thank you enough.

05/30/2025

Some of our amazing TAM students are enjoying their summer interning with Dillards at the Mall of Louisiana! 🙌🏻

04/29/2025

One of our Masters students, LaDyra Lyte, recently successfully completed her degree requirements. Her work will be on display in the Human Ecology Building lobby until May 9th. Full details for her extensive project can be found in the bio link!

Address

Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
70803

Website

https://lsu.edu/agriculture/tam/

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