HPU student becomes successful selling menswear in the fashion industry

By Ryan, February 12, 2016

By Maddie Travell // Organizations Editor

Effective networking is essential to young professionals’ success breaking into an industry and finding people who are willing to become a mentor throughout the journey of entering into a particular field.
Brady Walter, a freshman from Bethesda, Maryland, has already made headway towards achieving his career aspirations through mentorship and learning by example. Walter is currently balancing college classes with his position as a personal stylist at J. Hilburn, a Bespoke menswear clothier.
Walter’s journey began when his mother befriended a fellow stylist, who soon after became Walter’s “up-line,” or essentially his boss at J. Hilburn. Walter is currently the youngest employee within the company with over 60 clients and even caught Dr. Nido Qubein’s eye by pitching and eventually selling to him.
Walter also designed an HPU shirt with the school’s colors in pinstripe with a contrasting white collar that Qubein and others wear. He will likely soon be promoted to associate partner after successfully managing several other stylists that are a part of his team.
“I am most interested in merchandising and the production of menswear,” Walter said. “I hope to strengthen my business on campus and market to the community the dynamic within J. Hilburn, which makes it such an awesome company to work for.”
The company prides itself on creating custom menswear with collections that range from made-to-measure suits, custom shirts and all formalwear accessories. There is a multitude of options for making the garments personalized including monogramming and even customizing the thread for the buttonholes.
Since HPU emphasizes the importance of their students’ professionalism, J. Hilburn is the ideal company to clothe students getting ready for a job interview.
Walter is also on the executive board of POSH, HPU’s fashion club and one day hopes to be a CEO of a major corporation. Walter is an example of how college students can prepare themselves for a career, even as early as freshman year, by gaining experience and getting involved in their area of interest.
“I have developed a platform to offer a discount to students who are in the market to buy a well-fitted suit,” Walter said. “We are going to introduce it first at HPU with the Panther Pack and hopefully spread it to other campuses across the nation.”