On Sept. 10, FIT’s sun-filled Art and Design Gallery played host to this year’s annual Fashion Design Master of Fine Arts (MFA) runway show. Featuring the designs of 13 graduates from the class of 2024 in the Fashion Design MFA program, it was the first time that an FIT runway show took place on campus during New York Fashion Week.
Titled BEYOND, the show featured designers “from diverse backgrounds and cultures, converg[ing] to redefine boundaries and celebrate unity in diversity.” More than 200 guests attended, with others watching a livestream. (Visit the show’s website, fitnyc.edu/beyond, for designer bios, collection information, and the video.)
The event began with opening remarks from President Joyce F. Brown, who welcomed the audience and acknowledged the graduates’ hard work in a competitive degree program. “You embraced and benefited from the experiential learning that is a cornerstone of FIT, and I know you will carry that training forward as lifelong learners in your chosen fields.”
Dr. Brown later added, “Our recent MFA graduates have developed impressive inaugural collections and are already establishing themselves as designers to watch in the fashion world.”
The audience sat on white benches throughout the gallery. When the music began, models entered through the building’s open lobby turnstiles before wending their way through the gallery.
The 65 looks from 13 designers surveyed a wide range of styles. After the models made a final pass through the space, designers entered for a collective bow and to receive congratulations from Dr. Brown, Dr. Brooke Carlson, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and Cathleen Sheehan, professor and chair of the Fashion Design MFA program.
Sheehan said she was thrilled with how well everything came off, noting that shows are typically held in outside spaces with limited prep and setup time. “It was so nice to be at home this year with a luxurious amount of time. It had always been my vision to do a show here. My runway show philosophy is ‘no surprises,’ and I really got to enjoy everything this year.”
Designer Ashleen Tuteja, whose work featured men’s sportswear with iridescent and space age patterns, said, “Today was just wonderful—a dream come true. This is the biggest award I could have asked for.”
Designer Eunhae Cho admitted she’d been scared before her first New York show, but said the whole experience was amazing. “My favorite thing was seeing all the models lined up before the show. That felt incredible, but I was also relieved when they came back and nothing was falling off!”
Designer Bryan Barrientos, whose elegant white evening wear got the show off to a strong start, said, “It was so great to do a show here at FIT, where I’ve called home for the last six years.” But Barrientos had little time to enjoy the moment. When asked what he’s doing next, he put a hand to his forehead and admitted, “Well, my first solo show is tomorrow!”
Find additional coverage of the show at Vogue.com.
Catch video of the runway show below and on the Fashion Design MFA’s BEYOND website.