Editor’s note: Graduates of UD’s fashion and apparel studies programs are making an impact in all aspects of the industry around the world. Our spotlights offer a glimpse into their careers, how UD prepared them for their current position and the advice they have for students interested in a career in the fashion world. These stories have been edited for length; here is the full interview with Kara.

Kara Hamalainen is currently a costume buyer with the character programs and development (CP&D) replenishment team at Disney Live Entertainment. She graduated in 2023 with a double major in fashion design and product innovation, and fashion merchandising and management. As a student Hamalainen was involved with the Impact Dance company and Synergy Fashion group. A dancer, she developed a love for costumes and was thrilled to be accepted into the Disney Professional Internship program after graduation. She has been in her role since March 2025; the interview below was conducted when she was an associate costume buyer.

What are your primary job responsibilities?

The primary responsibility of a associate costume buyer under Disney Live Entertainment is to have the right costumes at the right place, in the right quantity and at the right time. Buyers are responsible for placing orders for costume pieces, garments and accessories and ensuring that delivery dates for products ordered are closely monitored. By achieving this, we can create and enrich the experiences of our guests and cast members worldwide. Our work can be seen at Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships and numerous other locations around the globe, which is truly a special and unique opportunity.

The most exciting part of my job is witnessing how my work behind the scenes impacts people every single day. Whenever I go to the Walt Disney World theme parks, I watch guests interact with their favorite Disney characters through meet and greets and parades. It is heartwarming to know that I get to contribute to something so special to somebody and allow them to have that memory for the rest of their life.

As a buyer, how do you collaborate with other departments and teams at Disney, such as designers, product development and sourcing? How about external vendors?

For the CP&D Procurement Buying team, one of our main focuses is our communication and relationships with outside vendors. It is extremely vital that we build and maintain strong relationships with our outside vendors so our business can continue to run successfully. The buyers are in constant contact with their assigned vendors, communicating daily via email and phone about both current and new costume orders. It is also important that we get our work onto their production schedule in a timely manner to avoid scheduling conflicts with other customers they may have.

Regarding other teams at Disney, my buying team often collaborates with the project development buying team. This team is responsible for buying and sourcing materials for new character costumes that the designers are currently developing. Once the development process has been completed, we hold transition meetings where the development team goes over everything the replenishment buying team will need to know about the new character costume for future orders. This includes elements such as raw materials, fiber content, vendor information and price per costume piece.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in costume buying?

I would highly recommend taking advantage of internship opportunities while at UD. Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience in the day-to-day responsibilities of a particular role while allowing you to strengthen your understanding of the textile and apparel industry from a real-world perspective. It is also an extremely effective way to network and make valuable connections in the industry. Don’t be afraid to start conversations with your professors about your goals and interests, as they are always willing to help and will likely have strong connections to the industry as well.

Having an open mind is extremely important going into the industry. Your first job out of college may not be your dream role, but know that you are gaining valuable industry skills that can be applied to a number of different positions. For example, I know that I eventually want to work my way into a more creative and design-driven role. While my current position as a costume buyer may not be focused on design and creativity, the communication and organization skills I am gaining can still translate to various positions in the industry.

Lastly, follow your dreams! It might sound cliché, but you never know what will happen if you put yourself out there and give something a shot. I faced multiple rejections from Disney before getting accepted into the internship program. If I had not decided to persevere and keep trying, I would not be where I am today. I also owe so much of my successes to the UD Fashion program, as I am so grateful for the opportunities it provided.