Get a head start on your educational goals and join us for our Summer quarter! Our exciting orientation event is set for new students on June 18th!

Not signed up yet? Join us for the Summer term starting July 8th! All programs are enrolling now.
Contact an Admisssions Representative today! 

Come shop some amazing vendors offering vintage apparel, jewelry, handcrafted gifts, sweet treats and more!

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, the registration fee is $40 which supports the Siba Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3). Vendor details here: http://bit.ly/2W1X0bA.

In case you haven’t heard, it’s a very exciting time for the Garment District of downtown St. Louis—and we LOVE that our campus is right in the center of all the action! From the addition of a high-tech knitting facility to the upcoming grand opening of a boutique hotel whose name pays tribute to our neighborhood’s roots in garment production, we’re constantly reminded why it was such a good idea to relocate our campus to Washington Avenue nine years ago.

When we chose this location for our permanent home, it was significant that the building and others around it are steeped in history. Fun fact: 1521 Washington Avenue was constructed in 1917 for the George E Keith shoe factory, and one of our closest neighbors is the world-famous International Shoe Company (which has since been partially re-purposed as the world-famous City Museum). In recent years, interest has grown in revitalizing the area with an eye towards its roots in the garment manufacturing industry. We welcomed St. Louis Fashion Fund to our block in 2017, and they have worked tirelessly toward making our neighborhood a hub for fashion innovation, inspiration, and entrepreneurship.

Even more recently it was announced that Evolution, a high-tech knitwear manufacturing facility, will be opening in on Washington Ave in Grand Center which further advances St. Louis as a great city in which to produce clothing again. Evolution is scheduled to open in August 2019 with 35 state-of-the-art knitting machines. In the first three years, the apparel manufacturing firm aims to grow to 300 machines and employ up to 60 employees.

The Last Hotel, located just to the east of us at 1501 Washington Avenue, is nearly done with a major 18-month renovation of another building in the former International Shoe Company complex. It is scheduled to open in just a few weeks and is already taking reservations for July. We are especially excited about their rooftop pool and restaurant that will be open to the public!

Other new businesses the neighborhood include local grocer, Field’s Foods, as well as the unique, photo-op-friendly art exhibit space, The Selfie Room. These great additions to other established businesses and organizations like City Museum, Sliced Pint, and Star Clipper round out our fabulous corner of St. Louis.   

It is so gratifying to see the diverse expansion and growth of Downtown West in the near-decade since we’ve called Washington Avenue home, and we can’t wait to see how the Garment District and St. Louis’ fashion footprint continues to develop!

We’ve all seen the steadfast rule that a simple, one-page resume is the way to go. But at Siba, we’re not always about following the rules. For many of our students a better adage might be, “more is more.” Showing employers a more complete package, especially in creative fields, often means web-based as well as 3-dimensional portfolios, artistic flourishes on resumes, and more.

So what should your resume look like? Siba Career Services Director Steve Asher advises that there is no ONE right way to write a resume, but here are a couple of guiding principles that never go out of style:

• If you're in your 20s, your resume should only be one page—with rare exceptions, there is not enough relevant experience to justify a second one. If you're past 30 and have significant experience in the position or field for which you are seeking, two pages are fine, but you go over that limit at your own peril.
• Carefully consider what to include and what to exclude. Don't get too attached to all of your responsibilities and accomplishments from the past. Instead, only include the accomplishments for each position on your resume that best align with the job you're applying for.
• If you are seeking a position involving creativity, be sure to supplement your resume with examples of your work.

When it comes to the more visual disciplines here at Siba, our Department Heads agree that the industry demands more than a simple resume. Employers want to see demonstrated talent – whether that’s in the form of a portfolio, website, or eye-catching business cards.

Siba Portfolio Design instructor Jamie Toon guides students as they refine their favorite projects, create self-branded resumes, and design web-based portfolios. An online portfolio gives students the flexibility to continue adding to their body of work while also showing the progression of their skills. It also gives students another layer of accessibility when they’re looking for a job. Says Toon, “These days, people are accessing as much information as they possibly can with their phone.  If you meet someone at a networking event who may possibly help you in your career and text them a quick link that flashes a few images of your best work, you’re more likely to stick in their mind—and they can quickly forward that link to others on your behalf.”  Toon also advises that students in the Interior Design field go beyond the black and white resume and develop a color scheme and “logo” that reflects their personality and design taste. “It’s never too early to start building your own brand.”

Students and recent graduates of Siba’s Graphic Design program are similarly encouraged to demonstrate their creativity and diversity of skills in their resumes and portfolios. Graphic Design Department Chair Ed Engel recommends that student portfolios should always include “a variety of design elements that include branding, collateral, packaging, websites, social media and other applications."

Another consideration for Graphic Design students in particular is how those examples are presented within your portfolio. Recent graduate Erin Hopkins says that her employers took special notice of the work she put into the layout of her portfolio: “You can have a portfolio filled with beautiful projects, but if they’re arranged into a lazy or strange layout, that’s all anyone will see. I’ve also been told my portfolio stands out because employers can feel my personality in it.”

Graphic Design students exhibit their talent several times a year during portfolio reviews in front of industry leaders. Students have created a number of unique, eye-catching results that promote their brand and showcase their talent while giving potential employers something unforgettable. For example, one student’s “business cards” were actually laser-cut discs that included contact information, but could also be used as a coaster (see photo). It was a highly creative concept that was a memorable and functional alternative to the traditional business card.

Perhaps the best advice comes from Mr. Asher again, “Most important is that your resume [and portfolio] are properly edited and curated to effectively showcase your skills, experience, and knowledge for relevant job opportunities.” And when you need help, Siba has the experienced staff and dedicated classes to help students craft the resume and portfolio that will make them stand out from the crowd.

Field Trip to Nashville! That’s where some Siba Interior Design students went this month looking to enhance their education in window treatments. Both current students and alumni joined instructors Janelle Schrumpf and Jamie Toon on a weekend trip to the International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE) where their experience extended well beyond the trade show floor….

The IWCE provides certifications, training sessions, product demos, and free hands-on workshops for students and working professionals who want an immersive experience in this aspect of interior design. Students spent the weekend interlocking drapery layers, perfecting their swag execution, and trouble-shooting issues with roman blinds. They also had the opportunity to interact with successful Nashville designers who offered their insights on the spirit of Nashville: time-honored tradition blended with new and innovative ideas in design.

After the expo, the students got to visit Belle Meade Plantation, best known for its historic role in breeding elite racehorses. Students toured the grounds, stables, and the mansion itself, where they observed the old-world architecture and the extravagant window draperies appropriate to the era of its heyday.

Students also toured the grounds of Andrew Jackson’s historical home, Hermitage, and the gardens where the 7^th president of the United States was laid to rest.

Finally, the group got to spend some time enjoying the city of Nashville! Instructor Janelle Schrumpf commented, “It was exciting to share my passion for the grand historical homes with all their glory and to have the students experience the period furniture, the history, architecture and window treatments.  And the expo got our creativity flowing with all the emerging and exciting trends in fabrics, window coverings, decorative hardware, and the endless possibilities for customization.”