Global Engagement: The fashion industry in Vietnam

Understanding the global fashion industry can be a tough concept for undergraduate students to understand, particularly if they have never traveled abroad. This class was created as the Trans-Pacific Partnership was finishing negotiations and focused on the impact this would have for Vietnam. Students were taken on a study abroad trip to Vietnam to better understand the implications of the TPP on third world countries, to understand the scope and scale of challenges that face the global apparel industry and to examine Vietnamese culture and fashion. Students conducted research before and during the trip on a variety of topics including the history of traditional Vietnamese dress, the social influences on wearing traditional dress for modern females and the retail economy and marketplaces in Vietnam. All students also wrote a reflection paper after returning to the US which focused on their personal experiences. Future trips are in the planning stages.