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Wrangler Producing Shirt Designed by Kent State Student

Professor's contact with company provides big opportunity for student's project.

A work-wear garment created by a fashion merchandising major will be available for purchase in the Wrangler Christmas 2012 catalog.

Garrettsville native Shannon Gallagher, a fifth-year fashion merchandising major and entrepreneurship minor, designed the garment in her product development class.

The Western-style work-wear shirt is long-sleeved with a designed yoke, shirt-type collar, flapped breast pockets and decorative stitching. It is designed for men and has been produced by Wrangler from a concept to a wearable piece. 

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Gallagher’s motivation came from her rural upbringing and experience on a farm.

“My inspiration came from my lifestyle of living on a farm and what my brother and father would wear. I've raised and showed livestock for years and this design came from there,” the 22-year-old explained.

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Gallagher credits Kent State Professor Trista Grieder for her success with Wrangler. She said Grieder “played a huge role” in her achievement because Grieder’s project proposal was encouraging – and she also submitted Gallagher’s design to her contact at Wrangler for review.

“Shannon came to me with her passion for the Western customer early in the spring semester of 2010. She had tried to design lines for this customer before and knew I had worked for (Wrangler) in my industry background,” Grieder said. “This was Shannon's chance to shine.”

Grieder helps to prepare students in using product development industry sheets, Illustrator, Photoshop and many other industry-wide resources. Her students learn that merchandisers and designers are partners in the creation of fashion and that a large network can be the foundation for future successes.

“I try to guide the product development class into other directions than just women’s wear. Due to the continuous friendship with my past mentor at Wrangler, we embarked on a men's Western shirt project. Shannon's project stood out, and they decided to manufacture her design,” said Grieder.

“(Trista) Grieder emailed me and it took reading it three times and having my mom read the email to me to believe it was real,” Gallagher said. “It was even more exciting when she sent the email about my shirt design actually (being) produced and in her office where I could finally see and touch it!”

Gallagher has received praise and support from her family and friends. She said her father and brother “are excited to buy the shirt next Christmas and are proud to be part of the inspiration.” Although Gallagher is unsure what the future holds after graduation, she is looking forward to “graduating with honors” in May.

During her free time, Gallagher enjoys sewing, scrapbooking and photography. She also dedicates her time to teaching children to sew through 4-H clubs and programs. She stays involved in the fashion community by engaging in local entrepreneurship organizations, 4-H, leadership programs and scholarly groups.

She currently works as an independent Mary Kay consultant, a teacher at the Looking Glass Learning Center and a sales associate at the Longaberger Factory Store.

Grieder joined the Kent State Fashion School faculty in fall 2010 and has been in the business for more than 13 years. She earned her bachelor of arts in costume design from Kent State and her master’s of science in higher education in online teaching and learning from Kaplan University.

Her industry experience includes working with such companies as Wrangler Jeans, Dillard’s, Augusta Sportswear and Mountain High Hosiery. Grieder has spent most of her career in product development and CAD. One of her greatest successes was winning an award for designing a women’s jean for Wrangler, which sold in record numbers.

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