April 7, 2026
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
Photo courtesy of Taylor Holmes
At Abercrombie & Fitch’s global headquarters, Mia Byrne BS ’25, is shaping clothing that millions will wear. As a technical design assistant, she serves as a liaison between creatives’ visions and consumers’ experiences, making sure every pair of pants meets the highest standards before it ever reaches a shelf.
It’s a dream career she started right after graduating from the University of Missouri. And, thanks to her textile and apparel management (TAM) coursework in the College of Arts and Science, she was ready to contribute her first day on the job.
“At Mizzou, we used a lot of the programs I’m now using every day at work,” Byrne said, referring to design and patternmaking software. “My TAM classes were directly applicable to the industry.”
That real-world training is known as the Missouri Method, and it gives Tigers the knowledge, confidence and experience to thrive in the workforce. And employers notice. That’s why more than 95% of Mizzou graduates report successful career outcomes within six months of earning their degrees.
Prepared to lead
In addition to their coursework, Tigers build leadership, communication and teamwork skills through student organizations, research projects, networking events and internships.
For Byrne, being part of Marching Mizzou Color Guard gave her an edge in the fast-paced world of apparel design.
“It prepared me for hard work and long days of presenting garments and apparel fits to the rest of the team,” she said. “It was definitely helpful to have performing experience. I’m not scared to present in front of others.”
Byrne tapped into other campus resources, as well. The Mizzou Career Center helped her polish her resume. TAM faculty provided interview strategies. TAM’s advisory board, made up of alumni and professionals, shared industry insights. And Byrne worked as an assistant peer mentor in the sewing lab, where she strengthened her technical skills while helping others grow theirs.
Turning a passion into a profession
Byrne has always had a creative spark. Mizzou helped her turn it into a profession.
“My grandma taught me to sew when I was young, and my mom was an art teacher,” she said. “I grew up making art, particularly 3D art. But I didn’t realize this was a career path until I got to Mizzou.”
After sharing her interests with a faculty member her freshman year, the professor encouraged Byrne to take a TAM class.
“I switched my major a few days later, and I’ve been all in ever since,” she said.
While working at an internship with Duluth Trading Company, Byrne made a connection with someone from Abercrombie & Fitch. After learning about opportunities at the company, Byrne applied for a position online and had an interview in Columbus, Ohio, within a few weeks.
Today, Byrne works directly with external vendors to bring designs to life. She specializes in men’s woven bottoms — twill pants and shorts — ensuring every product meets the highest standards before heading into mass production.
“We receive samples to make sure manufacturers are executing the sketch correctly,” she said. “There are multiple rounds of the same garment to ensure it’s what we want, that it fits the model and that everything makes sense.”
It’s work that demands precision, patience and an eye for excellence — strengths Byrne developed through her experiences at Mizzou.
“Mizzou made this possible,” she said. “It opened the door to the apparel industry, and I’m excited to be here.”
