Puget Sound Scholar Awarded Gilman to Study Fashion Design in London

Tomicia Blunt, a senior Posse Scholar at the University of Puget Sound, received the Gilman Scholarship for study at London College of Fashion last year. During her time in London, Tomicia studied fashion marketing and product development, including the design of her own mock fashion line based on British brands like Jigsaw, COS, and L.K. Bennett.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International scholarships are awarded each year by the U.S. Department of State to students of limited financial means for study or internships abroad.

A communications major, Tomicia says her study abroad experience in London has only further ignited her passion for fashion and marketing.

“My time in London illuminated how important fashion is to me,” she says. “Not just as a hobby, but as a potential career field.”

Outside of her classes in London, Tomicia gained professional experience by working at an agency that specialized in influencer marketing.

“I assisted the travel and retail team and worked with a variety of brands, from 5-star resorts to luxury interior designers,” she says. “I was also able to travel a bit before returning to the U.S. and visited Spain, Portugal and Denmark.”

After she graduates, Tomicia plans to work in marketing or public relations before pivoting back to design.

“Ultimately, I would like to become a fashion designer and create my own womenswear collection,” she says, explaining that base knowledge of public relations will help her assess business potential in a city like Los Angeles. “I can become familiar with the fashion district and network within the fashion industry before I create my own collections.”