TCU alumna Katelyn Kite found success in her passion. After graduating from TCU with a fashion merchandising degree in 2014, Kite dove into the fashion industry by opening her own boutique, LUX Fort Worth Boutique. LUX Fort Worth Boutique opened last fall on West Berry Street, close proximity to TCU’s campus. Kite said her boutique markets predominantly to TCU students due to its location and accessibility. Kite’s mother, who also worked in the fashion industry, helped her prepare for everything the fashion world had to offer. “I feel TCU really prepared me for everything I needed to know because it taught me the business side and the buying side, and the merchandising side is what I use when I’m running this boutique, so it helped me get prepared,” Kite said. Although she is thriving in her new business endeavor, Kite said she swiftly learned how much hard work goes into owning and maintaining a fashion boutique.

“It’s not just going to the store and buying the clothes and hanging them up and selling them to people,” said Kite. “It’s promoting and making sure you have what people are wanting and constantly changing things around, and it’s just a lot more work than I thought it would be.” LUX Fashion Boutique buys from various vendors and receives new merchandise every week, purchasing styles that Kite describes as “edgy and trendy at an affordable price.” Kite plans to expand her business and own more than one location of LUX within the next 10 years.