Not every student uses the degree he or she earns in college. Chicago designer Lauren Lein is one example.

Lein graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in business and fine arts.

After working as a manager at The Limited in Detroit, however, Lein decided she wanted to design clothing, and she started working part-time to start her own designing business five years ago.

Being unable to establish herself in Detroit, Lein relocated to Chicago. After working with a few business partners, Lein says she decided to plunge into designing by and for herself.

“Working with a partner is wonderful at times, but is frustrating,” she says.

“We had different ideas, and soon those ideas were what set us apart. Starting your own business is really hard, and it’s great to have help. Yet sometimes you just have to go out and do it yourself. Designing is the easiest part for me. It’s the business end that gets hectic.”

Since her move to Chicago, Lein has made a name for herself as a designer and has hosted only ISU students in the textiles and clothing program as interns.

“They have a strong passion for design,” she said.

“Iowa State students have a strong knowledge of production and the industry.”

Lein says she has gotten where she is by constantly meeting people.

“My customer base is a huge private clientele,” Lein says. “I always end up meeting someone at a function or social outing. The key to my business is networking, networking, networking. I get new customers by word of mouth. Most of the women I design for come in and buy their whole wardrobe; they are socialites and are active in charity work. They have the money to spend for customs garments and want something unique that no one else will have.”

In the last few years, ISU textiles and clothing students have visited Lein and her studio as part of a trip to Chicago.

In October, the students visited retailers and saw how merchandising and design work in a large city. Linda Niehm, assistant professor in apparel education studies and hospitalities management, and textiles and clothing academic adviser Chris Wise took 25 students to various retailers like Marshall Fields and Mark Shale and to Lein’s studio.

Niehm says visiting Chicago gave students the opportunity to broaden their expectations of what they can do with their degree.

“This field study gives students the opportunities to meet with possible future employers and see how the industry works,” Niehm says. “We also meet with alumni that graduated in the textiles and clothing department, and the students are able to see how their education will be used in the field.”

Aside from designing, Lein is also a chairwoman for the Apparel Industries Board, which has locations in many large cities.

The group in Chicago seeks to promote and keep designers in Chicago. She says she believes a fashion designer doesn’t have to be based in New York or Los Angeles to be successful.

“Chicago is a great city, and there are many designers here, but they don’t receive the recognition and they move out to the East Coast,” Lein says. “The AIB is a great way to network and meet fellow designers in the Chicago area.”

Lein says she has built a strong following and is in the works to start selling her clothing to Marshall Fields in the upcoming months. Lein says making the leap from business to designing was an excellent choice for her.

“You have to put yourself out there. Starting my own business was the most challenging — yet best — decision I ever made.”