Sustainability is a core value at FIT. On campus and off, FIT students, staff, and faculty are working to make a difference—and you can do your part, too! Here are a few ways for every member of the college community to contribute to these efforts every day.
1. Shop Responsibly
Old is the new new. Refresh your wardrobe on West 26th Street (aka Thrift Row), where you can buy, sell, and trade vintage apparel and accessories. FIT’s own Style Shop, in the Dubinsky Student Center, also sells a curated selection of thrifted and vintage items. Goodwill is right around the corner and accepts donations of clothing (and more), as do the nearby Salvation Army Store and Housing Works Chelsea Thrift Shop. Buy, sell, and trade electronics at Paymore on West 23rd Street.
2. Discard Diligently
FIT has a comprehensive recycling program in all campus buildings, including numerous readily available campus recycling bins. Beyond the college, the NYC Department of Sanitation is dedicated to keeping castoffs out of the landfill via their textile recycling collection program, special waste drop-off sites and disposal events, and donateNYC.
3. Sip Sustainably
New York City’s water is so good it’s often called “the Champagne of tap water.” Drink up while you’re here. FIT partners with Fill it Forward to reduce single-use bottle waste and support charitable projects that bring clean water to communities in need. Fill it Forward lets you make a difference every time you refill your reusable bottle at one of our many water-bottle filling stations. Get a Fill it Forward QR-code sticker for your bottle from the Department of Student Life.
4. Get Involved
Meet members of the Sustainability Club at FIT at the Club Fair on Sept. 28. This student group works outside the classroom to engage with topics surrounding sustainability and to grow a more environmentally conscious campus community. The club hosts activities, lectures, discussions, fundraisers, interactive workshops, and field trips throughout the academic year. Learn more about the Sustainability Club on their page on FITLink, and follow @fitsustainable for updates.
You’ll also want to attend the college’s annual events, which are free for students: Sustainability Awareness Week, held this year October 6–10, focuses on bringing awareness to our FIT community, and the Sustainable Business and Design Conference, next April 8 and 9, has become an internationally renowned event attended by scientists, designers, and innovators. Plus, look for activities celebrating Climate Week this fall and Earth Week next year!
5. Make It Your Minor
Develop a deep understanding of sustainability and learn to work toward a sustainable future by taking courses of interest that lead to a minor in Sustainable Materials and Technology or a minor in Ethics and Sustainability. Contact the Academic Advisement Center to declare a minor and create a course of action.
6. Surf the Sea of Knowledge
The Gladys Marcus Library’s Sustainability Library Guide is a great starting point for all your research into sustainability-related topics.
7. Be the Change You Want to See
Have you noticed a sustainability problem on campus and thought of a solution? There are steps you can take to act on your idea. Start by developing a proposal and applying for a Sustainability Grant. The FIT President’s Sustainability Council annually awards grants of up to $5,000. In spring 2025, Fashion Business Management student Yedam Lee received a grant for a campus Sweater Recycling Initiative. Lee’s project is now underway and will be showcased during Sustainability Awareness Week, October 6–10.
8. Venture Into Biodesign
Apply to the 2025 FIT Genspace Scholars Program, which provides selected undergrads with funding, mentorship, and opportunities to design a biomaterials/sustainability project and undertake research at the Genspace community biology lab in Brooklyn.
Want to start with just one course? Check out SC 101 Biodesign: Innovation at the Intersection of Science and Design. It’s foundational to Genspace Scholars and is also a stepping stone to the Biodesign Challenge, a national competition that can lead to real-world development! Read more about FIT’s previous Biodesign Challenge student teams.
Read more about FIT’s commitment to sustainability on the college’s website, fitnyc.edu/sustainability.