Something wonderful for everyone on your list—from FIT’s creative alumni and faculty entrepreneurs
By Kim Masibay
THE HUMPED ZEBRA
New York but… unisex sweatshirt
$40, thehumpedzebra.com
Tiffany Davis, Fashion Merchandising Management ’11
A crewneck, hoodie, or tee from Davis’ neighborhood collection would be perfect for the person who loves New York—or at least their corner of it.
Binata Millinery
Gabi Hat
$180, binatamillinery.com
Rowell Concepcion, Millinery Certificate ’21, Fashion Merchandising Management ’11
Milliner and vintage enthusiast Ro Concepcion is known for his bold riffs on classic styles. The Gabi wide-brim sailor hat is but one example of his distinctive head-turners. The Binata line is designed in Concepcion’s NYC atelier and made to order by artisans in the Philippines. In addition to millinery, the online shop stocks a curated selection of vintage hat pins and jewelry, with most pieces priced under $50.
Brooklyn Candle Studio
Discovery Set
Tamara Jerardo Mayne, Communication Design ’11
A six-candle gift box is a lovely way to explore Brooklyn Candle Studio’s botanical scents, which include woodsy Palo Santo, herbaceous Fern + Moss, earthy Santal, and more. Packaged in luxe travel-friendly tins, the candles are 100% soy wax with lead-free cotton wicks, delivering a clean, eco-friendly burn for up to 30 hours. “Brooklyn” isn’t just in the brand name: The candles are poured and labeled by hand in Brooklyn’s Industry City.
Pipsqueak Productions
Basset Hounds Bundle, set of 10 cards and envelopes
$20.95, pipsqueakproductions.com
Mary Badenhop, Illustration ’75
An adorable Basset Hound holiday card set features original art by Illustration alum Mary Badenhop, who creates home decor and stationery for animal lovers. All are printed on sustainably sourced recycled paper using soy-based inks.
Brooks Avenue
Scalloped Pajama Set
$108, shopbrooksavenue.com
Lawson Park, Fashion Design MFA ’25
Zafar received a patent for the process of blending textile and jewelry techniques to create her “artwear”—heirloom-quality statement pieces with an appealing density and natural gravitas. Each creation is hand-embroidered by a Pakistani artisan.
Bolsa Nova
Lily Minibag
$195, bolsanovahandbags.com
Karen Cardoso, Illustration ’92
This thoughtfully structured compact bag, crafted of 100% Italian washed leather, features a removable crossbody strap and top handle. Each bag is made in Florence by hand, so no two are alike. Cardoso designs Bolsa Nova bags to transition effortlessly from day to night and age gracefully at a fair price.
Enid b.
From $40, enidb.com
Kareen Harmon, Jewelry Design ’05
An Enid b. gift subscription delivers four handmade bar soaps every month, in formulations such as turmeric and papaya, avocado and rosemary, and rustic lavender. Harmon’s artisan skin and haircare products are inspired by her Jamaican heritage and thoughtfully crafted in small batches, using organic oils, plant butters, and wild-sourced ingredients—including herbs from Harmon’s garden and goat milk from a local farm.
Flora Sycee
$160, florasycee.com
Flora Jin, Jewelry Design ’23
Crafted with traditional silversmithing techniques, this 100% recycled sterling silver ring forms a trellis of butterflies. Jin designed this ring especially for the thumb, but it can be sized to any finger. Rings are made to order in NYC and ship in about two weeks.
Papier-Mâché Wall Art
$60
Ethan Minsker, adjunct instructor, Film and Media
Space aliens abducting a cow? Why not? Your favorite folk-art fan will fall in love with this original work made of recycled materials, paint, and papier-mâché. Perfect for lovers of UFO lore or outsider art—or anyone looking to add an imaginative pop to their wall—”Cow Abduction” is available for in-person purchase at these community-driven NYC shops that showcase the work of local artists: Vintage Reserve, East Village Vintage Collective, and 3rd & B’Zaar.
Loja
$30, loja.nyc
Bárbara Astrini, adjunct instructor, Illustration and Interactive Media
We can’t resist the lively mid-century vibe of this cork-back coaster set from Loja. Water-repellent, heat-resistant, and non-slip, they’re everything a coaster ought to be—but groovier.
Aashka
$69, shopaashka.com
Aashka Mehta, Fashion Design ’18
These ultra-soft beanies from slow-fashion knitwear brand Aashka are a responsible alternative to mass-market woolens. The Cloud Capsule collection features ethically produced cashmere yarn, sustainably certified by the Responsible Wool Standard and The Good Cashmere Standard.
Do you want your product to be considered for next year’s holiday gift spotlight? Email a description and photo to [email protected].