As a fashion student at ASU FIDM, Grace Skukan found herself in a unique position — not just studying fashion, but also living and working at the center of it.
Based in the heart of Los Angeles’ Fashion District, Skukan spent the past year and a half gaining hands-on experience through an internship with Kalimo, a global textile company with offices in Brazil, Europe and Los Angeles.
Her time at Kalimo helped shape her professional identity and deepened her passion for sustainable, human-centered design.
“The past year and a half at Kalimo has been an incredible learning opportunity,” she said. “I’m forever grateful for the mentorship the team has given me.”
At Kalimo, Skukan’s work spanned marketing, digital design and client engagement. She helped create and execute email campaigns aligned with product launches, developed digital motifs in Adobe Photoshop and ensured that all artwork met client expectations and production requirements. She also participated in client meetings and presentations, sharing color stories and print concepts with buyers, and took part in industry events including LA Textile and The Textile Show.
“Being in those rooms, sharing creative ideas directly with buyers, was both exciting and motivating,” she said. “It taught me how every detail matters — from the design itself to how you communicate it.”
Originally from Long Beach, California, Skukan earned an associate degree in fashion merchandising from Long Beach City College before transferring to ASU FIDM to complete her bachelor’s degree in fashion with a focus on business management. She chose ASU FIDM, which operates in both downtown Phoenix and Los Angeles, in part because it allowed her to stay rooted in Los Angeles and fully immerse herself in the fashion industry.
“There aren’t many fashion school options in LA, and ASU FIDM felt like the right fit,” she said.
Skukan credits her time at ASU for helping her understand the broader cultural forces that influence fashion. A course in trend forecasting, she said, changed the way she thought about design and creativity.
“You see how much culture impacts your decisions, whether consciously or not,” she said.
Living and studying in the LA Fashion District kept her connected to the pulse of the industry.
“I live, work and go to school here. It’s a huge hub, and I love being right in the middle of it,” she said.
She also points to the ASU FIDM Museum as one of her favorite places on campus and says professors Nicole Craig and Jenny Drew Oubari played a meaningful role in shaping her vision and helping her toward her career goals.
“They’ve been extremely supportive,” she said.
After graduation, Skukan plans to stay in Southern California and pursue a full-time role in merchandising or fashion communications.
“SoCal will always be home,” she said.
If given $40 million to address a global issue, she would focus on the impacts of fast fashion.
“Fast fashion and textile waste — it breaks my heart,” she said. “It’s extremely important to design with sustainability in mind.”
Her advice for fellow students: “Soak in as much as you can — you’ll use it.”
