Fashion Design Professor
El Centro College

“Since I was a young girl, my favorite hobby has been making clothes for myself. Coming to America and being busy initially with survival, I never dreamed that I could make a career out of my favorite hobby. I didn’t even know if I could go to college full time. I started taking a few courses in the fashion marketing department. 

“I immediately fell in love with the program and the way it was taught. I never thought someone — instructor Marilyn Sullivan — would take so much time and interest in her students and in their future success. The encouragement I received along with the experiences in this department led me to find my passion. I graduated with honors, but most importantly, with so much passion and confidence. I could hardly wait to get out into the real world.  

“The first job I had was an operations coordinator position in a special occasion dress manufacturing company. The company was small, and it allowed me to gain experience in the many aspects of the manufacturing process: design, cutting, sample room, marketing, production and distribution. Within a year, I launched my own line of women’s better sportswear with marketing showrooms in Dallas and Atlanta.

“One of my specialty store customers said, ‘We fought for the line; other stores in the area wanted it. It’s performing very well. It has a designer look, but the price is still in the moderate range.’
 
“Then I earned a bachelor’s degree in textiles and apparel. I took a job in textile design for a company that designed and produced private label programs for Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Saks and other major department stores. I continued pursuing my education by taking evening graduate classes. I moved up at work, becoming one of the key men’s sportswear designers for Dillard’s. 

“I recommend the Fashion Marketing program to anyone who is even slightly interested in marketing or fashion. It exposes you to a world you could have never imagined experiencing on your own. It guides you with life-changing plans and charges you up with passion. After all, it opened so many doors for me!”

Tamar Toranian, originally from Lebanon, attended North Lake and Brookhaven colleges, earning an associate degree in Fashion Marketing and a Showroom Manager certificate from Brookhaven. She then earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in textiles and apparel and a master’s degree in fashion design from Texas Woman’s University. 

Tamar owned and managed an apparel manufacturing business, launched a women’s sportswear collection that was sold and distributed to about 60 specialty stores, and designed men’s sportswear lines for Dillard’s private label programs through a company with design offices in Addison and major production facilities in the Far East.

She currently serves as a full-time faculty member in El Centro’s Fashion Marketing program, teaching pattern, design and mass production courses.