Fashion Institute of Technology

“The rise of AI is sharpening our understanding of just how valuable authentic human creativity is,” wrote President Jason Schupbach in an op-ed published today in Fast Company. “That is what a creative education tied to real world workplace experiences is designed to nurture.”

Exciting news! President Schupbach announced his plans to take FIT into the future. Visit Lnk.bio/FITNYC

A little drop with a big job!

Last month, Stitch got to meet Drippy, NYC DEP’s new official mascot—a creative collaboration between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, FIT, and NYC’s Department of Design and Construction.

Designed by students and faculty from FIT’s Illustration BFA and MFA programs through the Town+Gown NYC partnership, Drippy first emerged from “Drippy’s Water Adventure,” an interactive educational project exploring New York City’s water system through visual storytelling.

Now stepping into an official citywide role, Drippy will help introduce New Yorkers of all ages to environmental stewardship, conservation, climate awareness, and the journey of NYC’s drinking water.

Drippy officially debuted at Archer Elementary School in the Bronx ahead of a summer of appearances across all five boroughs.

Congratulations to the students of the School of Art and Design and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences! Go out and show off those brilliant, unconventional minds and make us proud! And with that, we close out our final Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026.

Photos © Joe Carrotta (Photography ‘17) 

  

Congratulations to the students of the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. We’re so proud of our newest FIT alums. We look forward to continuing the celebration tomorrow back in Central Park!
  

Photos © Joe Carrotta (Photography ‘17) 

Congratulations are in order to our newest grads from FIT’s School of Graduate Studies! 🎓

We are so proud of you and your achievements and could not be more excited to watch you go out and change the world.

A special thank you to FIT alum Robert Geronimo (Illustration ’17) and Stefano Curti (Art Market Studies ’26) for sharing your words of encouragement and wisdom with the class of 2026.

Photos © Andres Otero

Relive the magic of the 2026 Future of Fashion runway show, presented by !
Congratulations to this year’s Fashion Design BFA graduates and 12 Critic Award winners whose work lit up the catwalk. A special congratulations to Athmiha Saravanen (.saravanen), winner of the 2026 Macy’s Capsule Collection contest, on this incredible achievement and major milestone.

Thank you to our generous partner for the striking show glam.

As FIT President Jason S. Schupbach put it: The design icons of tomorrow are the FIT students of today.

Swipe through to experience the looks, and visit lnk.bio/fitnyc for our Newsroom story and to rewatch the show.

Awardees:
Julia McClement ()
Kat Lin (._k_ )
Charlotte Falkman ()
Jonathan Marroquin
Tyler Mervine ()
Naïma Naas ()
Beatrice Xuan Mak ()
Ellen Kim (._)
Evan Ciurca ()
Ainsley Goldman ()
Selin Gültekin
Rachel Marino ( .studio)
Marina Malkhasian () [Macy’s Empowerment]

Commencement countdown is officially on! We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2026 next week. Are your looks, cords, caps, and cameras ready? Use hashtag in your prep and celebration posts so we can follow along!

At FIT’s Annual Gala on April 14, more than 650 leaders across fashion, business, and culture gathered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine with a shared purpose: investing in the next generation of creative talent.

The evening honored Richard Dickson, president and CEO of ., recognizing his legacy of brand reinvigoration and his commitment to creativity as both culture and commerce.

Hosted by , with welcome remarks from FIT President Jason S. Schupbach, and a performance by , the gala raised nearly $1.9 million in support of scholarships and future-focused initiatives for FIT students.

A defining moment of the night: the launch of the Doris Fisher Creators Program (DFCP), a mentorship initiative connecting students directly with Gap Inc. leaders as a bridge from the classroom to the industry.

In the company of guests including , , , , , , , , , and , the evening underscored a collective commitment to the future of the industry.

Visit lnk.bio/fitnyc for more takeaways from our 2026 Annual Gala.
Photos © Getty Images; Andrew Werner

Meet the 5 Finalists of the Roc Nation x FIT Design Competition.

, the powerhouse entertainment company behind some of music’s biggest names, teamed up with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), challenging students to design a fashion capsule that bridges music and style. Five students rose to the top.

Congratulations to Beatrice Mak (), first place winner, awarded a $20K grant from Roc Nation for her collection inspired by the movie “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Watch their stories.

Video by William Mun (), Film and Media ‘21.

At FIT, the dining hall doubles as a catwalk. Students gather to study, laugh, sip elaborate Starbucks creations, and eat the surprisingly delicious fare—all while serving up inimitable style. For Hue magazine, Amy Lombard (Photography ’12,) captured this spectacular combination of food, fashion, and fun. Lombard is a rising star in the photography world, having shot for GQ, HBO, and Coca-Cola. Recently she photographed Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rico residency for The New York Times, and in 2024, she was nominated for a James Beard Award for documenting food culture.

Set your reminder. Secure your seat. One week out.

FIT’s 20th Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference, “Your Voice, Our Future: 20 Years of Collective Progress,” brings together a dynamic mix of voices shaping what’s next, spanning circularity to biofabrication, craft to culture.

Featuring Amber Valletta, Emilyn Edillon and Sara Kozlowski of CFDA, Suzanne Lee of Biofabricate, Andrea Baldo of Mulberry, Miranda Morrison and Madeleine Danzberger of Steve Madden, and Morgan Ginn of The Footwear Collective.

Plus a special conversation tied to PBS’s “Human Footprint” with FIT alum Frederick Anderson, Dr. Nate Dappen, and Constance White, and a closing keynote by Stacy Flynn, CEO and co-founder of Evrnu.

With more speakers, panelists, and perspectives to come across the two-day conference.

Join us April 8 and 9 as industry disruptors, designers, and changemakers come together to rethink systems, materials, and the future of fashion.

Learn more and register now at fitnyc.edu/industrydisruptors

MAJOR news! We’re so excited to announce as host of the FIT Annual Gala, “Threads of Impact.” The event will honor Richard Dickson, president and chief executive officer of Gap Inc., and a shared commitment to creativity as a force for change in fashion and global retail.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting the FIT Annual Gala in honor of the incredible Richard Dickson,” Ciara said. “As someone who has always used fashion as a platform for expression, I know how essential it is for leaders like Gap Inc. to foster creativity and invest in emerging talent. I’m proud to support an evening dedicated to connecting industry icons with the next generation, providing FIT students with the resources they need to bring their own visions to life.”

Taking the stage for a special musical performance will be 🎤🙌. Stay tuned for gala coverage—we can’t wait to celebrate!

Photos: Michael Drummond, Amanda Austin

From long days in the Writing and Speaking Studio to bagels on the Breezeway, sketching outside Feldman, and classes at The Storefront, each moment traces a different version of life on campus.

Through the lens of Fashuncat, Deepti Sunder (Illustration MFA ’17) revisits the spaces and rituals that defined her time at FIT.

A place of growth, friendship, and creative discovery, all captured through the small practices and spaces that stay with you long after graduation.

FITisFamily

The sun decided to come out for the first day of spring! Now we can’t wait for campus to be back in full bloom 🌱

Fresh off “One Battle After Another” winning the Oscar for Best Picture, we’re celebrating one of its standout stars: FIT alumna Shayna McHayle (Fashion Merchandising Management), also known as , (now frequently shortened to JP).
McHayle first created her stage name while thrifting around New York as an FIT student, inspired by punk style and racks of fuzzy animal prints. Years later, director Paul Thomas Anderson loved the name so much he wrote her directly into the film, as a member of the revolutionary group French 75.
Today the independent musician, whose work has appeared in “Broad City” and HBO’s “Insecure”, is part of one of the year’s most celebrated movies. Yet another milestone in her creative journey.

Twenty years of turning ideas into action!
FIT’s 20th Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference, “Your Voice, Our Future: 20 Years of Collective Progress,” returns April 8 and 9.

Industry disruptors, designers, entrepreneurs, activists, and changemakers will come together to explore the future of sustainable fashion and business. Through conversations, panels, and hands-on workshops, the conference highlights how creative industries are rethinking systems, materials, and practices to build a more responsible future.

Learn more and register at fitnyc.edu/industrydisruptors.

The craft of tailoring, passed on.

Students in the first cohort of FIT’s “Custom Alterations and Tailoring Techniques” certificate program, developed with and offered through FIT’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies () , received their certificates on campus in February.

Led by Broadway costume builder and FIT professor Michael Harrell, the hands-on program teaches essential alteration and fitting skills and reflects a shared commitment to preserving craft, expanding opportunity, and helping the next generation of skilled makers build meaningful careers.

Already, two graduates have secured positions with Nordstrom Alterations.
Read more about this new pathway into the art of tailoring on Newsroom at lnk.bio/FITNYC.