Indiana University announced on Apr. 20 that a student-led T-shirt design competition has resulted in a new Little 500 shirt now available at Homefield, an apparel company co-founded by IU alumnus Connor Hitchcock. Harrison Hall, a junior informatics major and member of the IU Student Foundation’s Little 500 marketing committee, created the winning design inspired by vintage styles from previous decades.
The competition was organized as part of the Retail Studies Organization Culture of Collegiate Apparel Panel, which connects students with industry professionals and alumni to provide mentorship and real-world experience. This initiative is one example of how Indiana University Bloomington offers its students opportunities to apply classroom learning through internships and involvement in more than 750 student organizations.
Hitchcock said his own entrepreneurial journey began at IU selling T-shirts door-to-door before launching Homefield, which he described as one of the fastest-growing collegiate apparel brands. The panel also included Jason Vu, founder and creative director of Authmade; National Football Championship-winning players Carter Smith and Kaiden Turner; and Kevin Spahn, Homefield’s design director. Sam Law, a junior merchandising major who has styled athletes including former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Cam Jones, moderated the discussion.
Hall said participating gave him practical insight into professional brand design: “It’s a very unique opportunity offered by RSO,” Hall said. “It gives you an informal taste of what it would be like to actually be a designer for a brand.” Spahn worked closely with Hall throughout the process: “I wanted him to have — start to finish — a final product to hand off to us, so he could say that he did it all,” Spahn said.
Indiana University Bloomington functions as a public research university according to the official website. The campus is known for its limestone architecture and historic setting according to university information. It draws students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries according to official sources, contributing significantly to Indiana’s economy and cultural life according to university data.
Hall encouraged other students not to hesitate when similar opportunities arise: “Going into this, I didn’t know what the competition was going to be like,” Hall said. “I think that if you have any opportunity … make sure to go ahead and apply for that because you never know what’s going to happen.”
The collaboration reflects Indiana University Bloomington’s focus on advancing research, creativity and innovation while serving as a leading hub for higher education according to its official website.
