FIT in the News – November 26, 2019

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.

A press release distributed via PRNewswire (November 19) announced that new trustees have been appointed to FIT’s Board of Trustees and new leadership and directors elected to the FIT Foundation. The release received more than 140 pickups, including Finance.Yahoo.com, Telemundo.Lubbock.com, ManhattanWeek.com, BusinessInsider.com (all November 19), and dozens of affiliate station websites of ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox.

InteriorDesignerMagazine.co.uk, HotelSpaceOnline.com (both November 14), ArchitecturalDigest.com, and Form-Faktor.at (both November 19) announced that designer Alexandra Champalimaud is the recipient of the 2019 Lawrence Israel Prize, given by the Interior Design Department. Champalimaud, an internationally acclaimed designer, is founder of Champalimaud Design and opened her first design studio in Montreal more than 30 years ago after fleeing political unrest in Portugal. She discussed her career and shared insights about the future of interior design in a talk at FIT on November 21.

HomeTextilesToday.com (November 18) reported on The Loop for Good, a clothing swap and experiential sustainability pop-up event held at FIT to promote circularity in the fashion industry and encourage consumers to reuse and recycle their clothing.

ChalkFIT, the annual project created by seventh-semester Illustration students, received coverage in The Villager (October 24). Students used chalk mixed with water to create murals on the exterior walls of FIT, stretching across both the Goodman Resource Center and the Pomerantz Art and Design Center, with images depicting iconic moments over the last 75 years to celebrate the college’s anniversary.

The New York Amsterdam News (October 30) reported on the call for applications for FIT Design Entrepreneurs (FITDE), a free, intensive “mini-MBA” program—now in its eighth year—that teaches emerging designers how to run a successful label. A $100,000 prize will be awarded to the company that presents the most outstanding business plan, and $50,000 will go to the second-place company. Both winners will use these funds to implement business plans developed as part of the program.

Natasha Degen, chair, Art Market Studies, spoke with BusinessofFashion.com (November 15) for an article on apps and websites where buyers pool their funds to “share” valuable fashion items, known as “cultural investments.”

Mark-Evan Blackman, assistant professor, Fashion Design, discussed the bow tie with NYPost.com (November 14).

Shawn Grain Carter, associate professor, Fashion Business Management, spoke to RetailDive.com (November 14) about the retailer Ann Taylor.

Ariele Elia, industry/project coordinator, Fashion Design MFA, evaluated potentially counterfeit products that were purchased on Amazon.com for NPR’s Marketplace (November 18).

Emma McClendon, associate curator of costume, The Museum at FIT, discussed the returning popularity of the exposed-bra look with I-D.Vice.com (November 14).