A hoodie and sweatshirt producer has appeared next to the fleece jacket maker at Kyonggi University, which school community turns up the heat. In order to learn about the production process and future plans, Pharos talked to Shin Seo Young, the representative of the clothing team.

Shin Seo Young

 "Hello! I'm Shin Seo Young, a business administration major who is in charge of purchasing Kyonggi University's hoodies and sweatshirts. This mass purchase was conducted with six friends working together, and I am doing this interview as a representative."

Kyonggi University Hoodie

Q. Why did you produce Kyonggi University clothes?

A. I was very sorry that I couldn't go to school for a long time due to COVID-19. I produced the goods to relieve the regret of not being able to enjoy proper college life. I thought it would be nice to promote a sense of belonging and unity between classmates. At the beginning of the plan, there were various ideas but I chose clothing after many meetings and votes. The school's policies also affected the decision. As a result of consultation with the school, I was informed that the initiative is not allowed to generate profits, must be mass purchased, and use of the school logo is prohibited. Considering these conditions, clothing seemed to be the best way to go.

Q. Please explain the entire process, including design, enterprise selection, and delivery. 

A. First of all, after the items to be mass purchased were decided, the planning team looked into the clothing production website. I noted that the previous Kyonggi University fleece jacket producer was selected through a website called "Uni-looks." If I used the same website, we could gain the trust of students who have experience purchasing fleece jackets at Kyonggi University. After obtaining consent, we selected a type of high-quality hoodie and sweatshirt on the site that would be comfortable for everyone. Based on the design selected by the design team, five drafts were created. Then the promotional team used social media to inform the school community of the group purchase plan and released the drafts. A total of 426 students voted during a one-week survey regarding color, size, quantity, and the draft selection, as well as providing feedback on improvements. Based on this, after the design was decided, we received an answer that the price was from 20,000 won to just over 30,000 won. The final design and purchase site link will be posted to social media and the school community after the freshman selection period is completed. Please be aware that our team will not be part of the purchasing and shipment process. We have conducted the planning and will connect our classmates with the purchasing website. When a prospective buyer accesses the site and completes payment, the goods produced on the website are delivered to the address. 

Q. Please introduce the team members who are working on this project.

A. Our team consists of seven people, all of whom are from the class of 2021. We divided the roles into three members on the planning team, two members on the promotional team, and two members on the design team to increase efficiency. After a meeting with each department to freely exchange feedback and actively communicate, we have a group chat to discuss our progress. In addition, I contacted my classmate who conducted a mass purchase of fleece jackets and received help while listening to advice on this activity. We also located and referred to similar projects at other universities.

*Team Members: (Business Administration) Kwon Hyojung, Kim Eunjin, Cho Cheryeong, Park Minwoo; (Industrial Design) Park Chaeyeon, Jo Gahee

Q. How did the people around you react when you produced the goods?

A. I worried and was quite concerned because I couldn't satisfy everyone. However, there were many classmates who actively helped by cheering me on with a positive perspective and providing feedback. Most of the classmates who heard the news of the clothing production said, "Thank you so much for doing this event," "I really want to buy it when it's completed," and "I want to share the news of the product.” However, on the contrary, there were some negative reactions such as "I don't like the design" and "Why are you going through the trouble to do this?”

Q. Please tell us what you felt while promoting the Kyonggi University clothes.

A. Since it's the first time for both me and my team members to do it, there were many small mistakes. Therefore, I thought I should quickly deal with problems and always be careful not to make them worse. I couldn't accept everyone's opinion, so I was worried and stressed about whether I could make the right decision when they presented themselves. Nevertheless, I think all of this is a meaningful experience and a valuable learning process. Even after this project is over, each team member will try to develop their capabilities and move forward with regard to judgment, communication skills, responsibility, and attitude. Above all, I will be very proud to see students wearing the clothes we made on campus. Thank you to the students who showed a lot of interest, and all of our team members will do our best until the end to meet your expectations.

Q. Are you willing to make other clothes or items in the future? 

A. Next time, I want to proceed with items other than clothing. We haven't decided what to produce, but we're likely to choose one of the ideas that came out when we first planned the product. As face-to-face classes should resume this year, I think I will be able to experience campus life, meet many classmates in person and focus on new ideas. Based on our experience during the first semester, we plan to proceed with new mass purchases around summer or autumn.

 "Thank you for your hard work to produce Kyonggi University goods. Pharos hopes to see many students wearing these school clothes on campus in 2022 during face-to-face classes."

76th Reporter • CHOI HYUN JEONG • chj010627@naver.com 

76th Reporter • CHOI BO YOUN • invierno.y@kyonggi.ac.kr