How to break into the fashion industry – Student and Alumni Mixer

This edition of Fashion Industry Talks focuses on finding ways of working in the fashion industry. Experts from different parts of the professional field of fashion, some of them AUP alums, will talk about their careers and paths into the industry, and the key entry point of internships. Students will have the opportunity to hear and ask about first-hand experience. AUP Alumni are very much invited – creating an opportunity for current and former Fashion Studies students to meet and create connections.

This event is organized by Fashion Studies at AUP in collaboration with Academic and Career Exploration(ACE) and Development and Alumni Relations

About the Speakers

Sara Emilia Bernat '11 | Alumna, Senior Strategist Gemic

Sara Emilia Bernat, PhD, is a Paris-based cultural strategist and sociologist specializing in fashion, luxury, and culture. She began her career as a fashion model, working internationally with leading brands and publications including Chanel and Vogue. An alumna of the American University of Paris, she earned a Master’s in Branding from the School of Visual Arts and a PhD from Humboldt-Universität on sustainable fashion consumption. She founded the Fashion Forward think tank in New York, supported by the Visegrad Foundation, advancing research on underexplored Central and Eastern European fashion and publishing the first academic book on digital fashion. Bernat now leads foresight-driven strategy at Gemic for clients including Lululemon and Arc'teryx, and writes regularly for Vestoj, Luxury Daily, and other leading publications.

Madeline Czarnik '21 | Alumna, Strategic Sustainability Coordinator | Traceability & LCA Analyst

Madeline Czarnik has always known that sustainable fashion wasn’t just a career path, but a calling. That drive to reshape the industry from the inside out has been the force behind every degree she earned, every city she worked in, and every role she stepped into. Armed with a BA in Fashion Activism from the American University of Paris, a self-designed degree spanning environment, anthropology, business, and fashion, Madeline built her academic foundation across borders, including a semester at the London College of Fashion studying Media and Communications. During her time at AUP, she also co-founded Les Dépaysants, an arts and fashion publication that reflects her early instinct to merge creative vision with a platform for new voices. She went on to earn a Master’s in Marketing and Écoresponsibility from LISAA Paris and an MBA in Business within Planetary Boundaries from Regen School, cementing her expertise at the crossroads of strategy, sustainability, and systems thinking. On the ground, her experience is just as multidimensional. She has worked in marketing and sustainability at Phi 1.618 and as a Traceability and Life Cycle Assessment Analyst at Fairly Made, based at La Caserne, Europe’s largest sustainable fashion incubator. Earlier internships brought her to Paris market week alongside brands including Erdem, Christian Cowan, and Jonathan Cohen, and to Wonderland Magazine and Karla Otto PR in London and KCD Productions in Paris, spanning editorial, communications, and production. Today, Madeline is here to help you think strategically about your own path : whether your passion lies in sustainability, CSR, or creative services in Fashion.

William Dorn '16 | Alumnus, Founder of DORN Communications

William Dorn is the founder of DORN Communications, a London-based agency specialising in strategic global communications for craftsmanship-driven luxury and fashion brands. He has built over a decade of international experience across the UK, France, and the USA, delivering bespoke full-service communications across Press, VIP/Celebrity, Stylist, Runway, Sales, and Events. William is an AUP alumni, Class of 2016.  

Leslie Mugnier '11 | Alumna, founder of Lunier, Paris-based accessories brand

Leslie Mugnier is the founder of Lunier, a Paris-based accessories brand exploring the connection between the moon, nature, and design. A graduate of the American University of Paris, she also holds a Master’s degree in Fashion Brand Management from Polimoda. After several experiences in fashion and luxury, notably six years at Dior, she launched Lunier in 2023 with a mindful approach to luxury. Through her work, Leslie explores the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and brand building.

Kristen Nuttall | Designer & Sustainability Senior Strategist

Kristen Nuttall is a Paris-based designer and creative strategist working at the intersection of materials, design, and systems change. Through her consultancy, Appso-Supro, she helps brands rethink how products are conceived, sourced, and made, bridging the gap between creative and sustainability teams. Her work focuses on reducing and finding creative uses to material waste, advancing circular practices, and implementing innovative material solutions. Drawing on her experience with brands such as Macy’s and adidas, and multi-stakeholder organizations like The Fashion Pact and Future Fabrics Expo, Kristen believes limits create opportunity, solutions must be shown not told, and educating the next generation is essential for a more mindful future.

Kate Rowan | Founder of Deziem, a Retail Advisory

Kate is the founder of Deziem, a Retail Advisory providing independent boutiques with corporate-level buying, planning, and merchandising strategy. After college, Kate relocated to New York for an unpaid internship, discovered merchandising — without knowing it was even a job — and built a 15+ year career from there, ultimately serving as Global Head of Merchandising before leaving the corporate world. Across major retailers including Ralph Lauren and J.Crew, she opened flagship stores, led omni-channel integration, launched new categories and built buying departments from the ground up. Deziem is now a team of four women whose backgrounds include Neiman Marcus, Saks, Net-a-Porter and more.

Roberto Sierra | MAGC student, internship at CELINE for VIP & Couture Events Management

Roberto Sierra is a Global Communications professional with a focus on Fashion, having completed the Fashion Track during his studies. He is currently interning at CELINE for VIP & Couture Events Management, where he oversees high-profile events and creates exceptional experiences for luxury clientele. Passionate about fashion and event production, Roberto combines creativity, organization, and industry insight to deliver unforgettable moments.

Alessandra Trifero '14 | Alumna, Visual Merchandising

Alessandra Trifero has over a decade of experience in the fashion industry, with expertise spanning both creative and business roles. After completing her university studies, she began her career in New York as an Account Executive, working with prominent designers such as Zac Posen and alice + olivia. In 2012, she relocated to Paris to pursue a Master’s in Global Communications at The American University of Paris, where she transitioned to a more creative career in Visual Merchandising. Since then, Alessandra has collaborated with iconic luxury brands like Elie Saab and Burberry, contributing to their European and international markets. Over the past four years, she has established herself as a Visual Merchandising Consultant, working with high-end luxury brands as well as smaller niche labels. Her consultancy projects focus on the development of visual identity and brand strategy, with a portfolio that includes names such as Schiaparelli, Dior, Lanvin, Montblanc, and Roger Vivier. In addition to her professional work, Alessandra is also passionate about education. She has taught courses at Sup de Pub and the Rome Business School, where she shared her expertise with the next generation of fashion professionals.

Kyara Uchid '25 | Alumna, PR & Influence Lead – Japan market, Sézane

Kyara was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to the UK at the age of 12 to attend boarding school. She later studied at NYU, earning a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Psychology. With a longstanding interest in film, Kyara began her career in the film industry, focusing on production and distribution. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Global Communications at AUP, broadening her career path beyond film and into communications. During this time, she gained experience through internships at Cartier and Sézane, and she currently works as PR & Influence Lead for the Japanese market at Sézane.

Yasmin Whitelocke | MAGC student, internship Radical PR

With a foundation in the financial industry, Yasmin developed strong analytical and disciplined mindset early in her career. After relocating to Paris, she pivoted into the fashion industry, where she now focuses on contributing to impactful storytelling and creating meaningful messaging. Combining strategic insight with intentional curiosity, she aims to understand the interconnectedness of art, fashion, communication, and culture.  As she continues to grow in this space, she hopes to bring a thoughtful perspective to every project she pursues.