It was during a summer internship at Lehman Brothers in New York City, at the height of the Great Recession, that Brittany Hicks decided that finance was not her calling. She switched gears and enrolled in merchandising and textile courses at North Carolina A&T State University, earning a degree in supply chain management. After a prestigious internship at Harley-Davidson Motor Company and buying roles at various retailers, Hicks landed in Seattle in 2015 and joined Amazon Fashion, where she has been a buyer and operations manager. “I continuously surprise myself,” says Hicks of her tenure with the online retail giant. “I have learned to apply the lessons that I learn every day to life outside my work.”

Glamazon
"When my friends see my wardrobe, they are usually surprised by how streamlined it is,” says Hicks, who describes her personal style as “elevated casual.” Her fashion must-haves? “A comfortable pair of high-waisted jeans, denim jacket, chunky necklaces and a good clutch.” Local spots she favors include Pipe and Row, and the Fremont Market for vintage finds.

Gift of Fab
Hicks’ own career journey and questions from students on social media inspired her to launch Girls in Fashion and Tech (GIFT) in 2016. The organization is a resource for women and students interested in navigating the lesser known career opportunities in fashion. “I want to empower girls who are interested in the behind-the-scenes work, such as finance and technology, to feel they have a clear path to succeed.” More recently, Hicks hosted the semiannual Women of Color FashTech Brunch, an event that encourages dialogue and support for minority workers, during New York Fashion Week.

Chic Geeks
In March, Hicks teamed up with fashion-industry fit consultant Jessica Couch to host their first panel at Austin’s South by Southwest, titled “Fashion’s Fit Issue: Representation and Tech.” It coincided with the launch of Hicks and Couch’s own podcast, WTF Fashion?! Will Tech Fix Fashion?, during which they discuss timely topics affecting the fashion community. 

Written By: Andrew Hoge

Image Credit: Hayley Young

This article appears in print in the May 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.