In January, Kristina Michelle Ang, a current third-year fashion design student at Parsons School of Design, launched the first episode of her podcast, “Life of a Fashion Student” from her bedroom in Queens, NY.
Ang, who has had several internships in the fashion industry since high school, has an active Instagram account where friends from Parsons and beyond took notice of her success. Soon Ang found herself fielding questions about her life, and offering career advice to students from inside and outside of the fashion industry.
“There were people not in fashion. People who I knew from high school who were contacting me, asking me about internships in general, even when they were studying business or STEM-related stuff.”
Ang, an avid podcast listener herself, realized she couldn’t find a podcast that addressed her specific needs as a fashion student. There was a desire to hear an honest account from a student going through the experience, so Ang decided to compile her advice and document her journey by starting the podcast, “Life of a Fashion Student.”
Over the past nine months, Ang has recorded over 30 episodes within a range of topics, curated in part by requests from her listeners.
“I have people listen to my podcast who are not involved in fashion, but who just want to hear how passionate I am about following my own dream and the advice that I give to other people to follow their dream as well,” said Ang.
Some of Ang’s most candid episodes stem from moments of personal struggle. In one episode, Ang started to look at fashion school as an obstacle rather than a vehicle to success. Overwhelmed by school work, Ang, who had developed multiple industry connections, was ready to “get out there” and “fully immerse herself” in the fashion industry.
Then in March, when the coronavirus pandemic forced Parsons students to transition to remote learning, Ang dealt with stress, burnout, and the struggle to stay creative during quarantine. But Ang was able to find an outlet through her podcast, which helped her accept that her talent and interests were guiding her to opportunities outside of fashion design. As an intern at the Council of Fashion Design of America, Ang’s focus is on education and sustainability. Interviewing designers and fashion journalists like Teen Vogue’s Fashion and Beauty Editor Michelle Li has taught her that opportunities abound within the fashion industry outside of designing.
“Even though I give advice, I learn new things about myself all the time. For the longest time, I was always asking myself, “What am I good at?” said Ang. Her experience in the industry helped Ang realize she enjoyed helping and educating people about issues in fashion more than designing itself.
Through encouraging others, Ang also encouraged herself, ultimately deciding to stay at Parsons. “I just thought it was important to finish my education here at Parsons, and I figured fashion design is where I started. It’s worth it to see where it goes from here,” Ang said.
It’s this mix of vulnerability and ingenuity that makes Ang relatable to her audience. An email from one younger listener thanked Ang for her advice, which helped guide her decision to pursue a fashion career.
“I got really emotional and it helped motivate me so much in just doing what I do,” said Ang.
Katherine Saje, a third-year fashion student at Parsons and Ang’s best friend finds her podcast to be relatable and inspiring.
“I listen to her podcast quite often. I think her podcasts are relatable to many fashion students and it’s down to earth. Overall, I love how clear and organized she is in all her podcasts and she delivers encouragement through her own experiences,” said Saje.
Beyond career advice, Ang has used her platform to advocate for changes in her field by bringing awareness to harmful trends in the industry like the lack of diversity and representation and the prevalence of unpaid internships.
But it hasn’t always been easy for Ang to speak on controversial issues. She had previously “always been the one to stay silent” because she was “afraid of what people would think.”
Ang has embraced that shift and encourages others to do the same: “Something that I always tell people that is so important is to find a niche for yourself. I realized what I’m good at, and what people expect from me, is to listen to my advice.”
In a competitive industry, Ang utilized social media to develop her personal brand. “It’s not about capitalizing on that kind of stuff. It’s not about the money. It’s about making a business at what you’re good at and what you know.”
Ang is teaching others how to create their own unique space in their field. With future plans to tackle more controversial topics and interview guests, Ang is more confident about the future and direction of her career.
“I have some exciting stuff coming out next year, and I’m really working hard on it. But it all started with my podcast where I discovered that within myself, I have something to say to the world and something that people want to hear.”
Follow “Life of a Fashion Student” on Instagram for updates and links to the latest episode.