Rails presentation at SMC
Angell Aghedo, Fashion Merchandising major
Jason Tamayo, who plans to work in costuming for film and stage
Students on a fieldtrip to Rails with Jeff Abrams
Digital marketing at Rails
SMC students touring the Rails facility
Students learning more about Rails
Fashion professor La Tanya Louis
Lorrie Ivas, Fashion professor
Breaking into fashion isn’t easy, but Santa Monica College students are getting an inside look at what it takes from Jeff Abrams, founder and creative director of the global apparel brand Rails. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and scholarships, the collaboration is turning dreams into opportunity.
Jeff, a Los Angeles native, launched Rails in 2008 with a $5,000 investment. Today, the brand spans more than 40 countries and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. He now wants to share the secrets of that success with the next generation.
“We were really excited about how we can impart real working knowledge,” Jeff says. “And give students more of an inside track where they might otherwise have a difficult time breaking in.”
Industry Insiders
Jeff and his team have visited SMC numerous times, speaking not only to fashion students but also to aspiring entrepreneurs across disciplines. They break down the business into its component parts, with Rails department leaders sharing how design, production, marketing, retail and e-commerce function in an era of global supply chains.
“We had each of our department leads talk about their channel,” Jeff explains. “It gives students a clearer idea of what those careers actually look like.”
Another campus visit by the Rails team is being planned for May.
Students have also visited Rails headquarters, seeing how each department functions in what SMC Foundation Development Director Katie Moe describes as a “day in the lifecycle” of a global fashion company in turning concepts into marketable clothing.
“They gave our students the tour and presentations of a lifetime,” says Fashion Professor La Tanya Louis. “Every area we visited took the time to create something thoughtful and comprehensive — from design to production to marketing.”
The experience bolsters what students are learning as they prepare collections for SMC’s annual fashion show LA Mode, connecting classroom concepts with real-world execution, she adds of the visit. “It worked hand in hand with what they needed to be prepared for the industry.”
Scholarship Support
In 2024, Rails committed $25,000 to the SMC Fashion Design Department, providing 20 scholarships while also funding program needs. Rails renewed that same level of giving in 2025 for a total of $50,000 in financial support to date. But more than dollars, faculty note that what really sets this partnership apart is the company’s depth of engagement.
“Jeff wants students to really understand how a fashion business works, and he goes the extra mile to make that happen,” says Associate Professor Lorrie Ivas, Fashion Department faculty lead.
In addition to engaging with students on campus, Jeff and Rails have also donated to SMC’s Career Closet—housed in the Business Department—providing professional clothing to ensure students feel prepared and confident as they interview for internships and jobs.
“The minute he heard about it, he said, ‘What can we do?’” Lorrie recalls. “And almost immediately, we had boxes of high-quality clothing for students.”
For Katie, the partnership represents a model of what institutional collaboration can be.
“It’s such a wraparound investment,” Katie says. “There’s scholarship support, program support and this hands-on engagement that brings everything together. It’s a true partnership.”
Jeff’s role on SMC’s Fashion Department Advisory Board further deepens that connection. There, he provides direct input to help keep the curriculum up to date with industry trends. He also works with fellow board members and faculty to make sure that classes provide the technical, business and analytical skills employers expect — from product development to data-informed decision-making.
“He’s not just advising — he’s doing,” La Tanya notes.
Inspiring New Talent
The support is motivational as well as material. Many students balance coursework with jobs, family responsibilities and long commutes — making it difficult to access opportunities beyond the classroom. The Rails partnership helps bridge that gap.
“A lot of the students are juggling so many things,” Jeff says. “Part of our motivation is how we can help fast-track them toward their professional careers.”
For Angell Aghedo, a fashion merchandising major, that support came at a critical moment. She travels up to five hours each day to attend SMC, determined to complete her degree despite the challenges.
Receiving a Rails scholarship changed how she saw herself. “I’d applied to scholarships before and never heard back,” Angell says. “When I got that email, I couldn’t believe it. It meant so much to know someone saw how hard I’ve been working.”
Such recognition carries immense value. For many students, these awards represent the first time they have been selected for a scholarship. Earning that support builds confidence and reinforces students’ sense of belonging in the field.
“That $1,000 gives them hope,” Lorrie says. “It’s like a ray of light giving students a positive sense of their future.”
For Jason Tamayo, who plans to work in costuming for film and stage, the scholarship provided practical support — helping cover the cost of fabrics, books and supplies. More importantly, the experience left an equally lasting impression.
Meeting Jeff and his team, and hearing how Rails grew from a small operation into a global brand, reshaped how Jason thinks about his own path. “He took a risk and built his own brand,” Jason says of Jeff. “It made me think — you just have to try. You don’t know what will happen unless you go for it.”
Seeing the design and production process up close — from initial sketches to finished garments — also gave Jason a clearer understanding of how ideas take shape in the real world.
“I never would have thought about how it all comes together,” he says. “Seeing it from start to finish was amazing.”
Ahead of the Trend
Meanwhile, Jeff and his Rails team are exploring additional opportunities for engagement, including more specialized sessions aligned with students’ interests and potential exposure to global manufacturing partners.
At the same time, the collaboration is strengthening the foundation of SMC’s fashion program — ensuring students graduate not only with technical skills but also with a clear understanding of how to navigate the industry.
“We’re open to exploring all the different ways we can be helpful,” Jeff says. “Hopefully we’re giving students better access as they start their professional careers.”
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SMC in Focus Volume XII, Issue 2
It Was Destiny
A chance encounter in a Sherman Oaks mall put graduating Interaction Design student Harmony Simpson back on track. Read Article
In her Shoes
The daughter of Cuban immigrants—and a first-gen high school & college graduate—SMC’s new(ish) VP of Student Success on resilience, her life’s turning points, and what keeps her centered. Read Article
Fashioning Futures
Rails founder Jeff Abrams brings scholarship support and industry insights to SMC students as they pattern careers in fashion. Read Article
Frieze Frame
SMC showed up in force at Frieze Los Angeles, where 22 student interns engaged with top galleries and collectors, established artists (including four SMC alum) and 32,000 visitors at this world-class art fair. Read Article
Bragging Rights
Applied classical voice students win top awards. IxD grads receive offers from the best schools. An aquaculture instructor dives deep into kelp conservation. Read Article
Lighting the Way
Santa Monica College widened the lens for Charles Butler, helping him go from modeling and background acting to success behind the scenes of hit reality shows. Read Article