University of Arizona senior Ryan Park is turning heads in the fashion world with his streetwear brand World Order, recently featured in GQ Magazine.

Park, an applied humanities major with an emphasis in fashion studies and a marketing minor, is among a growing number of students on campus launching their own fashion lines, blending their savvy business skills with creative vision.

World Order was founded in 2022 when Park was a UA freshman. The line was inspired by his passion for streetwear – oversized silhouettes in hoodies, t-shirts, hats and other casual wear – and his desire to create something that speaks to his generation. The brand’s aesthetics are influenced by simplicity under the motto: “Made for creatives.”

“This has been something I wanted to do since high school,” Park said. “The name just came to me, so I decided to go for it, but I wasn’t really taking it seriously at first.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic with nothing to do, Park developed a growing interest for fashion and started playing around with graphic design, leading him to the idea of starting his own brand.

After gaining a loyal following on social media and local recognition from hometown peers in Seattle and UA students, his designs caught the attention of GQ magazine, which featured World Order in the September 2024 issue.

The exposure has already brought in new customers and collaborations, and Park plans to take the brand beyond his time at UA.

“I think the classes I’ve taken [at UA] have helped a lot because in the fashion school it’s taught me a lot about the industry as a whole, but also helped with my design process,” Park said. “I’ve taken a colors class and a typography class, which have elevated my designs and showed me how to make them look more professional.”

Park’s success reflects a broader trend at the University of Arizona, where more students are taking their ideas from the classroom to real-world ventures. The university’s Eller College of Management, where Park is pursuing a business minor, offers programs designed to foster entrepreneurship, providing resources for students to start their own businesses while still in school.

“Being in marketing has been really useful for the business side of my brand, because sometimes I feel like that’s where I’m lacking,” Park said. “It’s taught me a lot about social media marketing and how to do it properly.”

Several other students including 2023 grads Lukas Pakter and Carly Pinsonneault also have seen success in their brands since graduating from UA.

Pinsonneault, who graduated with a double minor in fashion and marketing, founded Bootin Bikinis, which was recently featured in British Vogue under the magazine’s “Coastal Couture” section.

Pakter, an Eller grad in marketing and entrepreneurship, started the men’s athletic wear brand SquidHaus and has over 130,000 followers on Instagram.

“Almost every kid in our fraternity bought SquidHaus products,” said Grayson Krienke, UA senior and SquidHaus customer. “Those purchases go a long way for revenue, marketing and credibility.”

“Seeing where Ryan started versus where he is now with his brand is a big reason why I think World Order will be successful in the years to come,” added classmate Jackson Earley.

As World Order continues to grow, Park aims to collaborate with more artists and designers, creating pieces that continue to resonate with his audience.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.