A&S Alumni Stories: How Studying Sociology Prepared Marguerite Adzick for Success in the Fashion Industry

Marguerite Adzick moved to Philadelphia to work in the fashion industry after graduating from the University of Virginia in 2011 with a sociology degree. Working at the headquarters of Lilly Pulitzer, the former UVA lacrosse player got the entrepreneurial itch and developed her idea for her own line of women’s activewear.

Adzick was six months pregnant when she launched Addison Bay. Seven years later, Adzick and her husband have four children, and Addison Bay is growing exponentially. She credits the liberal arts education she received in UVA’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences for preparing her for the daily challenges she’s faced to create and grow a thriving line of women’s athleisure wear.

A liberal arts education is so important because it teaches you how to think critically, communicate clearly and adapt in any environment. It’s less about memorizing facts and more about learning how to solve problems, which is very purposeful for my life now. Ask the right questions, connect ideas across different fields. That was really my biggest takeaway,” Adzick said. “Truly that foundation has been so important as an entrepreneur because every day I’m wearing a dozen different hats and making decisions in areas I did not major in.

Studying sociology has been incredibly valuable, she added, because it gave her a deep understanding of people.

“That perspective has been a huge asset at Addison Bay, where so much of what we do is about connecting with women, building a community and understanding how they live their lives. It taught me to always think about the bigger picture, not just the product itself, but how it fits into someone's daily routine and identity.”