Meet Summer Scott

Fashion business senior is already shaping the wholesale fashion industry

Summer Scott spends a lot of time thinking about the future of fashion. 

Not trend forecasting or color palettes — though she enjoys those too. She’s thinking about the systems behind the industry itself: how brands sell to retailers, how buyers discover products and what happens to wholesale fashion markets in an increasingly digital world. 

While she asks those questions in the classroom as a fashion business student, she's living them out professionally.

The O’More College of Architecture & Design senior has spent the last year rising quickly through the ranks at AFA Staffing, a national staffing agency that works wholesale apparel markets across the country. What began as a student internship has evolved into leadership roles in recruiting and operations, all while Scott finishes her degree. 

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Understanding the Business of Fashion 

As Scott progressed through the fashion business program, she became increasingly interested in the business systems powering the fashion industry, particularly the relationship between brands, buyers and wholesale markets. 

Professors introduced students to the operational side of fashion through portfolio development, industry networking and real-world market exposure. One early experience — a visit to Nashville’s wholesale apparel market with professors Jamie Atlas and Andie Day — gave Scott her first glimpse into an industry she would later build a career in. 

“At the time, I didn’t really know how people actually got into that world,” Scott said. “I just knew I was really interested in it.” 

That interest eventually turned into opportunity. In November 2024, a recruiter from AFA Staffing reached out to Scott on LinkedIn with a simple question: Did she want to work in fashion? 

The opportunity centered around wholesale apparel markets — large trade shows where brands showcase collections to buyers representing boutiques and retailers across the country. Scott immediately jumped at the opportunity. 

She drove to Atlanta for an interview and was hired the same day. Initially brought on as an intern, Scott quickly stood out. By February 2025, she was working her first market. A few months later, AFA hired her as a recruiter, putting her on the other side of the hiring process she had just experienced herself. 

From there, the momentum picked up. Scott began recruiting heavily at Belmont while also helping support AFA’s New York and Dallas branches. The volume of Nashville-area recruits eventually led the company to open a Nashville branch, where Scott now helps lead recruiting and event efforts. 

Most recently, she was promoted to assistant lead recruiter, helping oversee AFA’s recruiting team while balancing classes, markets and leadership responsibilities. In spring 2026, the organization recognized her work with its Outstanding Young Leader Award. 

“I think they have a lot of trust in me and faith in me,” Scott said. “I’m always happy to help, always ready to jump in.” 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

Scott credits O’More professor Lacie Thorne with playing a major role in her professional development, particularly through a portfolio course that helped students refine career goals, build professional materials and conduct informational interviews with industry professionals. 

“At first, I thought I wanted to merchandise for a store,” Scott said. “But after talking to people in the industry, I realized I wanted something more hands-on and people-oriented.” 

The course also emphasized professional presentation. When Scott interviewed with AFA, she arrived with a polished resume, comp card (akin to a business card, tailored to the fashion industry) and portfolio website — materials she later learned weren’t required for the interview. 

“I was told that my interview was one of the best AFA interviews ever,” Scott said. 

Scott says experiences like that reflect one of O’More’s biggest strengths: faculty who actively invest in students beyond the classroom. 

“I do feel like Belmont has a leg up with that,” she said. 

Reinventing the Wholesale Market 

As Scott gained firsthand experience working inside wholesale trade shows, she also began noticing the industry’s growing challenges. Post-pandemic attendance at markets has dropped dramatically as more buyers place orders online instead of traveling to trade shows in person. At the same time, buyers still value the relationship-building and physical product evaluation that traditional markets provide. 

Those tensions became the foundation for Scott’s senior thesis project: “NOVA: The New Fashion Market.” 

The project proposes a digital platform designed to extend traditional wholesale markets into an immersive online experience, complete with navigable 3D showrooms, AI garment try-ons, digital swatch ordering and live educational programming. Rather than replacing physical markets entirely, Scott envisions NOVA as a tool that helps the wholesale industry evolve alongside changing buyer habits. 

In her research, Scott argues that wholesale is “evolving rather than declining,” with brands and retailers increasingly demanding flexibility, accessibility and faster timelines. 

The project blends fashion business strategy, technology and user experience design — reflecting the increasingly interdisciplinary direction of the modern fashion industry and the evolving focus of Belmont’s fashion business program. 

“This isn’t just about styling clothes anymore,” Scott said. “There are so many different sides of the industry.” 

What’s Next  

These days, Scott balances coursework with recruiting calls, live markets, fashion show planning and leadership responsibilities at AFA. The schedule can be exhausting, but she knows she’s exactly where she wants to be. 

“I love being busy,” she said. “I love talking to people. I love leading. I just really love what I’m doing.” 

After graduation, Scott plans to continue conversations with AFA leadership about a long-term role with the company. But regardless of exactly where she lands, one thing already feels clear: she’s entering the industry prepared to shape where fashion goes next.