Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Rausch.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m from a small town in Northwest, FL where my dad was stationed for the military. It’s a one-high school town, so very much has the small town, Friday Night Lights vibe where football rules and everyone knows everyone. I’m a first-generation college student, and it was a big deal for me to move two hours away to Tallahassee, FL to go to Florida State University. In college, I double majored in Apparel Design and Merchandising with a minor in Business. I graduated in 2009, right in time, NOT to get a job during the recession, so I moved back home to work retail while applying for jobs in design. I was at what I felt like was an all-time low for a year or so not really knowing where my path would lead me. I started doing visual merchandising for a retailer, and then they relocated me to start a path to help clean up stores in need of help. I loved the job, but still felt lost not being able to actually design. A friend from my hometown ran into me one day and asked if I’d like to apply for a design job at Varsity Spirit Fashion, and that is when my career started looking up. I had been so desperate for so long to just get a chance, and I finally had that chance. After being hired, I did everything I could to learn every aspect of my job and about the company as a whole. I began as an Assistant Designer, a couple of years later became the Lead Designer, and about 6 years in, I became the Director of Design.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Graduating from college during the recession was not an easy road. Going to school for apparel design had been a dream of mine since I was a little girl sewing my own Barbie clothes. I learned to sketch, pattern, and sew, had done 2 internships in the industry, and studied fashion abroad, so I was on such a high ready to take off into a design job in the real world. I mean, that’s what they teach us to think is going to happen, right?! I had not planned to move home and work retail after thinking I’d go straight into design, but those experiences only helped make me feel more well-rounded for where I am today. There was absolutely nothing wrong with working retail, but of course, I just mean that was not in my vision of where I thought I’d be after studying design. Once I had my job in design, I struggled with feeling like I constantly needed to prove myself and prove my worth. I moved from Florida to Memphis, TN, and then to Dallas, TX with just myself and my dog, so there were also many life adjustments along the way as well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently the Director of Design at a company called Varsity Spirit, which is the largest cheerleading and dance company. I work specifically on the Fashion side for the school market designing uniforms, outerwear, and game-day apparel. The customers’ age from pee wee and youth groups up to junior high, high school, college, and some professional teams. I have stayed with the company for over 11 years now because I love the athletes we outfit. I was a cheerleader and also wore Varsity. I attended Varsity cheer camps, and I credit cheerleading with giving a very shy girl confidence to get to where I am today. Designing for Varsity has truly become a way to pay it forward to the brand who helped shape the person I am. I know how wearing the uniform impacted my life, and I love seeing the current athletes making their own memories, creating friendships, and leading in their communities. Since Varsity has been around since 1979 it’s a fun challenge year after year to innovate in a space where tradition is incredibly important to uphold. I spend a great amount of time researching trends in fashion for the younger generation as well as technologies in textiles that help aid in a better experience for athletes. I think what I am most proud of at work is my passion for our customers. I believe in these athletes as the next generation of leaders, and am especially proud of it being such a primarily female sport. These young women are already leading in their communities and schools, and I feel like we get to be a small part of cheering them along. Another aspect that I am proud of outside of my job is the work I do volunteering. As you’ll learn, I come from a family of people who worked very hard to earn what they have. It’s important to me to pay it forward in as many ways as I can. I volunteer with a military non-profit and have done that for about 8 years. I mentored a young girl through Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Texas from the time she was 11 until now. She’s 22 years old, and I still consider her my sister! Recently, I have volunteered with a charity with my coworker to set up homes for women in need. These opportunities to support others in the community are what I am really most proud of and what I truly give my heart to.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
As a child, well, starting when I was in 4th grade, my family started to build our own house. We lived in a small camper trailer on the land while building a shed and loft living space above. When I say “favorite,” it may not have been something that was always a blast, BUT had I not experienced this, I would not be who I am today. My dad did everything– the framework, electrical, plumbing, roofing, brickwork, etc. He would go to work on the Air Force base from about 7-3 and then come come and work on the house until it was too dark. Not only did I get to see my dad’s incredible talent and work ethic, but my mom’s as well. I got to watch them both work together on this hard, pain-staking manual labor, which is where I get my work ethic and dedication from. I would help with what I could, of course, although I did not do as much as my parents, but I cannot say enough about how this experience shaped me. It made me fiercely independent as an adult because I had learned how to do so many things over the years while building the houses. Getting to see my mom work alongside my dad was also important because my dad didn’t treat us like women couldn’t do the same things he was doing. I got to see my mom doing what some people would deem a “man’s job,” and that has always made me so proud.
