From Industry Professional to Fashion Design Student: Erin Bond’s Leap of Faith at Otis College

Returning to college after years of working in the fashion industry proved to be Bond’s “greatest decision.”

Erin Bond (’25 BFA Fashion Design) had a circuitous route to Otis College and later to her current role as an associate designer of RTW (ready-to-wear) at denim brand Good American. Originally, she planned on becoming a nurse before pivoting to fashion retail, where her drive and business acumen helped her rise to manager and visual merchandiser roles, in which she eventually opened more than 100 stores for brands like Francesca’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Gap. Opportunities in buying and product management deepened her understanding of the entire fashion pipeline. “I was working with the design team all the time, and I was so inspired by it,” she says. 

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Bond found herself in an unfamiliar position—unemployed. After years of steady work in fashion, it was the first time she didn’t have a regular job since she was a teenager. “Along with everyone else, I was just trying to figure out what to do,” she says. 

What began as a practical decision to complete her associate degree at Santa Monica College soon led to what Bond calls the “greatest decision” of her life: enrolling in the Fashion Design BFA program at Otis College.

Embracing the Challenge

Starting at Otis as a non-traditional student came with advantages and added pressures. Bond, older than most of her classmates, brought years of industry experience. But she had to build her artistic skills from the ground up. “I could barely draw,” she says, noting how she had to quickly develop those skills at Otis while leveraging her business background.

At first, Bond balanced school work with a full-time job at Fabletics but midway through her first year she made the leap to focus fully on school. “I decided to take every class, attend every meeting, and volunteer for anything they needed,” she says.

The commitment paid off. Bond became deeply involved in department events and built strong relationships with faculty, including Fashion Design Chair Jill Higashi Zeleznik and Assistant Chair Mitra Rajabi. “Initially, I felt a little awkward going back to school, but they really encouraged and embraced me.”

Bond credits Otis coursework with giving her the technical foundation she needed. Studio courses taught her how to design and construct a garment, while Illustration and digital design classes—during which Bond learned how to use tools like Adobe Illustrator and CLO 3D, a fashion design software—proved equally transformative.

Bond’s dedication culminated in a senior thesis that merged adaptive fashion with AI-powered virtual try-ons, developed under the mentorship of faculty member Daniel Toney. Her research revealed that one in four Americans has a disability, yet the fashion industry has largely overlooked this market. Her proposed designs included sensory-friendly fabrics, adjustable closures, and garment openings tailored for individuals with mobility, sensory, and access needs. The AI component provided personalized recommendations based on each user’s body measurements and preferences, while virtual try-on technology showed how garments fit in real time. “Fashion should be beautiful and functional for everyone,” Bond says. The project earned her a prestigious $10,000 Nordstrom x Fashion Scholarship Fund award, a trip to New York, and a mentorship at Nordstrom’s Seattle headquarters.

During her time at Otis, Bond also completed internships with Agron (Adidas accessories) and Regarding Los Angeles, contributing to seasonal production, color lineup development, style exploration, and cataloging vintage designs. These experiences allowed her to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world production environments.

Bond also participated in two competitive mentorship projects that expanded her creative perspective. Working with designer Jonathan Cohen, she explored the intersection of punk and impressionism in fashion. As part of Katherine Ross’s Wear LACMA mentor project, Bond designed garments inspired by the museum’s permanent collection, translating fine art into wearable pieces. Together, these hands-on opportunities helped Bond bridge the gap between design and business, reinforcing her ability to merge conceptual storytelling with commercial viability. Upon graduation, Bond received Otis’s Academic Excellence Award, the highest honor given to graduating students.

Bond now applies her Otis training daily at Good American. Her current focus is on ready-to-wear, color, and concept development. The company’s inclusive mission aligns with her values, creating “solution-based” clothing that features diverse sizing and innovations like compression denim and built-in support systems.

Although she’s only been with the company for a short time, Bond is already contributing to designs and decisions. “The BFA program truly prepared me to be a designer in the industry. Thanks to Otis’s rigorous pace, I can tackle tasks quickly and move on to the next project,” she says. 

Personal Best

Perhaps the most significant transformation Bond experienced at Otis was personal. “I never really believed in myself before,” she says. “But the faculty continued to encourage and challenge me. I definitely feel more confident now.” That investment from faculty made a lasting impression. “By the time you graduate, they know your style and help connect you with companies that fit. They truly care about their students’ success. I feel like I’ll forever be connected to Otis and the Fashion Design program because of my experience.”

Bond is now planning her next move as she sketches concepts for her own brand: a contemporary women’s line centered on vibrant prints and color. It’s a natural evolution of the creative skills she honed at Otis. “This second opportunity has allowed me to do everything I’ve always wanted,” she says.

As for advice for other non-traditional students, Bond says to commit fully: “Take every opportunity while you’re at Otis, because chances like this are rare.” 

Her story proves it’s never too late to pursue your passion—and that schools like Otis can meet you exactly where you are, whether you’re fresh out of high school or a seasoned professional ready to begin your next chapter.

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