Fashioning the future: Liberty student wins competition

Prior to studying fashion design at Liberty University, Caroline Danforth had no intention of entering the clothing industry.

In 2021, at the age of 17, Danforth took to her sketchbook and tried her hand at a clothing design to be submitted into a competition hosted by the Salt Lake City-based clothing brand Ivy City Co.

The contest requirements included a comprehensive mock-up of an original piece alongside a description containing the corresponding fabrics. The winning design would not only be produced and included in the brand’s collection, but also the designer would get to travel to the headquarters for a behind-the-scenes look into the product shoot for their design.

Danforth’s design placed second, yet she never let her ambition waver. Instead, she took her disappointment as an opportunity to forge a new path — one that propelled her into studying fashion design.

“At some point, something clicked in me, and I was like, ‘If I want to do this as a career, I can,’” Danforth said. “Like, I can still make this happen even though it didn’t happen with Ivy (City Co.). I can make it happen. I can go to school. I can study this. And that’s what made me decide to add the fashion major along with graphic design.”

A year later Danforth reentered the competition with a new design. This time she won.

After her experience in Salt Lake City, Danforth took a leap of faith by reaching out to the company to inquire about any upcoming internship opportunities. For her degree requirements, she conducted a remote internship from December to May 2024, and then extended her designing work in-person over the summer.

By the end of her time as an intern, she was offered a full-time position as a designer at Ivy City Co. With this role, she worked directly with the development team by sending inspiration for fabrics and providing feedback to the manufacturers.

“If you have a dream or a career that you really want to follow, but you don’t think it’s possible, it is possible if you work hard and you’re dedicated to learning and getting better at it,” Danforth said.

Now, entering into her third year at Liberty, Danforth is continuing her online studies while working in Utah. Adapting to the role of both student and employee has taught Danforth that forming critical habits such as good community, staying organized and having excellence in every assignment in college is necessary to succeed in a professional work environment. 

“Something that’s really helped me move across the country is getting connected in a local church,” Danforth said. “… I found a very sweet church here, and they have just accepted me with open arms. It has been just such a good rest from a job that I love.”

Taking a chance without fear of the future has been fundamental throughout her employment journey at Ivy City Co. This heart posture encourages a walk of faith — one that refrains from underestimating God’s sovereign plan for each believer’s life.

“In the last few years, I’ve just really seen how much God can work in ways that I never would’ve imagined,” Danforth said. “So, I’ve learned to just hold all of my dreams with an open hand because I know that whatever he has planned will be better.”

Hagen is an arts and culture reporter for the Liberty Champion.