Purdue student launches spring scarf collection for charity

February 23, 2015  


Mishler scarves

Emily Mishler, CEO of Get Involved - Be the Change Inc. and a senior apparel design and technology and communication major at Purdue University, shows scarves from a previously launched collection. She has launched her spring 2015 collection that Get Involved - Be the Change will sell online and donate the profits to nonprofit organizations. (Purdue Research Foundation photo)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue student entrepreneur who was Miss Purdue University 2014 and now serves as Miss Indiana Heartland 2015 has launched her spring collection of scarves that will be sold online by her startup Get Involved - Be the Change Inc. to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits.

This is the fifth collection by CEO Emily Mishler, a senior apparel design and technology and communication major from Goshen, Indiana.

Mishler said her inspirations for this collection were the vivid color palette and upbeat feelings that she associates with spring.

"Once I saw our 'Floral Frenzy' fabric's bright, vivid print, I knew it would make a fabulous accent piece for any wardrobe," she said. "We then began coordinating colors and other prints to create a high energy excitement for the spring season, and the collection came together. This is the most cohesive collection from Get Involved - Be the Change and easily our favorite so far."

Mishler said Get Involved - Be the Change has donated more than $5,500 to 12 different charities since January 2014. She said the organization measures its success several ways.

"The amount of money we are able to donate is an obvious way to measure success, but we believe success is based on much more than that," she said. "We also measure success by the sustainable relationships we are able to build, the network we are able to create, how big our smiles are at the end of the day and the incredible impact we are able to make."

Get Involved - Be the Change is supporting the American Heart Association in February, and will support Girls on the Run in March and A Will for Welfare in April. Mishler said the company will transition to a different model in May to increase its impact and networking capabilities.

Mishler Spring scarves

Get Involved - Be the Change Inc. has launched its spring 2015 collection of scarves, designed by CEO Emily Mishler, a Purdue University apparel design and technology and communication major. The company will sell the scarves online and donate profits to nonprofit organizations. (Photo provided) 
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 "We will shift to working with a different charity each season, rather than each month," she said. "By advocating or raising money for one specific organization for a longer period of time, we may be able to increase the amount of money we can donate and make a more substantial network on a local and national level."

Mishler will graduate in May and she hopes to continue to grow Get Involved - Be the Change while pursuing other opportunities.

"I want the business to grow as much as it can. I never planned to start this business or to be an entrepreneur for that matter, so it feels like the sky's the limit," she said. "We have an incredible team right now, and I am very confident we will be able to overcome any challenges that arise. I hope to continue leading the company to growth and success, and if the right person comes along we would be open to expanding the team."

Mishler continues to work with the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.

"The Purdue Foundry has been instrumental in the development of Get Involved - Be the Change," she said. "Through weekly meetings with the Purdue Foundry's experts we have been able to effectively develop a business plan and marketing strategy as well as target consumers through different products. It has been a great resource to make my dreams tangible and create a plan to make them happen."

About Get Involved - Be the Change Inc.

Get Involved - Be the Change initiates positive change by creating a network of nonprofit organizations, increasing awareness about the Miss America Organization and fundraising for specific organizations each month. Collaboration with a different local and national nonprofit organization each month for the 2015 calendar year works to make this dream a reality.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. The Purdue Foundry is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org 

Writer: Hillary Henry, Purdue Research Foundation 

Source: Emily Mishler, 574-361-6203, emilymishler@gmail.com 

Purdue Research Foundation contact:  Steve Martin, 765-588-3341, sgmartin@prf.org 

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