Madeline Jankowski

Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors

Jankowski developed an infatuation with fashion at an early age

Hometown

Wilmington, N.C.

Major

Fashion Merchandising with an emphasis in Product Development and Design.

Activities/Honors

From my very first semester at UGA to my very last, I have been an involved and loyal member of our fashion community. My debut project in this realm was a lookbook video with the Student Merchandising Association (SMA) titled “Moulin Rouge” where I pitched, developed, and accomplished this theme with the help of the organization’s executive creative team. I felt this was the first time a creative community such as this took my ideas seriously. More importantly, it proved that since the start of my time at UGA, I have been a strong, inventive, and capable force. I went on to be a designer for SMA’s Spring 2023 fashion show, Prism and joined other organizations such as Rouge Magazine as a writer and STRIKE Magazine as a writer and content assistant. From these organizations, I have spearheaded the development of original ideas across multiple genres from fashion journalism to social commentary.

Apart from my involvement, I am recognized by the College of Family Consumer Sciences as a Presidential Scholar for having a 4.0 semester on 3 separate occasions in my college career at UGA. I was also awarded the Foundation Incentive Scholarship, which allowed me to study abroad in Cortona, Italy this past semester (Fall 2024). This experience as my final semester at UGA deepened my knowledge of fashion merchandising and design from a cultural perspective.

Why I chose my major

To be perfectly honest, I grew up with a very glamorous mother. I can’t count how many Coach bags she owned in the 2000s. I’ve been called my mother’s “mini-me” my whole life, and I think one of the ways this manifests is through my infatuation with fashion. I’ve always loved to interact with it, putting on fashion shows with my dogs at the age of 8. It’s not like I just woke up one day deciding to do it — I’ve always wanted to.

Furthermore, I am the only child out of 5 who didn’t get a finance, computer science, or biology degree. I’m the only art kid in my household and that’s special to me. It’s worth preserving, which can only be done by pursuing.

What I like most about FACS

My professors. There is no other answer I could give with as much conviction. My fashion professors have been the absolute greatest motivation during my college career, and I feel lucky to have had my education come from them. They are not only kind, flexible, generous, and supportive people, but they’re also extremely connected in the industry and have helped me get my name in the door at a variety of companies.

Post-graduation plans

Having recently returned from a transformative study abroad experience in Italy, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the country and its culture. My long-term goal is to return to Italy to further immerse myself in its fashion industry and artistic heritage. In the meantime, I plan to continue building on the skills I built during my time at UGA—particularly in writing, sales, and styling—while seeking opportunities that align with my passions and professional growth.