NEWS

Published: Aug 18, 2009

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Savannah College of Art and Design announces that Michael Fink, former vice president and women's fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, has been named dean of the university's new School of Fashion, effective Fall 2009.
 
SCAD offers a wide breadth of academic programs with the new school, including fashion (B.F.A., M.A. and M.F.A.), accessory design (B.F.A., M.A. and M.F.A.), fashion marketing and management (B.F.A.), luxury and fashion management (M.A. and M.F.A.), and a menswear minor in both Savannah and Atlanta locations. The university created the School of Fashion because of growing student demand. SCAD's fashion program has consistently ranked among the university's top four majors with highest enrollment over the past three years.
 
"I am looking forward to working with SCAD's talented faculty leaders and students," said Fink. "As these gifted individuals in the school of fashion go from beginner to expert, we will ensure they are ahead of the trends by stretching their skills artistically and focusing on topics such as environmental ethics, consumers evolving spending habits and the ever-increasing role of Internet fashion saturation through in- and out-of-classroom instruction."
 
While at Saks, Fink was responsible for forecasting women's seasonal trends as well as analyzing and supporting the women's fashion and women's accessories selection for stores nationwide. He also worked closely with the women's buying offices in determining the merchandise mix for each season. Fink also was responsible for developing product, both private label and branded, and played a key role in integrating the seasonal fashion message into his Saks.com series "Front Row at the Shows," marketing concepts, advertising and windows. Fink has toured extensively throughout the country lecturing on fashion trends, and regularly attends international fashion week shows in New York, Paris, Milan, London and India to stay current on the latest looks.

Prior to his appointment at SCAD, Fink served on the advisory board for the SCAD School of Design. He is a member of the New York Couture Council Advisory Committee and the Fashion Group International. He also is a voting member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and a regular participant in MaryLou Luther’s FGI seasonal panel series.

Fink represented Saks Fifth Avenue as a fashion expert in local, national and international media. A frequent fashion commentator on "Full Frontal Fashion," he also has appeared on "The Today Show," CNN and as a fashion adviser on "The Apprentice." He has been featured in The International Herald Tribune, USA Today, The New York Times, Harpers Bazaar, Time Magazine (India), and Marie Claire, among others.

SCAD School of Fashion

Fashion's personal interaction with the world challenges designers to continually rethink the art and business of fashion. Aesthetics, craft, function, politics and cultural nuances influence daily decisions regarding why people wear what they wear. The SCAD School of Fashion prepares its students for the practical and professional needs required in today's global fashion industry through innovative design combined with state-of-the-art technology, anchored in creative thinking.