When a nine-year-old boy would rather wear a blazer and tie than grubby sweats or jeans, it’s a good clue that he’s destined for a career in fashion. Such is the case of Travis Paul Martin, growing up in the suburbs of Washington, DC in the 1980s.
It wasn’t until high school, however, that his destiny became clear. In his senior year of high school, Travis enrolled in several fashion courses in the local community college to meet the remaining elective course requirements he needed to graduate. He knew immediately that this was what he was meant to be doing.
After being accepted in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California Travis began his adventure in fashion design in the fall of 2002. After graduating with an Associates Degree two years later, Travis moved to New York City to find a job in the industry. He was hired almost immediately at Saks Fifth Ave as the brand manager for the British luxury brand Burberry. He was 20 years old and at the time was the youngest person to ever hold such a title at Saks Fifth Avenue. During his time with Burberry and Saks, Travis learned everything from high-end clienteling, buying, and visual merchandising to event planning.
After a year, Travis felt prepared to move onto the next phase of his life and finish his education. In April 2005, he was accepted to the prestigious Parsons School of Design in Paris, France. Studying for a degree in Design and Management, Travis suddenly felt as though he were in a dream: living in a place he had only vacationed before, learning their language, and soaking up their culture. Before he knew it, he was living another dream: attending some of the biggest shows at Paris fashion week.
Upon graduating in 2007, Travis moved back to New York City and later to Chicago. In his nine years in the retail industry, Travis has worked for some of the best brands: The Gap, J. Crew, Saks Fifth Avenue and Burberry. He continues to expand his list of skills: retail management, clienteling, wardrobe consultation, closet editing and organization, fashion journalism, and market research and trend analysis.
