The Division of Communications and External Relations is pleased to share FIT in the News, which reports highlights of major news stories about the college and/or that quote the college’s experts. These stories will be accessible for at least seven days by clicking on the links below.
NationalGeographic.com, FastCompany.com (both September 18), and EcoTextile.com (September 28) reported that National Geographic has awarded FIT’s AlgiKnit project first place and $25,000 in the Sustainable Planet category of NatGeo’s Chasing Genius Challenge. A panel composed of a scientist, an agriculturalist, and other experts selected the project from among thousands of game-changing initiatives. The AlgiKnit group is developing a groundbreaking, sustainable textile composed, in part, of a seaweed called kelp, one of the world’s most rapidly renewing resources. AlgiKnit won the 2016 Biodesign Challenge for an earlier iteration of the idea.
This year’s Couture Council luncheon, at which Thom Browne received the award for Artistry of Fashion, garnered coverage on Crain’s New York Business (September 25). The Associated Press (September 15) included the luncheon as part of their recap of New York Fashion Week. This article was picked up by dozens of outlets, including NYTimes.com, Chron.com, AbsoluteMiami.com, and many ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates.
FashionablyPetite.com (September 17), TheKnockTurnal.com (September 18), and ApparelNews.net (September 21) reported that May 2017 Fashion Design graduate Alyssa Wardrop was the winner of the 10th annual Supima Design Competition. Wardrop’s collection, “Body as Canvas,” was inspired by 1960s Italian cinema. Seven students from the nation’s top design schools competed with collections made from Supima cotton. Wardrop received $10,000 to jumpstart her career and presented her collection during Paris Fashion Week.
An article on Refinery29.com and Refinery29.co.uk (both September 20) about the abundance of Chinese designers showing at this fall’s New York Fashion Week noted that there was a 420 percent increase in the number of Chinese Fashion Design students attending FIT between the years of 2011 and 2016.
Thrillist.com (September 14) included the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies class Introduction to Pet Apparel and Lifestyle Product Design as one of their “Nine College Courses That Are Worth Going Back to School For.”
Virginia Bonofiglio, associate chair, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, commented to Shape (October issue) for an article on the fragrance award winners of the Shape 2017 Beauty Award.
Sean Cormier, associate professor, Textile Development and Marketing, answered the question “I shrank my favorite sweater! Can it be saved?” for Martha Stewart’s syndicated column, which appeared in the Palm Beach Post (September 17).
HerCampus.com (September 20) profiled Dawnn Karen, adjunct instructor, Social Sciences. Karen discusses her undergraduate years, what inspires her, and what advice she would give others.
Vice.com (September 12) spoke with Emily Miethner, adjunct, Computer Graphics, for the article “I Asked a ‘Millennial Expert’ if Our Generation Is Doomed.”
Forbes.com (September 18) named Bridgett Artise, instructor, Center for Continuing and Professional Studies, one of their “3 Fashion Designers to Watch at StyleWeek Northeast,” held in Providence, Rhode Island.
Valerie Steele, director and chief curator, The Museum at FIT (MFIT), spoke with British-Weekly.com (September 22) on the occasion of the release of an updated version of her 1988 book Paris Fashion: A Cultural History. Steele also spoke with Surface (September issue) and SurfaceMag.com (September 20) about designer Dries Van Noten’s runway shows. Elle (October issue) turned to Steele for comment for an article on the transition of fashion “from sameness to singularity.”
Expedition: Fashion from the Extreme, currently on view at MFIT, received coverage on Sothebys.com (September 25) with a 15-image slide show that paired images from the exhibition with fine jewelry that will be auctioned. Additional coverage was received on Gotham-Magazine.com (with a nine-image slide show, September 14), FashionNetwork.com, MyInforms.com (both September 15), Blogger.LookOnline.com (September 16), ModernLuxury.com (with an 11-image slide show), TimeOut.com (both September 18), DefunctFashion.com (September 19), SilverKriss.com (both September 21), RiverdalePress.com (with a five-image slide show, September 22), TheCut.com (with 15-image slide show), PollyTalkFromNewYork.com, SmithsonianMag.com (all September 25), HarpersBazaar.cl (Chile, September 26), and in Town & Village (September 14), Metro New York (September 17), Time Out New York (September 19), and V (October issue). The exhibition’s opening reception was featured in The New York Times Style section (September 24) and on NYTimes.com (September 22) with three photographs.
Force of Nature, currently on view at MFIT, received coverage on NYCStyleLittleCannoli.com (September 19).
Faking It: Originals, Copies, and Counterfeits, which closed at MFIT in April 2015, continues to receive coverage, most recently on LatinTimes.com (September 22).