Macy’s presents FIT’s Future of Fashion show

For the first time since COVID, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted its end-of-year runway Fashion of Future (FoF) this month, outside on the school’s grounds. Presented by Macy’s, the fantastic show was live, in-person, and professionally produced. The evening’s weather was lovely. Featuring nearly 100 looks, it was a wonderful and new experience to watch the show outside the FIT buildings. Some students gazed out of the classroom windows, while others crowded the sidewalk at the bottom of W. 27th Street, near 8th Avenue in NYC. Students were in awe, snapping photos and cheering as models came down the runway. Talk about futuristic fashions, the mixture of fabrics, colors and styles were incredible and original. The children’s collection stole the show!

The sensational looks were created by a select, extremely talented group of 2022 graduates of FIT’s Fashion Design BFA program. The clothes spanned five concentrations: knitwear, sportswear, intimate apparel, special occasion, and children’s wear. The designs were inspired by personal stories, while addressing wide-ranging themes such as heritage appreciation, sustainability, gender neutrality, accessibility, and mental health awareness.

Macy’s supported the Future of Fashion both by presenting the show and through two exciting new programs. It’s all part of Macy’s enterprise-wide social purpose and brand platform: Mission Every One, which aims to create a brighter future with bold representation for all and to inspire customers to express their unique personal styles.  “Our students spend their time here refining and developing their individual design talents and sensibilities under the guidance of FIT’s dedicated faculty. Tonight, they demonstrate all they have learned,” said Dr. Joyce Brown, president of FIT.   

The industry mentors who work alongside students in their final semester of study give the Future of Fashion Critic Awards each year. Each critic is a leader in one of FIT’s five areas of specialization, and many are alumni of FIT’s Fashion Design program. The 2022 Critic Award Winners are sportswear designers Karisma Hisahkawa, Jiawen, Marie Louise Kurrer, Yuna Seki, Monica Palucci and Xiaokelati/Shahira Shokrat. Guziyn Yan & Tiffany Yan won for their amazing children’s wear. Devin Olquin received honors for intimate apparel. Amy Eisenstein and Claire Greidanus took the awards for knitwear. Yawen Chen received the Special Occasion Award.

For the Macy’s capsule collection, the company’s in-house design team selected one student’s sportswear look by Francesca Boornancin. The design choice was based on design quality, commercial appeal, and originality. It will be sold at Macy’s Herald Square in New York in the fall. The hangtag will feature the winning student’s name, photo, and biography.Macy’s Bold Representation Awards were handed to three students, recognized by Suzanne Anderson, vice president, Design Apparel at Macy’s, and Michelle Wang, vice president, Retail Diversity Strategy at Macy’s. These awards are an extension of Macy’s enterprise-wide social action purpose platform, Mission Every One. The program’s goal is to create a brighter future with bold representation. Sportswear designer Sandra Zapata won for Best Use of Sustainable Materials. The Most Commercial Look award went to Renee Clifford. Karen Qu, another sportswear designer, received the Most Inclusive/Gender Neutral Design award.