March 2020
Fashion Culture: The International Best-Dressed List: The Official Story
Courtesy of Rizzoli. Join author, fashion commentator, and judge on NBC's Emmy-nominated show Making It Simon Doonan and journalist and author Amy Fine Collins in conversation as they present her latest book, The International Best-Dressed List: The Official Story. Doonan and Fine Collins will discuss how the “Best-Dressed List” is reflective of current society. Organized in collaboration with FIT’s School of Graduate Studies, this event ties in to the exhibition Eleanor Lambert: Empress of Seventh Avenue. A book signing will follow the presentation. All Fashion Culture events are…
Find out more »A Commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
The UCE of FIT presents a commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire for Women's History Month, featuring presentations by: Mary Anne Trasciatti, president, Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition Richard Yoon Yoo, architect, co-designer of the Triangle Shirtwaist permanent public memorial Daniel Levinson Wilk, professor of American History, FIT This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Suits, Power, and Gender
Emma McClendon. Join Power Mode curator Emma McClendon for a discussion with Harvard scholar Chloe Chapin about the suit, gender, and “power dressing.” Drawing on the recent resurgence of the suit in fashion, they will consider the history and endurance of this enigmatic ensemble. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »ARTSpeak Lecture: Artist Derick Melander
Derick Melander creates artwork that examines the intersection between global consumerism and the intimate connection we have with what we wear. He creates large, geometric sculptures from carefully folded and stacked second-hand clothing. Sorted by hue, color, value or intensity, the garments are arranged to create patterns and gradients in the form of columns, walls, and enclosures. Melander's recently completed commissions include The Chapman Perelman Foundation, Eileen Fisher, and Diesel, and he has created special projects for Scope, Miami; The City of…
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Jeffrey Gibson and Korina Emmerich in Conversation
Korina Emmerich photographed by Jonathan Nesteruk. POSTPONED Jeffrey Gibson and Korina Emmerich will discuss Native American fashion design. Gibson is an award-winning Choctaw-Cherokee artist, whose work combines traditional Native American elements with contemporary references. Emmerich is the founder of EMME, a fashion brand, which reflects her indigenous heritage stemming from the Coast Salish territory, Puyallup tribe. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Prabal Gurung in Conversation with Valerie Steele
Prabal Gurung photographed by Joanna Totolici. POSTPONED Fashion designer Prabal Gurung and Museum at FIT Director Valerie Steele will discuss his innovative and international career. With over 80 percent of his collections made in New York, Gurung is committed to sustaining domestic employment, income, and production. His family’s Shikshya Foundation Nepal provides education to children to impact his country’s future. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and…
Find out more »POSTPONED: Presidential Scholars Program Colloquium: Jazz Encounters: The Tardo Hammer Trio
POSTPONED At this Presidential Scholars Colloquium, the internationally acclaimed Tardo Hammer Trio will be joined by tenor saxophonist Julieta Eugenio. Argentina-born saxophonist Eugenio has been rapidly making her presence known on the New York jazz scene, performing at numerous venues in the metropolitan area. She won the International Women in Jazz competition in 2017 and has been featured on WBGO jazz radio as well as WABC News. Tardo Hammer is a New York jazz pianist whose deft artistry has graced…
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Blacks in Ballet: The Shadow World
Courtesy of Theresa Ruth Howard. POSTPONED Join Theresa Ruth Howard for an enlightening lecture documenting the history of black people in ballet. A former ballerina, Howard is now a writer, lecturer, and consultant. She is also the founder and curator of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBBallet.org), a website filled with the biographies of nearly 500 dancers of color. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open…
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: The Red Shoes (1948) Film Screening
Image courtesy of Park Circus/MGM Studios. POSTPONED Lauded as the greatest ballet movie ever made, The Red Shoes (1948) is a compelling story of a young ballerina who must choose between her career and love. The film is enriched with extraordinary dance sequences and opulent cinematography. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fine Lines: Reclaiming Imperiled Language and Culture—Poet Solmaz Sharif
POSTPONED Poet Solmaz Sharif will read from and discuss her groundbreaking book of poems, LOOK (Graywolf Press, 2016), a finalist for the National Book Award. LOOK asks readers to see the ongoing costs of war as the unbearable loss of lives and also the insidious abuses against everyday speech. A book signing will follow, courtesy of Barnes & Noble at FIT. Solmaz Sharif appears as part of Fine Lines: Reclaiming Imperiled Language and Culture, a grant funded by the FIT…
Find out more »April 2020
POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Fashion and Political Power
Robin Givhan photographed by Helayne Seidman. POSTPONED Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Robin Givhan will discuss the current relationship between fashion, politics, and power. Drawing on her experience as fashion critic for The Washington Post, Givhan will address such potent sartorial symbols as the MAGA hat, the Pussyhat, and the white suit. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Fashion Victims: Dressing Up the Death Drive
Juergen Teller’s Nackt auf Sigmund Freuds Couch (Naked on Sigmund Freud’s Couch) (2006). POSTPONED If looks can kill, who is the victim in fashion? Scholars Patricia Gherovici and Jamieson Webster will engage in psychoanalytic readings of fashion. They will analyze fashion impulses from the phallic charm of Gucci to the suicide of Alexander McQueen, from the invention of new fads to fashion as art or creation as understood in the Lacanian notion of sinthome. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is…
Find out more »POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Creative Entrepreneurship: How to Build an Ethical Impact Brand
Erika Massaquoi photographed by Dorothée Brand. POSTPONED Join designer and curator Erika Dalya Massaquoi, PhD, for a discussion of how she built a fashion brand, The OULA Company, that reflects the ethical motivations that are important to contemporary consumers. Massaquoi will discuss economic development, sustainability, and black fashion activism. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »May 2020
POSTPONED: Fashion Culture: Dress Your Best Life
Courtesy of Little, Brown and Company. POSTPONED The author is an adjunct faculty member at the Fashion Institute of Technology who has been dubbed “the dress doctor” by The New York Times. In the book, Karen breaks down the psychology behind fashion for readers ready to harness its potential. A book signing will follow the event. All Fashion Culture events are free, but registration is required; register online here, call (212) 217-4585, or email [email protected]. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »June 2022
Fashion Design MFA Showcase 2022: Unbound
FIT’s MFA in Fashion Design is a creative laboratory where technology, talent, and inspiration intersect in one of the world's premier fashion capitals. The graduating class of the Fashion Design MFA program will be presenting their final pieces in a runway show on Wednesday, June 8 at 3 pm in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. Access the livestream at 3 pm on June 8. This virtual event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »August 2022
Fall 2022 Convocation
Fall 2022 Convocation will be held in person in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. It will feature announcements and remarks by President Joyce F. Brown, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Yasemin Jones, and the Faculty Senate President Calvin Williamson. You can also login at fitnyc.edu/convocation with your FIT username and password to watch the livestream. This event is for the FIT community only.
Find out more »September 2022
ARTSpeak: Yashua Klos
In his multimedia practice, Yashua Klos explores themes of identity, memory, and African Americans' relationship to American labor. His large-scale works are created from the intricate formation of woodblock prints, representing ideas of Blackness through multi-dimensional, fragmented portraits. Unlike traditional collage arranged from ready-made source material, Klos creates all his collage material through woodblock printing and monotypes. His work reimagines the Black body as an alchemical being, surviving and existing within intertwined networks of history, myth, and lived reality. Yashua…
Find out more »October 2022
Faces and Places in Fashion: Buffy Birrittella
Buffy Birrittella, former executive vice president and senior advisor, Ralph Lauren, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion: Olivia LaTronica
Olivia LaTronica, costume shopper, Gossip Girl S2, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »Seeing Is Believing: An AAPI Visionary Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
The objective of this event is to build a yearly platform that celebrates the diversity of culture that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders bring to their creative communities. The in-person panel discussion will bring three local celebrated creatives of AAPI heritage to campus to discuss their cultures, experiences, identity, and sources of pride, emphasizing the importance of representation, mentorship, and giving back to the community. Speakers: Haruko Hayakawa, (she/her), first-generation Japanese American CG artist and Brooklyn-based creative director based out…
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion: Marci Zaroff
Marci Zaroff, founder, CEO, and chairwoman of EcoFashion Corp, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion—a special kickoff to Sustainability Awareness Week. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »Fashion Culture Event: Dior and His Decorators: Victor Grandpierre, Georges Geffroy, and the New Look
Dior and His Decorators is the first book devoted to the two interior designers most closely associated with Christian Dior. Like the luxurious fashions of Dior's New Look, which debuted in 1947, the interior designs of Victor Grandpierre and Georges Geffroy infused a war-weary world with a sumptuous new aesthetic drawing on the refined traditions of the past. Using vintage photographs, author Maureen Footer recounts the lives and the work of this trio. A book signing will follow. About Fashion Culture…
Find out more »Face and Places in Fashion: Jane Hertzmark Hudis
Jane Hertzmark Hudis, executive group president of the Estée Lauder Company, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »FIT Photo Talks: Victoria Sambunaris
Victoria Sambunaris structures her life around a photographic journey traversing the American landscape for several months per year. Her large-scale project-based photographs document the continuing transformation of the American landscape with specific attention given to expanding political, technological and industrial interventions. Sambunaris received her MFA from Yale University in 1999. She is the recipient of the 2021 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, the Aaron Siskind Foundation Individual Photographer's Fellowship and the Anonymous Was a Woman Award. Her work is…
Find out more »Entrepreneurship Lecture Series: An Evening with NFT.com
Learn about NFTs (non-fungible tokens). FIT's Entrepreneurship Department hosts a discussion with leading Web3 industry experts Renee Leibler, Jordan Fried, and Andrew Masanto. This event is free and open to the public; REGISTRATION REQUIRED HERE.
Find out more »Fashion Culture Event: Nicole Miller in conversation with Valerie Steele
Join New York-based fashion designer, Nicole Miller, in conversation with Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT. They will discuss Miller’s career in fashion. After studying at Rhode Island School of Design and mastering the classic French techniques of Haute Couture while at Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris, Miller founded her namesake brand in 1982. Her vision is grounded in empowering women who want to look and feel their best, while also…
Find out more »November 2022
Faces and Places in Fashion: Malcolm Crews
Malcolm Crews, design director of men's graphics at Tommy Hilfiger, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »2022 Apparel Importers Trade and Transportation Conference
The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) invites you to the 34th Annual Apparel Importers Trade and Transportation Conference in New York City, where we will discuss the trade, transportation, and compliance challenges for fashion brands and retailers today. More details on the conference website. Hosted by the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. This event is free for members of the FIT community; please RSVP here with your FIT email. Note: the lunch and cocktail reception are not…
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion: Monica Phromsavanh
Monica Phromsavanh, founder of Equal Hands, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »Fashion Culture Event: Misa Hylton in Conversation with Elena Romero
Image courtesy of Misa Hylton. Join leading celebrity stylist Misa Hylton in conversation with FIT professor Elena Romero, co-curator of the upcoming MFIT exhibition Fresh, Fly and Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style. Hylton is acclaimed for creating iconic looks such as the purple pastie-and-pantsuit ensemble worn by Lil' Kim at MTV's 1999 Video Music Awards and Beyoncé's leather MCM bustier and trench coat worn in the 2018 "Apesh*t" music video. Hylton's past clients include Mary J. Blige, 50…
Find out more »Book Launch Event: Westernwear, with Sonya Abrego
The Department of Fashion and Textile Studies will hold an event for faculty member Sonya Abrego to celebrate the release of her new book, Westernwear: Postwar American Fashion and Culture, published by Bloomsbury. From the Bloomsbury press release: By analysing well-known and rarely considered western manufacturers, Westernwear revises the common perception that fashionable innovation came from the East coast and places western youth cultures squarely back in the picture. The book connects the history of American working class dress with…
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion: Ting Lee
Ting Lee, vice president of creative for Saks Off Fifth, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »December 2022
Faces and Places in Fashion: Jess Burns
Jess Burns, senior vice president of brand marketing for Rent the Runway, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion: Fashion Service Network panel
The final Faces and Places in Fashion event of the fall 2022 semester will feature a panel from the Fashion Service Network. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall 2022 schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public.
Find out more »January 2023
Spring 2023 Convocation
A faculty/staff breakfast reception is followed by announcements and remarks by Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Yasemin Jones, President Joyce F. Brown, and President of the Faculty Senate Calvin Williamson. Those who cannot attend in person can access the event via fitnyc.edu/convocation. You will be asked to provide your FIT credentials to access the page. Breakfast will be served on the lower level from 8:30 to 9 am; convocation proceedings begin at 9. This event is for FIT faculty,…
Find out more »February 2023
Black History Month Opening Program and Keynote Address: Robert P. Robinson
Robert P. Robinson will be the keynote speaker for the opening of FIT's Black History Month 2023. The national theme for Black History Month is Black Resistance. The program will begin with opening remarks from FIT President Joyce F. Brown and FIT Chief Diversity Officer Ron Milon. About Robert P. Robinson Robert P. Robinson is an assistant professor in the SEEK Program at John Jay College, adjunct professor at The Graduate Center at CUNY, and an induction mentor at Teachers…
Find out more »Alumni Panel and Networking Mixer: Outsiders Are In: Paving the Way as a Black Creative
As part of FIT’s Black History Month programming, the Black Retail Action Group and Black Student Union are partnering with Alumni Relations to host an alumni panel and networking mixer. Alumni are invited to attend the panel and stay for the networking portion of the evening where current students will have the opportunity to meet and speak with alumni. Light refreshments will be served. The panel features Black FIT alumni working in a variety of industries who will speak on…
Find out more »FIT Soul Club Panel
The FIT Soul Club was created after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, and lasted until 1991. Inspired by the FIT Soul Club fashion shows’ exuberance, positivity, and dynamism, the library has been conducting an oral history project with faculty, students, and alumni to share the experience of the Soul Club with the community. This project will culminate in a public event during Black History Month featuring an in-person panel of speakers with excerpts from the…
Find out more »Fashion Symposium: Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style
Kisha, New York City, 2000. Photo courtesy of Jamel Shabazz. Join us for Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style, a fashion symposium hosted by The Museum at FIT and led by the exhibition’s co-curators Elena Romero and Elizabeth Way. The symposium will draw on the expert voices of hip hop style from journalists, designers, and stylists to curators, professors, and archivists who will explore topics that center hip hop fashion as a force that has shaped…
Find out more »Dramatic Readings: Facing the Rising Sun … Until Victory Is Won
The Office of Educational Opportunity Programs, in collaboration with the 1863, 1963 Committee. Will present era-based dramatic readings pulled from published works by African Americans and their allies that address the African American experience of resistance. The readings will be centered around the eras of: Pre-colonized Africa The introduction and execution of the transatlantic slave trade Emancipation and Reconstruction Civil rights and Black power movements Present era of social justice movements The presenters will join together and invite members of…
Find out more »March 2023
The Best of Both Worlds: The Fusion of Fashion and Finance
Brought to you by TIAA, Fe Noel, founder and designer of Fe Noel and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund recipient responsible for designing "The Dre$$," and Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, a personal finance expert and New York Times bestselling author of 15 money management books, will cover the worlds of fashion and finance and how to best set yourself up for success. Fe's "Dre$$" is on display on the Eighth Floor of the Dubinsky Student Center through March 1 to promote this talk.…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival
The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the festival taking place at FIT on March 3 and 4 at the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. The film…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival
The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the festival taking place at FIT on March 3 and 4 at the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. The film…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Fashion Is Spinach: The Life and Work of Elizabeth Hawes
Elizabeth Hawes, evening dress, silk brocade, c. 1936, USA, gift of Mrs. Dudley Schoales, 69.156.6. Join us for a panel discussion of the life and work of fashion designer and writer Elizabeth Hawes, who is known for her timeless fashion designs and her written critique of the fashion system, such as in her 1940 book Fashion Is Spinach. In a conversation moderated by author and podcaster April Calahan, professors and fashion historians Lourdes Font (FIT) and Francesca Granata (The New…
Find out more »Browzwear Night at FIT
Join Browzwear and the FIT DTech Lab as we explore the digital opportunities available to apparel organizations. Discover cutting-edge developments and popular trends in 3D technology. Meet key industry players, including brands, retailers, and influential decision-makers, and learn how leading apparel companies in the industry integrate digital strategies into their operations. Experience firsthand how technology transforms the apparel workflow from start to finish. Speaker sessions and panels from leading industry insiders discussing 3D adoption in apparel organizations, best practices, and…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Blancopop: Styling Celebrities
Courtesy of Juan de Dios Ramírez and Alberto Escamilla. Fashion stylists Juan de Dios Ramírez and Beto Escamilla present the book Blancopop, Una Mirada al Estilismo de Moda en México. This book brings together artists, photographers, and celebrities with whom the duo have collaborated during their 35 years in fashion. Specializing in editorial and celebrity styling, Blancopop have worked closely with Latino/a stars including Kate del Castillo, Cecilia Suárez, and model Mariana Zaragoza, among many others. A book signing will…
Find out more »FIT Entrepreneurship Summit
Industry-leading executives and self-made entrepreneurs will headline the FIT Entrepreneurship Summit. Attendees will be treated to panel sessions guaranteed to inspire conversation and collaboration as prominent alumni lead thought-provoking discussions. Speakers such as Victor Glemaud and Christopher Bevans will apply their knowledge and expertise to address a range of topics and challenges facing the entrepreneurial community today. Our series of interactive talks will tackle the most pressing issues across the creative industries. From leadership development and tech trends to startup…
Find out more »Fireside Chat with Pamela Watson
A creative, entrepreneurial leader with vision beyond the runway, Pamela Watson's 20+ years in the fashion industry has given her profound knowledge and acumen in vision, design, fashion styling and creative directing. Join Nicole Finigan Ndzibah, executive director of the Social Justice Center at FIT, for a fireside chat with Watson about the industry. This event is free and open to the public; RSVP here.
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Rebels
Courtesy of Drago, dragopublisher.com. Join photographer Janette Beckman as she presents her most recent book, Rebels: From Punk to Dior. A celebrated street photographer, Beckman photographed the legends of hip hop, and other underground scenes, including rappers Salt-n-Pepa wearing Dapper Dan, Slick Rick with his gold chains, LL Cool J wearing his signature Kangol hat, and Run DMC in Adidas. This book showcases the spirit of a generation that made history and continues to influence the world of fashion and…
Find out more »April 2023
Hip Hop Style: Then and Now
The Social Justice Center at FIT hosts a panel discussion about hip hop style over its 50 years, with experts Dapper Dan, April Walker, Antonio Gray, and Elena Romero, moderated by Harriette Cole. Moderator Harriette Cole is a veteran in the field of communications. Over the years she has produced educational seminars, panel discussions, in-person and electronically presented special events. Currently, she hosts livestreaming content for AARP, including the Real Conversations With series, through her role as multimedia associate producer.…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Christian Dior: Destiny in America
Courtesy of Flammarion. Join author Marie-France Pochna's presentation about her 2021 book, Christian Dior: Destiny. Dior's official biography reveals the secretive and surprising man who revolutionized fashion. The book offers new insight on his spirituality and relationships, as well as a contemporary perspective on his legacy. Marie-France Pochna is an expert on fashion and trends in the luxury market, a professor, and a TV producer. A book signing will follow the event. Fashion Culture programs are organized by The Museum…
Find out more »Navigating Pregnancy and Work
Please join CAFAA, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management's alumni association, for a panel discussion on successfully navigating pregnancy at work, as well as a launch celebration of Stephanie Kramer's book Carry Strong, on Thursday, April 27, in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre at FIT. Moderator Ellen Byron, Deputy Coverage Chief, Corporate News, The Wall Street Journal Panelists Corey Fenton, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, L'Oréal Paris Haircare (Class of 2022) Stephanie Kramer, Chief Human Resources Officer, L'Oréal USA (Class of…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Anna Sui: Fashion Design and Interior Decoration
Photograph by Miguel Flores-Vianna. Fashion designer Anna Sui and MFIT's deputy director Patricia Mears will talk about interior decoration. Best known for her contemporary reimagining of historic textiles and vintage clothing, Sui is also celebrated for her extraordinarily beautiful, self-designed home. Inspired by legendary interior decorators and period styles from Victoriana to Art Nouveau, it is an unsurpassed blend of art, craft, fantasy, comfort, and kitsch. Fashion Culture programs are organized by The Museum at FIT to provide new perspectives…
Find out more »May 2023
A Conversation With Stella McCartney
You are invited to a conversation between fashion designer Stella McCartney and Museum at FIT Chief Curator Valerie Steele as they discuss McCartney's journey to her current position and her vision for creating sustainable fabrics and materials for design. A half hour has also been set aside for a Q&A session with FIT’s students to answer questions about sustainability and design. This event is for the FIT community only; however, it will be streamed live on Vimeo here.
Find out more »Merchants of Style: Art and Fashion After Warhol
Please join us for an event to launch Merchants of Style: Art and Fashion After Warhol on Tuesday, May 9. Natasha Degen, chair of Art Market Studies, will discuss her new book with curator and faculty member Alexandra Schwartz at 6 pm. A reception will follow. Merchants of Style explores the accelerating convergence of art and fashion, looking at the interplay of artists and designers—and the role of institutions, both public and commercial—that has brought about this marriage of aesthetic…
Find out more »Making Your Own Magic: An Evening with Anna Kloots
Join us for a discussion with New York Times bestselling author and alumna Anna Kloots. In conjunction with the release of her new memoir, My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act, Kloots will be sharing her inspiring story about rediscovering the magic inside oneself and how travel can transform you, inspire you, and even save you. There will be a post-conversation reception in celebration of Grad Week for students and the FIT community. Anna Kloots is a New York Times bestselling…
Find out more »June 2023
The Unwearable Collection Preview Event
The FIT Foundation, in partnership with the FIT DTech Lab, invite the FIT community to the evolution of The Unwearable Collection presented by Boehringer Ingelheim: pieces that are impossible to wear and impossible to ignore. See the fifth and newest addition to The Unwearable Collection, created by FIT’s Fashion Design MFA students Natalia Robles-Oteiza and Urvi Selarka, which uses fashion to try to illustrate the debilitating effects that those living with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) endure during a flare. Join…
Find out more »August 2023
Fall 2023 Convocation
Fall 2023 Convocation will be held in person in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. It will feature announcements and remarks by President Joyce F. Brown, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Yasemin Jones, and the Faculty Senate President Amy Werbel. A brunch menu will be offered on the lower level beginning at 12:30 pm. Note: Convocation is being held at a different time from past years. This event is for the FIT community only
Find out more »September 2023
Book Launch Event: Jane Austen’s Wardrobe, with Hilary Davidson
Join us for the launch of Jane Austen's Wardrobe, by the chair of the Fashion and Textile Studies Department in the School of Graduate Studies. Davidson will discuss the book and a signing will follow. About Jane Austen's Wardrobe What did Jane Austen wear? Acclaimed dress historian and Austen expert Hilary Davidson reveals, for the first time, the wardrobe of one of the world’s most celebrated authors. Despite her acknowledged brilliance on the page, Jane Austen has all too often…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Rodney Smith: A Leap of Faith
Photograph by Rodney Smith, courtesy of Getty Publications. Known for his stylish, whimsical, and surreal images, Rodney Smith (1947–2016) started out as a photo-essayist, turned to portrait photography, and found his greatest success in fashion photography. Paul Martineau, curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum and author of the new book Rodney Smith: A Leap of Faith, joins curator and writer David Campany in conversation to discuss what makes fashion photography art. A book signing follows the event.…
Find out more »Lawrence Israel Prize Lecture: Joel Sanders
The Interior Design Department honors interior designer Joel Sanders with its 2023 Lawrence Israel Prize. From his pioneering “House for a Bachelor” included in MoMA’s Un-Private House exhibition to “Your Restroom Is a Battleground” in the last Venice Architecture Biennale, globally renowned interior designer Joel Sanders’ provocations have upended preconceptions of gender and space. The Lawrence Israel Prize Lecture Series returns after a four-year hiatus, and FIT’s Interior Design Department has awarded the 2023 prize to Sanders. Prior awardees include…
Find out more »October 2023
Fashion Culture: Fashion’s Role in Black Protest, 1863–1963
Patrick Kelly, denim overalls dress, fall 1987, France, gift of Bjorn G. Amelan and Bill T. Jones, 2016.82.9 Join fashion historian and assistant professor at Parsons School of Design Jonathan Michael Square and MFIT associate curator Elizabeth Way for a conversation on the significance of fashion and self-presentation for Black Civil Rights leaders from the 19th century to the present. This event is also part of the 1863–1963–2023 Project: Civil Rights in FIT’s Neighborhood, which documents the anniversaries of two…
Find out more »Talking Trade at FIT: WITA on Career Pathways Panel
The Washington International Trade Association (WITA) Academy, in partnership with FIT's Department of International Trade and Marketing, presents a three-hour online event designed to teach FIT students about careers in international trade and business. Students will gain insight from trade professionals, pose questions to policymakers, and learn about exciting career opportunities in international affairs, business, and trade. Students will come away with an understanding of the trade policy-making community, the role of its key players, and the opportunities for internships…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Shoes A–Z: The Collection of the Museum at FIT
Zaha Hadid for United Nude, metallic vinyl shoes, 2013, France, museum purchase, 2013.83.1 MFIT director and chief curator Valerie Steele and curator of costume and accessories Colleen Hill, discuss their new Taschen book, Shoes A-Z: The Collection of The Museum at FIT. Hundreds of groundbreaking designs, rare ephemera, and original sketches are presented in the book from the museum’s pristinely preserved collection. A book signing follows the event. Fashion Culture programs are organized by The Museum at FIT to provide…
Find out more »Designing Monuments for Tragedy and Triumph
At this event, artists Steve Locke and Karyn Olivier will speak on a panel with Patricia Eunji Kim regarding the current landscape/dialogue surrounding public commemorative art in the U.S. and the experience of designing a commemorative work of art. They will offer thoughts on design possibilities for the two events we seek to remember—one tragic, and one inspiring. FIT student Rukaiah El will moderate. Sponsored by the Presidential Scholars Program, the Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences,…
Find out more »Grace Coddington in Conversation with Photographer Willie Christie
The Gladys Marcus Library will host a conversation between legendary Vogue style director Grace Coddington and iconic British fashion photographer and director Willie Christie. Christie will talk about his first-ever book of photography, Willie Christie—A Very Distinctive Style: Then and Now. A Q&A will follow. Willie Christie was born a while ago. During the ‘70s and early ‘80s he worked extensively as a photographer with British Vogue. His portfolio includes award-winning advertising campaigns (L'Oréal and Yves Saint Laurent), fashion and…
Find out more »Screening of ‘The Morning Show’ with Executive Producer Kristin Hahn and Costume Designer Sophie de Rakoff
On Apple TV+'s hit series The Morning Show, Jennifer Aniston's character, Alex Levy, hosts an opulent gala to support FIT's scholarship program. After the campus screening, attend a panel discussion covering FIT's involvement and the episode's exciting fashion. The panel will feature The Morning Show's executive producer Kristin Hahn and costume designer Sophie de Rakoff, and will be moderated by author and journalist Hal Rubenstein. Friday, October 20, 6 pm; doors open at 5:30 pm Panelists Kristin Hahn, Executive Producer…
Find out more »Film and Media Screening Series: ‘Stonewall Uprising’ with the Filmmakers + Alumni Networking Event
https://youtu.be/NZUZKtko4R0?si=dPwHNvG2-3hMTrkn Alumni networking event: 5 pm Film screening: 6 pm The FIT Film and Media Screening Series will present the documentary Stonewall Uprising as part of FIT's LGBTQ+ History Month programming. FIT alumni are invited to a networking mixer before the screening to meet with fellow alumni and others working in the film and media industry. After the film, directors Kate Davis and David Heilbroner will take questions from the audience for a lively discussion of LGBTQ+ history and the film's role in…
Find out more »An Evening with Seth Godin
The Entrepreneurship Department, Marketing Communications Department, and the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology present a fireside chat–style conversation with entrepreneur Seth Godin for the FIT community. A Q&A will follow the conversation. Seth Godin is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 21 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And…
Find out more »November 2023
Fashion Symposium: Food & Fashion
BH signature ramen print set, Bobblehaus, 2020. Photograph by Madeleine Thomas for Bobblehaus. The Food & Fashion Symposium features preeminent food and fashion scholars, as well as designers, chefs, and artists, exploring how, for over two centuries, food culture has impacted fashion and vice versa. Topics include sustainability, the creative overlap between fashion and food within haute cuisine and through social media, how cultural identity and social justice are communicated through food and fashion, how body image and eating practices…
Find out more »The Lesbian Herstory Archives: Dr. Flavia Rando
As part of the Art History and Museum Professions Association (AHMPA) Presents Series, art historian and queer activist, Dr. Flavia Rando, will speak on collecting and managing archival resources, a recent Stonewall exhibition, and on her journey as a lesbian woman. This event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »Faces and Places in Fashion with Nell Diamond
Nell Diamond, Hill House Home. Photographed by Zac Frackelton. Nell Diamond, founder and CEO of Hill House Home, will be the guest at this week’s Faces and Places in Fashion. The Faces and Places in Fashion lecture series is a forum for prominent fashion professionals to discuss their trade, experience, and perspective on the business. Find more details and the full fall schedule on the Faces and Places website. Faces and Places lectures are free and open to the public; RSVP…
Find out more »Archiving Fashion Conference: Mapping Fashion Collections
The Archiving Fashion Conference: Mapping Fashion Collections will gather scholars, researchers, archivists, librarians, faculty, students, and professionals for a one-day event to discuss the present and future of fashion and textiles, and related material, in archives. A dedicated open-source website indexing global fashion archives that uses mapping technologies will be made available after the conference. The keynote event will be the launch of FIT’s Fashion Calendar Research Database, part of the digital humanities project “The Ruth Finley Collection: Digitizing 70…
Find out more »A Fashion Stylist Panel
The Fashion Business Management Department in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion presents A Fashion Stylist Panel. Come out and hear from a panel of young stylists who have impacted the styling industry within the early years of their careers with celebrity client lists that have a pulse on today. Panelists Ty Hunter Marissa Pelly Joy Bridges Damien Lloyd Mickey Freeman Dougie Newton, moderator Hosted by Dougie Newton and Professor Catherine Geib of the Department of Fashion…
Find out more »Talking Trade at FIT: A Day in the Life of Diverse Impactful Founders
Our special guest speakers will explore what it takes to found and run a nonprofit in the fashion industry, collaborate with United Nations to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as hone the specialized skills of promising leaders through business education and other lifelong mentorship for the next generation of professionals. Moderator: David Uricoli, principal, Uricoli Consulting Inc. Opening Speaker: Lucia DeRespinis, executive director, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs, FIT Guest Speakers: Kerry Bannigan, founder and executive director, Fashion…
Find out more »Fashion Art Drawing Marathon
The Fashion Illustration professors will demonstrating their tips and tricks for illustrating like a pro at this fundraiser for the Fashion Art and Design Club. Drawing times: 10 am–noon 1–3 pm Flea market: Noon–1 pm This event is open to the public; entry fee is $5, CASH ONLY. Members of the public must RSVP here; students can register on FITLink or the Corq app.
Find out more »December 2023
Film and Media Screening Series: ‘Halston’ with Costume Designer Jeriana San Juan
The Film + Media Screening Series will host a showing of an episode of the TV series Halston, followed by a conversation with alumna costume designer Jeriana San Juan, known for her work in Halston, The Mother, and The Get Down. This event is free and open to the public; REGISTER HERE.
Find out more »January 2024
Celebrating Grace Chen: Fashion Show and Conversation
FIT is pleased to showcase alumna Grace Chen and her designs on the main stage of the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. This event will include a live fashion show followed by a 20-minute conversation with Chen moderated by Cathleen Sheehan, chair of the Fashion Design MFA program. Attendees will learn how Grace Chen launched her brand in China in 2009, grew to be regarded as one of China’s most influential fashion innovators, and is now returning to New York City where…
Find out more »Spring 2024 Convocation
Spring 2024 Convocation will be held in person in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. It will feature announcements and remarks by President Joyce F. Brown, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Yasemin Jones, and the Faculty Senate President Amy Werbel. Breakfast will be served in the lower level from 8:30 to 9 am; convocation proceedings will begin at 9 am. Those who cannot attend in person can access the event via fitnyc.edu/convocation; you will be asked to provide your FIT credentials…
Find out more »Presenting MUSE and Author B Michael
President Joyce F. Brown will be in conversation with author and fashion designer B Michael for the launch of his book MUSE—Cicely Tyson and Me: A Relationship Forged in Fashion. A reception and book signing will follow. This is an invitation-only event.
Find out more »February 2024
Black in Business: The Journey of Entrepreneurs—Black History Month Alumni x Student Mixer
Celebrate Black History Month by joining President Joyce F. Brown and our guest panelists for an evening of networking and sharing stories of Black entrepreneurship. Panelists: Isaiah Mikhail Stewart, Creative Lead, ESSENCE Nana Agyemang, Founder, EveryStylishGirl Shelcy Joseph, Editor-in-Chief, NYCXCLOTHES Clarke Peoples, Content Creator and Entrepreneur Following the panel, alumni, students, and panelists will have the opportunity to network and connect with one another over light refreshments. Sponsored by FIT Alumni Relations, the Social Justice Center, and the Black Student…
Find out more »NYC Digital Fashion Symposium
FIT DTech Lab partners with Digital Fashion Week to bring the NYC Digital Fashion Symposium to FIT. Across three cities and in parallel with traditional fashion weeks, Digital Fashion Week is a lens through which we view the future of fashion. Under the three pillars of thought-leadership, innovation and creativity, Digital Fashion Week disrupts the traditional notions of the role of fashion by dropping the barrier between the runway and the audience. Fusing leading edge Web 3.0 technology with A-list…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: ‘Dressing the Part: Television’s Most Stylish Shows’ with Hal Rubenstein
Author, consultant, fashion director, and media personality Hal Rubenstein presents his book Dressing the Part: Television's Most Stylish Shows. This guide to the most influential fashion on television from the 1950s to today reveals the surprising ways our favorite shows have reflected and often shaped the way we dress. A book signing will follow the event. Fashion Culture programs are organized by The Museum at FIT to provide new perspectives on the culture of fashion. All programs are free unless…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival 2024
February 21–24 Katie Murphy Amphitheatre The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. Find a schedule of films here. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the portion of the festival taking…
Find out more »Beat Street 40th Anniversary Film Screening and Justice Film Festival Opening Night
https://youtu.be/7bYXW4x7RXk?si=iJwaQEi2nkJMp4_O Celebrating the influence and legacy of the 1984 classic directed by Harry Belafonte and David V. Picker, Beat Street is revered for introducing hip-hop, breakdancing and urban style to a generation of young people across America. The sounds, dancing, art and fashion in this film broke down barriers and invited everyone, no matter their race or background, to participate in a new movement that celebrated and honored the culture from which it emanated. This very special screening of…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival 2024
February 21–24 Katie Murphy Amphitheatre The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. Find a schedule of films here. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the portion of the festival taking…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival 2024
February 21–24 Katie Murphy Amphitheatre The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. Find a schedule of films here. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the portion of the festival taking…
Find out more »Justice Film Festival 2024
February 21–24 Katie Murphy Amphitheatre The Justice Film Festival showcases films that emphasize social justice and affirm the dignity of all people. Since 2012, JFF has been committed to creating a platform for redemptive stories of marginalized people and ecosystems bravely overcoming challenges and bringing optimism, empathy, and light to a world in need of inspiration. Find a schedule of films here. The Social Justice Center at FIT is proud to partner with JFF for the portion of the festival taking…
Find out more »Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion: Donyale Luna: Supermodel
https://youtu.be/izYVFehHd4k?si=MDXtbObZSgAtrYwy This year the FIT Library celebrates Black History Month by screening the documentary Donyale Luna: Supermodel and having a panel discussion with producer Isoul Harris and others affiliated with the film. Donyale Luna is known as the “first Black supermodel” and was the first Black woman to grace the cover of British Vogue, American Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar. This event is part of the FIT Diversity Collective’s Black History Month activities; for a full schedule of activities, visit fitnyc.edu/blackhistory.…
Find out more »Scents of Success
The Fragrance Foundation and LVMH present Scents of Success, an interactive master class on successfully navigating the multitude of career opportunities in the fragrance and beauty industries. It will feature a dynamic discussion about career journeys and opportunities from the LVMH team, introduced and moderated by Sharné Jackson of the Fragrance Foundation. Open to all FIT students interested in learning more about working in fragrance and beauty. This event is for the FIT community only.
Find out more »March 2024
Fashion Group International (FGI) Tech Summit
Join FIT's Gladys Marcus Library and Fashion Group International (FGI) to learn about the newest technologies at the zeitgeist of innovation in fashion, beauty, and retail. Speakers Caitlin Shell, CBO, Brandible Games, and BD Director, Tilting Point Cole Wassner, CEO, Wassner Management Group David Ballin, Senior Director of Brand Heat, Puma Group Kimberly Carney, Founder and CEO, Fashwire Tomi Talabi, Co-Founder, The Black Beauty Club More panelists to be announced “Creativity Without Boundaries” Panel, Fashion Institute of Technology faculty Dan…
Find out more »Fashion Culture: ‘Mondrian’s Dress’ with Ann Marguerite Tartsinis, Nancy J. Troy, Colleen Hill
Nancy J. Troy and Ann Marguerite Tartsinis, authors of Mondrian's Dress, will discuss Yves Saint Laurent’s wildly popular 1965 Mondrian dress series with MFIT Curator of Costume and Accessories Colleen Hill. They will examine the significance of these designs on the French couturier’s career, their impact on Piet Mondrian’s posthumous reception, and how they resonate with the art of Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, and Andy Warhol. A book signing will follow the event. Fashion Culture programs are organized by The…
Find out more »From Classroom to Workplace: Globalizing the Curriculum for the Future of Creative Business and Technology
Globalization is a reality in today's interconnected world, and organizations and companies are increasingly operating on a global scale. Graduates who have a global perspective and are able to work effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds are more likely to succeed and have an impact in these environments. Creative business and technology fields are constantly evolving, and a global curriculum can expose students to new ideas, techniques, and sustainable best practices from around the world. This conference will…
Find out more »Love Your Library: WGSN Day
Curious about a day in the life of a trend forecasting editor? Join us for informative and insightful sessions showcasing presentations and panel discussions, featuring WGSN and Coloro experts. All employees and students are welcome to attend. WGSN is the global authority on change, using expert trend forecasting combined with data science to help you get ahead of the right trends. This event is for the FIT community only; REGISTER HERE.
Find out more »Fashion Culture: Parts of Fashion: Curating in Focus
Join us for a panel discussion that brings together two MFIT exhibitions: Statement Sleeves curated by MFIT Curator of Costume and Accessories Colleen Hill, and Untying the Bow, organized by students in FIT’s Fashion and Textile Studies master’s degree program. Hill will be in conversation with FIT faculty member Sarah Byrd and graduate student Claire Calvert as they discuss the issues and processes of exhibitions that are focused on one part of a garment, such as sleeves, pockets, or bows.…
Find out more »Defying Expectations: Trailblazing Women in the Creative Industries with Alina Cho
Join us for a special conversation hosted by FIT in collaboration with Carolina Herrera. The conversation will be moderated by journalist Alina Cho with a panel featuring trailblazers of the creative industries, including President Joyce F. Brown, stylist and model Dara Allen, photographer Camila Falquez, Whitney Museum of American Art assistant curator Rujeko Hockley, and New York City Ballet associate artistic director Wendy Whelan. A coffee reception will be held prior to the panel, starting at 9 am; doors open…
Find out more »AI Symposium
The FIT DTech Lab welcomes leading visionaries including Norma Kamali, Maison Meta, IBM, Google, Marc Beckman, and Copy Magazine for a groundbreaking event exploring the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the creative industries. Sessions include: Inspiring case studies and insights from industry leaders Norma Kamali and Maison Meta, who are pushing the boundaries of creativity with AI. Provocative discussions on opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations in AI-powered design, led by experts Marc Beckman, Copy Magazine, and others. Cutting-edge trends…
Find out more »April 2024
Women, Textiles, and the Holocaust
Child's dress knitted with red yarn and gray edging and details, by Mary Frankenstein, ca. 1941. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Commemoration Committee and the Diversity Collective present a conversation between Bernice Steinhardt from Art and Remembrance and Tanya Singer of Knitting Hope moderated by Natalie Nudell from FIT's History of Art department. This event is being held in conjunction with the exhibition Fabric of Survival: Images of the Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz in the Feldman…
Find out more »An Evening with Michael Edwards
On April 15, renowned author and fragrance guru Michael Edwards will take the stage at FIT’s Katie Murphy Amphitheatre to discuss his latest book, American Legends: The Evolution of American Fragrances. Joining him will be Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, and a surprise guest. Together they will dissect the success of fragrance in America, discussing our cultural development through a sensory lens. We will hear about the perfumers who created the fragrances, the designers who crafted the bottles,…
Find out more »Power Up Your Profile, Propel Your Career! Interactive Panel Discussion
On Wednesday, April 17, from 12:30-2 pm in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, there will be a Power Up Your Profile, Propel Your Career Panel Discussion sponsored by the Marketing Communications Department and the Baker Scholars. The one-hour discussion will be followed by a half-hour Q&A session. Panelists include: Joel Ehrlich, President of The Harmony Group, former advertising and marketing executive leader for Warner Bros/DC Comics and Marvel Entertainment, Adjunct Professor of Marketing Communications at FIT Phyllis Ehrlich, President of Rocket…
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