Vani Kumar

Owner, The Suit Closet

"I chose FIDM over FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) because I knew it would be the most practical for my future goals," says Vani Kumar, Owner/CEO/Manager of The Suit Closet, a new one-stop suit shop featuring nine labels and over 800 suits for busy women. "I knew L.A. was the new 'it' place for trends and everything else fashion-related. I wanted to ride the wave."

With a brand-new B.A. in Psychology from a major university and a yen to be in the fashion biz, Vani enrolled in FIDM's Professional Designation Degree Program in Apparel Manufacturing Management. "I had over six years of retail experience under my belt, but I knew nothing of the life of the product before it got to the store. I definitely was able to fill that gap of knowledge and more. My professors gave me knowledge I couldn't have paid for. FIDM does an amazing job of hiring professors who have life experience. They all know what it really takes to survive in this highly competitive industry. Taking advantage of my professors' knowledge is what really led me to where I am today."

And today Vani is in the thick of the industry. "Each day may include being on the sales floor with my employees, reviewing inventory, making sure the books are up to date, analyzing marketing efforts, or writing checks to vendors. I like to be involved in every aspect of my company," says Vani. "What I love most about my job is that I make my customer's life easier, and that makes us both happy." With time-challenged women entering the workforce every day, Vani envisions a chain of Suit Closets throughout the Southern California region.