News.MIT.edu, MirageNews.com (both July 17), and Fibre2Fashion.com (July 21) announced the second collaboration between MIT and FIT. Students from each institution teamed up for two weeks in late June to create product concepts for New Balance, an apparel and footwear manufacturer, exploring the use of advanced fibers and technology. The workshops were held collaboratively with Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a Cambridge, Massachusetts–based national nonprofit. The students presented their final projects at the headquarters of Lafayette 148 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with New Balance Creative Manager of Computational Design Onur Yuce Gun in attendance.
QuestMag.com (July 19) and FootwearNews.com (July 24) reported that fashion designer Christian Louboutin will receive the 2019 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion. The award will be presented at the Couture Council’s annual luncheon benefiting The Museum at FIT (MFIT) on September 4 at Lincoln Center.
The New York Amsterdam News (July 10) and Harlem Community News (July 11) reported on the retirement party held at FIT for H. Carl McCall, outgoing chairman of SUNY’s board of trustees.
Long-John.nl (July 17) reported on this year’s Biodesign Challenge Summit. The two FIT students of Team Flora Fur won the Stella McCartney Award for Sustainable Fashion for a biodegradable fur alternative made from milkweed and flax. FIT’s Team EcoLastane created a new fiber, made from elastin harvested from discarded oyster shells, which can be used in the fabrication of spandex. Student teams from 34 colleges and universities around the world presented concepts and research that could pave the way to a more sustainable future.
A press release distributed via PR Newswire (July 19) reported that FIT’s Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management (CFMM) program will be participating in Cosmoprof Asia. CFMM graduates will be presenting their capstone research project “The New Era of Beauty and Technology,” which looks at how technology will play a part in individual and collective concepts of beauty in the future. Cosmoprof Asia is Asia’s leading expo for insights into the Asian cosmetics industry and takes place in November in Hong Kong. Pickups include BuffaloNews.com, Post-Gazette.com, and dozens of local affiliate CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox stations.
FashionUnited.com (July 19) spotlighted recent FIT graduate Eliza Fisher, Fashion Design, whose work was featured in the CFDA Fashion Future Graduate Showcase, which presented to the world the works of 52 graduates from 12 schools across the nation.
BayStBull.com (July 17) discussed Wolf Circus, a line of sustainable, demi-fine jewelry, and grand prize winner of FIT’s Design Entrepreneurs program (FITDE). FITDE, a “mini MBA program” includes a series of specialized workshops, learning intensives, mentorship opportunities from leading fashion industry professionals, and networking salons to help entrepreneurial emerging designers learn how to develop effective business plans and strategies in order to help ensure the future success of their lines.
In a NYTimes.com (July 29) obituary for designer Arthur McGee, a photo of one of his designs on display during the Black Fashion Designers exhibition held at MFIT in 2016 was published.
Jeffrey Silberman, chair, Textile Development and Marketing, spoke with FortuneChina.com (July 29) for an article on sustainability in the fashion industry.
Shawn Grain Carter, associate professor, Fashion Business Management, spoke with AdWeek.com (July 23) about the difficulties facing retailer Barneys.
Valerie Steele, director and chief curator, MFIT, spoke with France-Amerique.com (July 16) about the designer Pierre Cardin who is the subject of a fashion exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. NYTimes.com (July 17), The New York Times (July 18), and The International New York Times (July 21) turned to Steele for an article on “intergalactic fashions” tied to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Steele penned the article “The History and Significance of Haute Couture” for LOfficielUSA.com (July 24). Vogue.com (July 29) republished a quote given by Steele on the occasion of the death of designer Yves Saint Laurent in 2008.
Minimalism/Maximalism, currently on view at MFIT, received coverage on Blogarama.com (July 17), ToutElaCulture.com, MR-Mag.com (both July 19), MR (July 1), and Newsday.com (July 30).
Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color, which closed at MFIT in January, received coverage in Happi (July issue).
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