Fashion is a vibrant part of our culture, woven into our daily lives through self-expression, holiday celebrations, and the ever-evolving trends we see on social media. That’s why, when we learned that our very own Anisa Abdulkariem ‘26, a graphic design major and CCI minor, is creatively weaving fashion into our Chapman community, we had to reach out and learn more!
Despite her busy schedule, Anisa has creatively harnessed her passions to bring a certain vision of hers to life. Over the past year, she’d been working on Panther Vogue—a new fashion magazine and unofficial club at Chapman University. She took the time to share all about Panther Vogue: what it is, its potential future, how it benefits students, and so much more. Anisa is a shining example of how our students are turning their creative goals into reality. Keep reading to discover more about her journey!
Let’s kick things off with an easy one: why did you choose to join CCI?
For me, when I realized that adding a minor was a requirement at Chapman, I started thinking about what would best compliment my major. At first, I leaned towards something business-related—maybe even a double major in business—but as I explored options like PR and advertising or Business Administration, none of them felt like the right fit. Curious, I asked my friends what minors they were choosing, and a lot of them mentioned CCI. I had no idea what that was at first, so I asked about it and learned it stands for Creative and Cultural Industries. I was surprised to hear it’s one of the most popular minors for business majors, which intrigued me since I originally wanted to major in business before switching to graphic design. I dug deeper into the course content and credits, and I knew right away it was exactly what I needed. With such a heavy course load in my major, I wanted a minor that was both creative and business-oriented, but still manageable. Even after just one class, I feel like I’m already thriving in the program. That’s how I found my way to CCI, and so far, it’s been the perfect fit for me.
Word on the street is that you’ve created something called Panther Vogue—can you tell me what that’s all about?
In high school, I was always involved in the fashion club and loved dressing up every day, even though some people thought it was silly. After COVID, when we spent so much time in pajamas for Zoom school, I felt like I missed out on the chance to express myself through fashion. So, when we returned to in-person classes, I made it a point to dress creatively and express myself through my outfits. Getting ready for the day had always been an important part of my routine, and I wanted to make up for lost time.
During my senior year, I got even more focused on fashion, and when I started college, I knew I wanted to establish myself with a strong sense of style—whether that meant dressing for different seasons, using accessories, or staying updated on trends in the fashion world. Coming to Chapman, I was looking for a club that would align with those interests. While we have some fashion-focused magazines, I felt there wasn’t a dedicated space for Chapman fashion in general. I wanted a place where people who are passionate about fashion could come together, share ideas, and create content. I started talking to others who shared an interest in fashion, and they also felt there was a need for something like that on campus. So, I decided to take action. Last spring, I began planning a club and magazine, starting with logo design, creating a brand book, and outlining exactly what I wanted to bring to campus. Over the summer, we brainstormed how to run the club, and this fall, we officially launched as Panther Vogue.
How does Panther Vogue work?
Panther Vogue operates in three parts: we have a blog/website, we produce videography and short films, and our main platform is social media, particularly Instagram. Our goal is to observe and highlight the fashion around us at Chapman. One of our popular segments is "Panther Vogue Thursday," where we feature standout outfits we’ve noticed throughout the week and post them in a collection on Thursdays. It’s been a huge success so far, and people have been excited and honored to have their outfits featured. We've also been tagging them, which has helped grow the club's presence. I’m really excited about the future, especially for the spring semester when we’ll print our first magazine issue. The issue will focus on a central topic within the fashion world, with our writers, photographers, and graphic designers collaborating on pieces. We’ll also include a section that looks back at standout outfits from the past semester, offering both a retrospective on fashion and a look ahead at new ideas and pressing topics in the industry.
Are there concepts from your CCI classes that you’ve been implementing in Panther Vogue?
One of the key insights I've gained from CCI 203 Contemporary Issues in Creative and Cultural Industries- Content Creation is that the effectiveness of your content hinges on whether you’re reaching your target audience. To ensure we connect with Chapman students, we conducted a detailed analysis of their phone usage patterns, allowing us to identify optimal posting times for maximum engagement. We found that students are particularly drawn to story posts and interactive content, so we plan to introduce more surveys and “this or that” posts to enhance engagement. By closely observing and valuing our audience of college students at Chapman, we've seen a significant increase in interaction with Panther Vogue and greater awareness of what we’re doing. This focus on understanding our audience has been a key takeaway from my content creation class, and I’m excited to see how it continues to benefit us.
With that in mind, what are your future goals for Panther Vogue?
I believe fashion is timeless, especially given the ever-changing trends and the ongoing conversations about what people wear and the bags they carry. I see two potential paths for Panther Vogue: if the magazine takes off, we could produce issues every semester, continuing even after I graduate, and I also envision the continuation of our social media posts. The "Panther Vogue Thursday" feature is really what inspired me to start the club. I love wearing fun outfits to school, and being able to recognize others for their stylish choices has sparked so much discussion about self-expression through fashion. Just approaching someone and saying, "Hi, we love your outfit! Can we take your picture?" has fostered a sense of community around fashion at school. I truly believe that this emphasis on individual style is what will sustain Panther Vogue's legacy long after I graduate.
What do you hope members take away from their experience with Panther Vogue?
From the beginning, I’ve emphasized that the club serves a dual purpose. I want it to be both educational—helping them build their portfolios—and a space for developing real-life skills, like teamwork within a magazine or social media team. We recognized a significant lack of a fashion community on campus, which was one of the main reasons for starting Panther Vogue. As a result, many members are forming connections, making friends, and participating in hangouts we’ve planned. For example, we’re discussing a group thrifting trip in December to bond and explore each other’s styles. That sense of community is something many club members value. On the educational side, a lot of our members are CCI minors but not graphic design majors, so they often feel unsure about using tools such as the Adobe Creative suite products. To address this, we’ve incorporated a learning component where, once a month, we hold seminars on voted topics. Members can come to learn things like how to create gradients in Photoshop, and they can apply those skills to their work for Panther Vogue or in their own creative projects, whether related to their majors, minors, or personal interests. With our diverse club activities—ranging from photography and writing to film—everyone can explore whatever aligns with their interests. This flexibility is incredibly beneficial, as it allows for educational growth beyond just writing. Ultimately, my two main goals for the club are to foster education and community.
There you have it, folks! It’s always a thrill to see what our CCI students are up to in the creative world. Be sure to follow @Panther.Vogue and remember—you might just get spotted on campus and featured on their socials! If you're interested in joining the Panther Vogue team and becoming a part of the magazine, feel free to DM them with any questions you may have. A huge thank you to Anisa for sharing her insights on why fashion is such an essential part of our Chapman community. And just like Anisa, you have the chance to be featured on our social media and have a professional blog written about YOU! If you want to take the spotlight, message us on Instagram @ccichapmann or email our social media coordinator, Estefania Rosas, at erosas@chapman.edu. Let’s showcase your creativity!
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