Author: Naomi Young | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2025

Tour of Fashion Enter, the UK’s leading audited manufacturer working to revolutionize the industry, ethically & sustainably

Being a part of the Global Business in London study abroad program was certainly a highlight in my academic career at the University of Arkansas. The experience was not only informative, allowing us to see how businesses adapt to real challenges and gain hands-on experience through company visits and tours, but also culturally engaging through visiting historical sites, learning about the history of London, and experiencing first-hand cultural differences between the United States and London. I am so grateful to the Honors College for providing this immersive educational experience not just to me but to so many students.

I chose to study abroad in London because it has always been a city of interest to me. I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter, perfecting my British accent, and being intrigued by the British monarchy, a concept foreign to the United States. The history of London is so rich, dating back over a thousand years. The hundreds of generations of culture are something that we simply do not have in the United States. Additionally, London is a hub for European trade and commerce. It is a center of banking, foreign exchange, and fashion. Not only is London’s culture intriguing, but its world of commerce is just as interesting. I chose to do an intersession course because I knew that for me personally a summer or semester would be too long. As much as I love to travel, I love my home even more. Being in London was great, but two weeks was the perfect number of days.

Honestly, upon arriving in London, I was not very excited. I was nervous, fearful of what the next two weeks would be like, surrounded by a group of students I didn’t know. Would we get along? Would I be alone the entire time? Would I get stranded in the city alone? Of course that was far from the case. The greatest part of the study abroad was actually the relationships that I made. In only fourteen days, I grew deep bonds with some of my peers. I grew friendships that most likely would not have developed otherwise, and for that I am very appreciative of the Honors College. Study abroad brings together students of different backgrounds, majors, beliefs, and perspectives who would not meet otherwise. It creates close bonds as students become accustomed to an entirely different culture together.

During the program, we were tasked with a consulting project to advise Fashion Enter, the UK’s leading audited manufacturer working to revolutionize the industry, ethically & sustainably, on solutions to minimize the impact of shipping delays and U.S. tariffs that would affect the UK’s fashion industry. This project was incredibly interesting. In my group, I was assigned research on the impact of President Trump’s U.S. tariffs on UK fashion companies. Researching the tariffs was very insightful in understanding how the tariffs will affect not just U.S. retailers, but the global fashion industry. The tariffs affect the UK because many UK retailers manufacture in countries like China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Because of the tariffs, U.S. buyers are now less likely to source manufacturing from these targeted countries because of the extra costs. In turn, Chinese factories will raise prices of raw materials and manufacturing to cover these lost sales. This will cause UK retailers importing raw materials or products from China to face higher prices. Furthermore, British brands that sell goods in the United States must pay U.S. tariffs on those items if they are made in China. The tariffs will have a domino effect on any retailers manufacturing or importing goods from countries targeted by U.S. tariffs.

Furthermore, during our time in London, we had the opportunity to visit companies and meet with London’s leadership. One of the most impactful visits for me was our visit to Turo, a growing peer-to-peer car sharing platform. We met with Catrin Harris, Turo’s leader of the communications team in the UK, to discuss what Turo does and how car sharing is growing globally. Catrin’s presentation began with the observation that consumer behaviors are shifting from owning assets to creating unique experiences, and Turo capitalizes on this shift in behavior. We also see that on-demand, mobile-first services have changed consumer engagement. Cars are becoming increasingly expensive, underutilized assets, and as entrepreneurship rises with a focus on utilizing one’s assets, Turo has taken the idle asset utilization market by storm.

During the evenings, our group definitely took advantage of our free time to explore. It was in these group settings where I grew close to my peers and formed lasting friendships. The most bonding experience was navigating the London Tube system. What at first was the most intimidating and anxiety-inducing system to understand became the greatest tool towards the end of our abroad experience. The most memorable places we explored included Notting Hill, Chinatown, Little Venice, and Greenwich. I also watched The Great Gasby the musical in the London Coliseum, which was an unforgettable experience. The singing was incredible, and I got the opportunity to watch High School Musical star Corbin Bleu lead as Nick Carraway.

Overall, my study abroad experience was not only wonderful, but it also gave me confidence to navigate another foreign city in the future. I would one hundred percent recommend studying abroad to anyone who is even thinking about doing it. It’s a great experience, especially within the four years of being an undergraduate student, to travel the world and study in a culture that is foreign to you. It opens your eyes to different ways of life and perspectives, and in a way it prepares you for the cultural shift of university to working a full-time job. You have to be able to adjust quickly and roll with the uncertainties of being in another country. I want to give another thank you to the Honors College for making this experience possible for me.