May 11, 2025By Ioanna Hantzaras
Staff Writer
Mr. Aiello’s Principles of Business – Fashion Design I and Mrs. Huntington’s Computer Science I classes welcomed Stephanie Bendzak, a guest speaker who works in the fashion industry, on April 4.
Bendzak, who goes by “Blue,” is the vice president of design for the footwear company Galaxy Universal, which owns brands including Hi-Tec, Magnum and Tony Hawk.
In her talk, Bendzak, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in 2007, emphasized the importance of persevering and having a strong work ethic.
“You don’t need to be in finance or all these other crazy things to have a good career. I make as much money as they do,” Bendzak said. “You can [also] do what we do without being good at school.”
Bendzak said she decided she wanted to pursue a career in fashion after seeing rock band Kiss member Gene Simmons’ iconic spiked boots when she was three years old.
“Demon [boots are] the most amazing shoes I’ve ever seen in my life,” Bendzak said. “I said [to my mom], ‘I need Demon boots’… and my mom said, ‘You have to make them yourself,’ and I went, ‘Alright, I’ll do that.’”
Bendzak said, despite the fun and glamour associated with fashion, the work is intense.
“It’s a very cutthroat industry. A lot of people don’t survive,” Bendzak said. “There are a lot of people who will break you down, but if you don’t let them, you will succeed.”
Aiello, who invited Bendzak, said he plans to invite more industry professionals to speak to his classes next year.
“As many people as we can have from the real world come, I think the better,” Aiello said.
He said presenters like Bendzak provide students with clarity about potential careers.
“I hope if they were interested in going into fashion, [listening to Bendzak] either stoked the fire or made them realize that they didn’t want to do it,” Aiello said. “Sometimes, realizing something’s not a fit is just as important as realizing [it is].”
Junior Zeynep Celik, who enrolled in Fashion Design I because of her interest in fashion, said Bendzak led her to consider a job in the industry.
“There are a lot of people who will break you down, but if you don’t let them, you will succeed.”
“She [went] to China and look[ed] through all the shoe factories. It really interested me,” Celik said. “When I was younger in middle school, I [wanted] to go into fashion, but then I drifted from that, and now I’m thinking maybe I am interested.”
Celik said she found Bendzak’s talk inspiring.
“She is very hardworking…. She had an idea of going into the fashion world, she set her mind to it and she did it,” Celik said.
Senior Asya Akar, who enrolled in Fashion Design I to have a fun elective in her schedule, said Bendzak’s talk was eye-opening.
“I [thought] the fashion industry… was very chill and easy, obviously demanding, but easygoing,” Akar said. “After she explained all her stories and experiences, I think it’s one of the harder jobs.”
Akar said she is going to implement Bendzak’s insights into her daily life.
“She said she wasn’t good at math or [core] subjects, but she put work into her art, which made her really successful in her career,” Akar said. ”I’m going to put more [effort] into my life with that lesson.”
