The first step to starting a clothing line is designing the product. The second is getting the product on consumers. 
Perfectly Taylored Collection, a T-shirt clothing line created by textiles, apparel design and merchandising junior Peyton Simms, has now expanded her product from the University campus to surrounding southern campuses through her program PTC Stylist. 
Simms created the Perfectly Taylored Collection as a line for college-aged women who wanted affordable T-shirts with cheeky sayings. When she started marketing the brand around campus and the local area, she said she was contacted by students from surrounding campuses asking for trunk shows. 
This is what got the ball rolling on PTC Stylist, a program started about two months ago for which Simms selects women at nearby campuses to become “stylists” for the brand. She said they act as a representative or ambassador but with a much better title.  
“To me, the word ‘ambassador’ or ‘rep’ just sounds so dull,” Simms said. “So, I wanted it to be something more fun. And they’re not just telling people about the brand, they’re wearing the brand. They’re talking about what they enjoy about the brand.”
The stylists are women from large universities with a big population to pull from and sell to. Having friends at other campuses, she got the word out that she was accepting applications and was surprised by how many responses she got. 
She said she had women submit résumés and looked for applicants who were primarily sophomores and juniors with an interest in fashion and public relations. 
Currently, Simms has 11 stylists representing schools such as The University of Alabama, The University of Mississippi and Virginia Tech. Right now, there is no stylist for the University because Simms said until she graduates, she sees no need.  
The stylists’ jobs are to promote Perfectly Taylored Collection on their campuses through handouts and social media. Simms said the women create online trunk shows through Facebook and invite their friends to use exclusive promotional codes for 10 to 15 percent off.
She said this opportunity is something she wants to act as a public relations internship for the women, especially for the ones who want experience in the fashion industry.
“It’s been a learning process for me trying to figure [it] out because I want it to be worth their time,” Simms said. “I want it to be something that they can really build their résumés [with], especially if they’re in fashion. It’s something that I would have wanted to do.” 
Right now, everything involving PTC Stylist is run through Simms’ Perfectly Taylored Collection website, perfectlytayloredcollection.com 
“For now, we’re going to keep it on the website,” Simms said. “What I’m starting to work on is a page for them though that does have their picture on it [and] their contact information if they’re at your school.”
For Simms, the stylist program is a marketing campaign that allows other women to get public relations and fashion industry experience. She said while it’s still too early to tell how much the program has increased brand exposure, she’s seen a spike in sales and social media.
You can reach Meg Ryan on Twitter @The_MegRyan.
 

Gallery • 3 Photos

Maria Fernanda Pina

Perfectly Taylored Collection t-shirts by LSU junior textiles apparel design and merchandising Peyton Simms on Sunday April 26, 2015.