The Fashion Institute of Technology has received a gift from the Dalal Family Foundation to establish the Dalal Family Global Field Study Scholarship Program—an annual faculty-led travel experience for students in the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology.
The program will send as many as 10 students each year to leading industry trade shows, brand showrooms, and manufacturing facilities in both domestic and international markets.
In the inaugural 10–12 day trip, students will visit Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, and meet with the organizer and vendors. This premier show services the entire life cycle of the global home industry, from trend to sourcing and manufacturing to retail. The group will also perform a manufacturing site visit and see Frankfurt’s Museum of Applied Arts for inspiration.
The goal of this study-abroad opportunity is to give students direct exposure to the full life cycle of home products, from concept and development through sourcing and production.
The Dalal Family Foundation, founded in 1997 by Nayan Dalal, focuses on education and community opportunity. Dalal, who was born in Mumbai and moved to the United States to pursue his MBA, founded TLI Home in 1992. Today it is a leader in home textiles with offices in New York, Mumbai, and Shanghai.
The idea came from Shannon Maher, dean of the Baker School, and resonated with Dalal immediately.
He said, “Experiences like these take learning beyond the classroom and into the real world, where students can see how ideas become products, how markets operate across cultures, and how innovation is shaped through global collaboration.”
Maher sees the program as a natural extension of FIT’s mission. “The program will provide students with immersive exposure to both the domestic and international home industries, and will enhance their understanding of product development, manufacturing processes, and supply chain.”
FIT President Jason S. Schupbach called the gift a meaningful investment in students’ futures. “I can think of no greater gift,” he said, “than one that supports students in deepening their understanding of the home products industry worldwide.”
Students can apply and find out more details about the program—including application criteria—on the application form online.