People
Places
Events
Clubs
Courses
Resources
Accomplishments
Memories
And Traditions
that couldn’t exist anywhere else
that couldn’t exist anywhere else
Anyone who has walked these halls, taken courses here or taught them, or worked to keep the college running knows that FIT defies categorization. We are part of the State University of New York (SUNY) and also globally renowned, with students hailing from more than 65 countries. Yes, we teach fashion design—but also business and science and film and much, much more. Some consider us a commuter school, yet we house 2,300 students in our four residence halls. We have a world-class museum plus thousands of square feet of other gallery space for rotating exhibitions. Our students might take seven or eight classes while holding down an internship and a job. We have a robust athletics program! We are a leader in sustainability education! We offer more than 40 minors!
Maybe we need to stop trying to define FIT—an impossible task!—and celebrate the myriad delights of all kinds that create a college experience unlike any other in the world. So here are 50 things about FIT that make us smile. Our list is hardly comprehensive. Tell us what’s “so FIT” to you at [email protected].
Illustration by Saimah Rahman, Advertising and Marketing Communications. IG: @saimsarts
Our pigeon obsession
Two Illustration majors founded the Pigeon Watching Club in 2023 to create accessible opportunities for students to enjoy local wildlife. Most weeks, the club draws and photographs New York City’s iconic trash bird on the steps of the Moynihan Train Hall. They host collage, button-making, and zine-making events as well as movie nights where they serve pigeon-shaped cake pops. They educate members about other birds as well.
“It’s a bonding experience,” says president Zoe Hernandez, Packaging Design ’27. “Who doesn’t love pigeons? Going to school in New York, you sort of have to.”
We shred the stage with K-pop dance moves
KWave Dance Club brings together lovers of K-pop music for biannual dance performances. About 50 students participate in each event, and most club meetings are devoted to planning and practicing for the big show.
“Dancing together creates a bond that is hard to replicate,” says founder Anna Isaacs, Illustration ’23.
The Black Student Union has supported generations of students
The BSU’s fashion show. Photo by Ernst Cadet ’24.
FIT’s Black Student Union (BSU) produces three signature events: a student fashion show, a “family dinner” in which lasting mentorships are formed, and a panel discussion of industry leaders.
The Soul Club, as it was originally called, was founded in 1968, in the wake of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, with the mission of supporting Black students in their lives and careers and providing a platform for their talent.
In 1991, it took on its current name, but its core mission has remained. “When you come to our meetings, you’re building your network,” says Fashion Business Management student Brandon Spigner, the president of FIT’s BSU. “And if you have any concerns, we’re here to talk.”
Photo by Smiljana Peros.
Aubrey’s addictive spin classes
Mailroom clerk Aubrey Brown is beloved for his high-energy workouts for students and employees. Those brave enough to join his spin class will be drenched after forty-five minutes of intense cycling. Aubrey favors spin because it’s a class for all levels. “You are supposed to do every class at your own pace,” he says, “but with spin, you really control how hard you work.”
His rallying cry is “We have to get ready!” Ready for what, you might ask? “You never know! My method is to get you ready for anything that comes up.”
Winning sports teams (and athletes).
Kimiko Quayle excelled in the 1500-meter race. Photo by Stockton Photo, Inc.
FIT students know how to knuckle down—and still serve looks in class at 9 am—but most find time for life outside of homework and internships. One popular extracurricular is joining one of FIT’s NJCAA Division III teams: soccer, track, volleyball, swimming, and more.
In the 2024–25 school year, one Tiger rose above the rest. Kimiko Quayle, Fashion Business Management ’25, was named the SUNY NJCAA Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, among numerous other accolades for her dominance in the 1500-meter run and her stellar 3.92 GPA.
In the Tom Farrell Classic this spring, her time ranked her first in the nation in the 1500-meter, and she beat the NCAA Division I athlete who was favored to win. “She ran the perfect race,” Coach Howard Lindsay said.
Lindsay and Assistant Coach Bianca Rey supported Quayle throughout. “I wear my heart on my sleeve,” Lindsay says. “If Kimi cried, I cried. If she laughed, I laughed.”
The two-time national champion spoke with Hue about her “track record.”
Hue: What brought you to FIT?
Quayle: I started distance-running in my senior year of high school. I joined the distance team at Lehigh University, but I got injured my freshman year, and then I got injury after injury. I needed to think about where I wanted to take my career if I couldn’t focus on running. I decided to do something in the business realm of fashion, so I applied to FIT.
What was your relationship with the coaches like?
It’s a smaller team, so I got a lot of one-on-one time with Coach Howard and Coach Bianca, and we bonded through the practices. Coach Howard was so supportive of me—he pushed me to do my best.
What would you say to someone considering joining an athletics team?
Prior to joining a team, I felt lost. Afterward, I had friends and a schedule. It’s a great opportunity for anyone remotely interested in athletics at all, to meet new people and do something outside the fashion world.