Balancing the Creative Side of Fashion With Spirituality and health

Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Reese Witherspoon, Winona Rider, Courteney Cox-Arquette, and Britney Spears shop here. Cameron Diaz is spotted here almost once a week. New, hip, up-and-coming designers' names are launched here. Cosmetics company Hard Candy started out here. Hollywood stylists practically live here! Where are we? Fred Segal, California's hottest department store. FIDM recently welcomed Mr. Fred Segal himself to the Los Angeles campus for an inspiring visit. Michael A. Baruch, CEO of Fred Segal Beauty, provided a warm introduction to the man behind the shopping legend.

Forty-five years ago, Fred had an idea about fashion. He believed that people should be able to dress in a relaxed, casual manner and that clothing should reflect their personalities. As Fred looked around at the crowd of eclectically dressed FIDM students, he said, "You are the realization of my idea!" In the 1960s, Fred truly set his idea into motion with a vision of jeans. Not just any jeans—fashion jeans. Jeans in the way we see them today: indigo-dyed, studded, sequined, painted, embellished, low-slung, and high fashion. It was an idea way before its time and it would take several decades for it to catch on. He didn't give up; rather, he acted on his own advice: "Do what you feel and don't listen to anyone else."

"I knew I was onto something when everybody hated my idea about fashion jeans. With such a controversial idea, you either fall or skyrocket," Fred explained. Just look at the fashion industry of the 1980s, 1990s, and now in the new millennium to see how Fred's forward-thinking soared. Fred is known as the original creator of fashion jeans, an idea that launched the huge jean sportswear industry we know, and love to indulge in, today. Fred opened the first Fred Segal department store 40 years ago on trendy Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. He later opened the gorgeous Santa Monica location which has become a well-known celebrity haunt. Both Fred Segal stores enjoy a worldwide reputation for trend-setting integrity and are now mostly owned by former employees.

Throughout his presentation, Fred focused on the importance of balancing the creative side of fashion with spirituality and health. Fred has long been involved in spirituality and promoting world peace. He created "Peace Park," a sanctuary in Malibu, California used for housing visiting spiritual leaders, yoga retreats, workshops, and seminars on world peace and improving ecology. Fred also participated in and helped organize and promote awareness for the Great American Walk and the American-Soviet Peace Walk for world peace and nuclear disarmament. .
To break the ice and get to know his audience, Fred asked several students to join him in a circle. One by one, he asked each student to talk about their dreams and goals. Through this "group therapy" session, it became clear that Fred's success in life and business is in direct relation to the interest and compassion he holds for the world around him.