Imagine flying in from graduate school in Rome to attend your capsule collection launch at Macy’s flagship store in New York City’s Herald Square. For Irene Alexandra Cubides, Fashion Design ’24—who now goes by Irene Alexandra—that dream scenario recently became her reality. Less than a year after Macy’s named her the 2024 Capsule Collection winner, she returned stateside for her collection’s retail sales-floor debut.
While at FIT, Alexandra studied Fashion Design and chose Sportswear as her area of concentration. She was working on her senior thesis collection when she decided to participate in the Macy’s Capsule Collection Challenge, which is only offered to seniors in the Fashion Design BFA program. Alexandra had never before entered a design competition or contest at FIT, but in this, she saw an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
“I saw the competition as a unique opportunity to challenge myself and gain hands-on experience designing for a large retailer like Macy’s,” Alexandra said. “I wanted to push my creativity while also considering the realities of working with a wholesaler—thinking about their brand identity, customer, and overall vision. At the same time, I didn’t want to look back and wonder, What if? I knew that even if I wasn’t selected, the process itself would teach me something valuable. Taking chances opens doors, and this felt like a step toward something bigger.”
Her gamble paid off, because she was selected as one of the five finalists, and then in April of last year, when Macy’s in-house design team came to FIT to evaluate the finalists’ work, based on originality, quality of craftsmanship, and the appeal to Macy’s private-label consumers, Alexandra was chosen as the winner. Her collection included a white cape-style jacket, a matching top, and a hand-dip-dyed knit skirt with fringe overlay, which she’d dyed at home for the desired ombré effect.
For three consecutive years, Macy’s has partnered with FIT to support burgeoning student designers by launching exclusive capsule collections from the school’s Fashion Design BFA program. Through this program and partnership, Macy’s gives FIT students the opportunity to gain real-world experience while working with mentors and gaining access to Macy’s facilities. Then, ultimately, Macy’s produces and sells a student collection, as part of the retailer’s private brands, in stores nationwide.
On a Tuesday evening in February, Alexandra, her mother, and their family were all in attendance when her collection debuted in Macy’s Bar III section. Friends, FIT alumni, and faculty also joined in to toast Alexandra and admire the garments, each with an FIT-branded hangtag bearing Alexandra’s picture and statement.
“This collaboration represents the power of industry and education coming together to provide students with real-world opportunities, and Macy’s has been an extraordinary partner in making this happen,” said Troy Richards, dean of the School of Art and Design. “We are also here to celebrate the hard work of Irene Alexandra. Congratulations!”
“I am so incredibly impressed with the collection that is highlighted here in Bar III,” said Emily Erusha-Hilleque, senior vice president of private brands at Macy’s.
“Here, tonight, we are so excited to celebrate and unveil her collection, and right off the bat, we absolutely fell in love with it,” said Narda Chan, vice president of design at Macy’s.
Irene Alexandra is currently studying fashion and luxury business in Italy at the Rome Business School. Tune in May 8 to see this year’s Macy’s Capsule Collection winner debut during FIT’s Future of Fashion runway show, presented by Macy’s.