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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].
FIT’s Style Shop makes the coolest college sweatshirt—ever
How do you capture the je ne sais quoi of FIT in a single graphic? Last summer, Hue asked student product developers from the college’s Style Shop to design one, for a sweatshirt to be sold at Alumni Weekend and beyond. With input from FIT’s Foundation, the team from the shop, an on-campus boutique run by members of the Merchandising Society, came up with the perfect look. Faculty advisor Catherine Geib, Fashion Buying and Merchandising ’84, assistant chair, Fashion Business Management (FBM), says the project was an opportunity for novice students to hone their skills. “Every year we have new buyers, new planners, and new managers in the shop,” she says. “We don’t allow team members to stay longer because we want everyone to have a new experience.” —Alex Joseph
Here’s how it all happened:
FIRST DRAFT
Among the original concepts was a more traditional “vintage varsity” font, but those were scrapped in favor of FBM student Madyson Haynes’ nostalgic postcard design.
CONCEPT
Haynes originally created the design as a postcard concept for her application to join the shop’s product development team. “Postcards have been in talks for the store for a while,” she says. Head buyer Anthony Cruz, FBM, says the group considered several styles before selecting Haynes’ idea.
REFINEMENT
Once the design was chosen, Cruz and his team revised it for the shirt. “We decided to remove the original background and the border to open it up,” he says. “Both elements made the graphic feel a bit boxed in and limited the overall visual flow on the garment. We feel the postcard vibe still comes through thanks to the imagery within the letters and the typography.”
AESTHETIC
“I looked a lot at vintage postcards and vintage fashion for inspiration,” Haynes says. “I did a lot of research on trending colorways, but I wanted to keep the vintage feel.” Cruz says, “The muted colors say ‘vintage.’ The store has a new theme every month, and this time it’s ‘FIT, or nowhere,’ so this really fits.”
ICONOGRAPHY
“Everything is hand-drawn,” Haynes says. “I wanted to include elements that people who come into the store relate to, not just from FIT but the city. There’s a dress form and a vintage sewing machine. I made sure to include the tiger for our tiger mascot. But there’s also a lot of iconic NY symbolism. Like the Yankees logo—which is hard for me cuz I’m from Boston.”
THE STYLE
The graphic on this drop-shouldered, relaxed-fit pullover hoodie is screen printed, and “Greetings from” and “of Technology” are embroidered. “This combination allows us to highlight specific details and add dimension,” Cruz says. A custom screen-printed “Style Shop” tag is included.
THE UNITS
Cruz and his team partner with a Canadian graphics and embroidery service, which sources and embellishes the hoodies. Details: 60% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 40% polyester fleece. Price: $70.
WANT!
Missed Alumni Weekend and still want one? Email [email protected]. (Sweatshirts must be picked up in person.)
Daniela Ayala and Leslymar Gonzalez Carmona, co-managers of the Style Shop; Associate Professor Geib; and members of the Product Development team: Head Buyer Anthony Cruz, Assistant Buyer Madyson Haynes, Associate Buyer Kaya Loy, and Creative Associate Sophia Halasz. All students are studying Fashion Business Management except Illustration major Halasz.
The Style Shop buying team predicts these items will be hot for fall 2025:
Keith Haring-inspired FIT graphic T-shirt, $25
Vintage wrench ring, $8
Celestine pleated layering skirt belt, $55