The Michigan Journal for the Business of Fashion, or from here on out, MASH Magazine, is here to serve a purpose. MASH resides at the intersection of fashion, business, technology, and editorial work to bring this campus a fresh perspective through the eyes of spirited student leadership and greater community participation. Our vision is to shed light on the cultural, economical, political, and radical pressures that influence the design industry and in turn, push our world as a whole towards a more innovative and inclusive future. MASH will analyze the various facts of brands and their internal clockwork—how companies predict trends, the rise and fall of fast fashion, sustainability in manufacturing, and more. 

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MASH originated from a shared love of fashion and business. Growing up, I admired icons in the industries and imagined a future in which I could find my own place in the fashion world. After discovering that my sewing skills weren’t up to par, I uncovered the behind-the-scenes work that impacted virtually every aspect of the industry. Over the past couple of years, I have been intrigued by topics such as the future of fashion, the business implications of mass production, magazine spreads that highlighted radical new campaigns, etc. 

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MASH is for those who spend time at the intersection. With one foot in the fashion industry, and another in the business, MASH strives to be the hodge-podge, everything but the kitchen sink, mish-mash magazine that provides content that can bring people from both worlds together. If you’re anything like me, you have an innate curiosity for the business world but the associated complexities and business jargon can go right over your head, making you feel almost incapable of engaging in elevated conversation. You’ve also probably spent a considerable amount of time practicing the correct French pronunciations of Comme Des Garçons after numerous embarrassing attempts due to the 7 unnecessary years of required Spanish classes. MASH is here to bring the business of fashion to you. Our goal is to be the user-friendly, witty, inspiring, understandable, impossible-to-put-down, easy read that pairs perfectly with that early morning Starbucks before your 10 AM. Comprised of a dedicated team of leaders, MASH is curious, relentless, boundary-pushing, and thought-provoking. 

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If anything in this letter sparked an idea in your head, made your heartbeat a little faster, or inspired you to close out of your monotonous Instagram recap, then join us. We are looking for the relentlessly curious, collaborative, and driven students who are ready to help launch MASH in order to make a name for itself on campus. 

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The MASH team has dedicated massive amounts of time, energy, and love into the creation of our first edition. I can’t thank this team enough for believing in my idea and lending their own to elevate MASH and make it real. As you’re reading this, I am somewhere, crossing my fingers, hoping you all believe in us too. With that said, enjoy our first edition and keep your eye out for so much more.

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Cheers,

Willa Sobel