The Apparel/Design Symposium, cosponsored by Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and the Fashion Group International (FGI) of Detroit, has been conducted for 7 years. Participants include business/industry professionals and Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois high school, community college, and university students and faculty. EMU faculty and FGI professionals scan the issues that interact with the three Michigan subsystems (educational, business, and professional) to select the theme and to identify a keynote speaker. Students and faculty are informed of the theme 1 year in advance to prepare for career and design scholarship competitions. The Michigan fashion business community is apprised of the theme so that it can identify ways in which to interact. Entry-level students attend the event to create an awareness; midlevel students are involved in activities to extend knowledge; and senior-level students become involved at the integration level as they organize the actual program by using prior classwork and field experiences. Publicity brings community involvement. The retailing/industry involvement comes through FGI members who provide scholarship funds, financial support, judges, publicity, and speakers. Post-symposium follow-up includes evaluations by all participants. (YLB)