Hi, I'm 
Jessica Dao

I am a retail thought leader, hoping to challenge the way the fashion industry operates by pushing boundaries to create change.

While completing my undergraduate degree I worked full-time as a retail manager, learning more about the changes we can make and the legacy my generation can have on the fashion industry. Working in fast fashion I saw firsthand how consumers bought clothing for single events or for one season. These consumer behaviors were also evident in the purchase patterns of consumers in the home décor sector, as I saw the same behaviors of consumers buying new furniture every season. My experience with fast fashion led me to research questions, such as how can low income households buy clothing that is going to last and how can we make recycling textiles mainstream? In the home décor sector, I experienced the amount of waste that is contributed to shipping home décor and this led me to question and research how we as an industry can do better for the planet. Working in retail during a pandemic, I observed how consumer behaviors, retailers, and supply chains have changed and will continue to change. I believe that my front-line experience in the industry can help me tie together my personal research questions and academic career to leave a lasting positive impact on the fashion industry. 

My career goal is to find a company that both empowers people and improves the planet. I want to work for a company that cares for the environment by introducing new sustainable practices and also cares for the many diverse people which our industry supports, the people who produce and sell the fashions that we wear. There are several different career options in the fashion industry which align with my talents.