1991: Professors Jean Gipe and Betty Tracy of the College of Agriculture's home economics program began developing the apparel merchandising and management (AMM) degree and the Apparel Technology and Research Center (ATRC). With the rapid growth and international success of California-based apparel brands, they recognized a need for a comprehensive apparel business and technology degree in California that embraced both production and distribution aspects of the apparel industry.
1992: The ATRC was established.
1995: University and California State University (CSU) system approvals were obtained for a new AMM degree, and Professor Tracy became the program director. Department of Defense-Defense Logistics Agency (DoD-DLA) research contract paperwork for the ATRC was also completed during this time, which led to a more than $10 million DoD-DLA contract. Professor Gipe became the ATRC director.
1996: The first group of 39 AMM students was admitted to the program. Building 45 was remodeled with funding from the DoD-DLA contract and became the AMM program's home.
1997: The Apparel Manufacturers Association (now known as the American Apparel & Footwear Association or AAFA) gave its professional endorsement/accreditation to AMM's apparel production option. The Cal Poly Pomona program is one of 13 that the AAFA has endorsed in the United States.
2001: AMM became a stand-alone department within the College of Agriculture, and the ATRC's contract with DoD-DLA ended.
2004: Professor Tracy retired, and Professor Gipe became the AMM department chair.
2006: AMM celebrated its 10th anniversary. Professor Peter Kilduff became the department chair.
2007: Professor Gipe retired. Muditha Senanayake and Hyunjoo Im joined the department as assistant professors.
2011: Chitra Dabas joined the department as an assistant professor.
2013: Jiangning Che joined the department as an assistant professor.
2015: Professor Regan retired.
2016: Saemee Lyu joined the department as an assistant professor.
2017: Linda Tucker retired after working as a full-time lecturer. Professor Senanayake became the interim department chair when Professor Kilduff became the interim associate dean of the Huntley College of Agriculture.
2018: Claire Whang joined the department as an assistant professor.
2019: Seoha Min joined the department as an associate professor, and Helen Trejo joined as an assistant professor.
2020: The department began offering its master's degree in international apparel management (IAM). In addition, a new minor in footwear design and merchandising was approved.
2021: Professor Senanayake became the department chair.
2022: Cindy Cordoba joined the department as an assistant professor.
2023: Md Arif Iqbal joined the department as an assistant professor.
2024: Professor Senanayake retired. Professors Chitra Dabas and Jiangning Che were named interim co-chairs of the department.