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alumni weekend

2025 alumni weekend banner features three students walking out of Feldman Center, smiling

A weekend of festivities welcoming all alumni back to campus.

 

Online registration closes: Wednesday, October 8

 

October 17–19
Fashion Institute of Technology
227 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001

 

This fall FIT welcomes alumni back to campus for the second annual Alumni Weekend! The days will be filled with exciting opportunities to reconnect with classmates and faculty, make new connections, and discover what's changed on campus.

 

The celebration kicks off on Friday with tours and networking events, followed by a Project Runway alumni panel, welcome reception, and after-party. On Saturday, enjoy a full day of panels, workshops, networking events, and a bazaar in the Breezeway featuring alumni makers. Don't miss the industry networking and mentorship lunch, young alumni happy hour, and Decades Dinner! The festivities are open to all alumni. Come back on Sunday for the department reunion brunch, followed by a Broadway show, fashion foraging, or walking tour in Chelsea. 

 

Traveling to New York? Find hotels that offer preferred rates to the FIT community.

Questions? Contact us at alumnirelations@fitnyc.edu 

 

Registration Instructions

1  

Check out the full schedule for timing of events to craft your Alumni Weekend itinerary.

Many events are scheduled concurrently; please select one option per time slot.
2  

Purchase your base ticket using the form below, which will be your pass to campus for Alumni Weekend.

Required for all attendees.
3  

Register for events to make it your Alumni Weekend.

Add on all the events you'd like to sign up for! Space is limited for workshops, tours, lectures, and add-ons.

 

  1. Step 1 Selection
Friday October 17
Please select at least one ticket type. REQUIRED.
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Friday October 17
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Learn about FIT’s industry-focused programs and visit some of the specialized labs on campus. The tour includes a visit to FIT’s Fragrance Lab, the only fragrance lab on a U.S. college campus, with a presentation from Virginia Bonofiglio, associate chair, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing. The tour also includes a stop by the Toy Design Lab, where you will hear from toy industry veteran and associate chair of the Toy Design program, Damian Mucaro. Past program graduates have designed some of the most popular toys of the past three decades, including Tickle Me Elmo.
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Friday October 17
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Join alum Raissa Bretaña, Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice MA ’19, the education and collections assistant at The Museum at FIT, for a tour of Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis. Featuring approximately 100 looks by designers including Alexander McQueen, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Vivienne Westwood, it is the first exhibition to explore the complex relationship between fashion and psychoanalysis.
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Friday October 17
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Step inside FIT’s cutting-edge Design and Technology (DTech) Lab, which empowers FIT students to work with global industry leaders on real-world projects. Learn about innovation from DTech Executive Director Michael Ferraro about myriad groundbreaking industry projects spearheaded by FIT students and faculty. Reconnect with fellow alumni who are interested in innovation and idea exchange.
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Friday October 17
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Join us for an inspiring conversation with FIT alumni who have successfully navigated job searches. Hear firsthand how they leveraged networking, sharpened their interview skills, and made strategic moves to land exciting new roles. Our panelists will share real-world stories and lessons learned, offering practical tips for taking the next step in your professional journey. Speakers will be announced shortly.
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Friday October 17
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Join Fawz Kabra, Curator of the Art and Design Gallery at FIT for a tour of Adapt/Evolve (September 18–October 26, 2025), a multidisciplinary exhibition that considers various approaches to designing for accessibility as well as adaptive design’s relationship to culture and society. Fashion, jewelry, toy, and interior designs by FIT faculty, students, alumni, and invited designers and artists highlight creative new approaches to adaptive and inclusive design. The design objects and projects on view in Adapt/Evolve bring to light a network of care, interdependence, and access to good design for all, paving the way to a built world that supports everyone.
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Friday October 17
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Go behind the scenes of reality television with FIT alum Julie LaPlaca (Advertising and Marketing Communications BS ’07) known for her work as supervising producer of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise. LaPlaca has more than a decade of experience crafting some of TV’s most talked-about moments. In this candid conversation, LaPlaca will discuss everything from casting and location-scouting to navigating on-screen drama and production challenges, as well as what she’s learned about herself along the way. This special conversation will be moderated by a current FIT student enrolled in the course Hollywood: A History, taught by Professor Dan Levinson Wilk.
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Friday October 17
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Express yourself by customizing FIT’s Scentwear Fragrance in the Fragrance Studio at FIT with Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing Professor Virginia Bonofiglio. Participants will be able to customize their fragrance based on the addition of a personal choice top note, and learn how to use materials indispensable to the creation of your favorite perfumes and colognes.
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Friday October 17
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
The FIT Library’s unit of Special Collections and College Archives, better known as SPARC, is excited to share with alumni selections from its rare book and manuscript collections. Explore the exceptional special collections from the FIT Library with unit members Tiffany Nixon, Samantha Levin, and Julie Sandy-Boyle. We will lead tours of the vaults and have on display highlights from our collections, which include college yearbooks, designer sketches, rare fashion prints, 1800s fashion magazines, surface and textile design, and much more.
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Friday October 17
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Katie Murphy Amphitheatre - It should come as no surprise that FIT alumni are deeply intertwined with Project Runway—serving as judges, contestants, and creatives behind the scenes. For Alumni Weekend, we’ll be reconvening FIT alumni from the most recent season, including designer and contestant Yuchen Han (Fashion Design MFA ‘19) and stylist and costume designer Darshan Gress (Fashion Buying and Merchandising ‘96). The panel will be moderated by an alum fashion and style expert, Joe Zee. Hear firsthand what it’s like to be part of fashion’s most iconic reality competition—from navigating high-pressure challenges to showcasing bold, creative vision on national television. Panelists will share their experiences on and off-screen, reflect on their journeys from FIT to the present, and discuss how the show continues to influence the fashion industry.
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Friday October 17
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location TBA - Kick off Alumni Weekend at our Welcome Reception! Everyone is invited, with campus leaders and faculty present to welcome our alumni back to campus at this festive evening reception. Enjoy light bites and beverages with old friends and new, before continuing the evening festivities at Binsky’s!
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Friday October 17
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
John E. Reeves Great Hall - Following the day's activities, join us for the afterparty at "Binsky's," a storied bar that once operated in the Dubinsky Student Center basement, which is "re-staged" for one night only in the Great Hall. The Binsky’s Afterparty is an annual Alumni Weekend tradition, and this year we're stepping back in time to the magic of Studio 54 with an evening of disco, glam, and glitter. Whether you're reminiscing about your time at FIT or making new memories, the evening will be one you won't forget. The dance floor under a disco ball-filled ceiling will come alive with a curated selection of music and visuals by the NYC-based artist and DJ, Chris Jordan. Ticket price includes light bites like smoked gouda mac and cheese and meatball sliders, as well as an open bar with beer, wine, sparkling wine, and a specialty Bourbon cocktail, "The Binsky"! Sponsored by Aramark.
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Saturday October 18
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Need a new LinkedIn profile photo or just want a refreshed portrait? Get ready for your close-up at our headshot station, with photography services provided by White Honey, a full service creative agency located in the Garment District. Two sessions will be offered—from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm—sign up to reserve your time slot.
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Saturday October 18
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
In this fully guided experience, you’ll choose your own fragrance oil combination, blend your mixture into 100% soy wax, and pour your creation into a luxury 10-ounce jar. Learn directly from alum Brittany Furnari (Advertising & Marketing Communications ’17) who founded Nose Best, a multisensory candle company that hosts workshops and private events in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
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Saturday October 18
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Begin your Saturday with purpose and clarity during this energizing workshop hosted by Well Reserved, a group fitness/wellness platform founded by FIT alumni and longtime friends Tatyana Sinn (Fashion Merchandising Management ’08) and Jenniffer Willis (Fashion Merchandising Management ’06). Through a mix of guided breathwork, mindful journaling, and group reflection, you’ll identify what you want to call in—and what you’re ready to release. Walk away grounded, focused, and ready to make the most of your weekend.
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Saturday October 18
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The FIT Library’s unit of Special Collections and College Archives, better known as SPARC, is excited to share with alumni selections from its rare book and manuscript collections. Explore the exceptional special collections from the FIT Library with unit members Tiffany Nixon, Samantha Levin, and Julie Sandy-Boyle. We will lead tours of the vaults and have on display highlights from our collections, which include college yearbooks, designer sketches, rare fashion prints, 1800s fashion magazines, surface and textile design, and much more.
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Saturday October 18
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Learn how creativity and entrepreneurship intersect in today’s creative economy! Join us for an inspiring conversation with Micah Clasper-Torch (Fashion Design’09), textile and fiber artist, entrepreneur, educator, and author of Punch Needle Fashion, and Jonathan Vatner, managing editor of Hue magazine and author of Carnegie Hill and The Bridesmaids Union. Micah will share her journey as an artist whose work blurs the boundaries of fine art, design, and craft, as well as her artistic process, the growing global interest in fiber arts, and the lessons she has learned in turning her passion into a profession.
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Saturday October 18
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Curious about FIT’s alumni trips? Join us for a special session where alumni travelers Jaclyn Bossen (Fashion Merchandising Management ‘15), James Brunner (Advertising & Marketing Communications ‘22), and Lia Howe (Fashion Design ‘83) will share stories and highlights from previous trips to Italy and Paris. You’ll hear firsthand what it’s like to travel with fellow alumni and explore cities “through the lens of art, design, and fashion” during this conversation moderated by former Dean for International Education Deirdre Sato (Fashion Design ‘79). Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek at upcoming FIT alumni travel opportunities planned for 2026 and 2027!
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Saturday October 18
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Join alum Raissa Bretaña (Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice MA ’19) the education and collections assistant at The Museum at FIT, for a tour of Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis. Featuring approximately 100 looks by designers including Alexander McQueen, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Vivienne Westwood, it is the first exhibition to explore the complex relationship between fashion and psychoanalysis.
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Saturday October 18
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Learn the basics of leatherworking and create your own custom keychain! In this hands-on workshop, you'll insert rivets, attach a swivel clip, and add optional charms for a personal touch.This workshop is led by alum Alana Yoffee (Production Management: Fashion and Related Industries ’22), founder and lead instructor of Five B. Studio—a sewing education company that partners with NYC schools to implement after-school and elective sewing programs.
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Saturday October 18
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Come watch the FIT Tigers Women's Volleyball Team as they take on cross town rivals The New School Narwhals at 12 pm and then the Word of Life Bible Institute Huskies at 1:30 pm right here in FIT's Main Gym, located just outside the Business and Liberal arts Building elevators on the sub basement level. Stop by for fun, FIT Athletics giveaways, and exciting FIT Tiger Volleyball action!
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Saturday October 18
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Meet alumni, peers, and leaders in your field of expertise or interest at our luncheon! Student leaders interested in mentorship opportunities will be invited as well. All attendees will share their top industry interests and be seated at a corresponding table hosted by an alum industry expert. Ticket price includes a seated buffet-style lunch featuring seasonal ingredients and dessert.
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Saturday October 18
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
It wouldn’t be FIT without a market on the Breezeway! Partnering with the Style Shop, we have curated a bazaar featuring goods from alumni makers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. From artisan jewelry to natural skincare to unique home decor, the Alumni Bazaar will have something for everybody! Grab a coffee or apple cider to enjoy while browsing. *Fun for all ages! There’s something for everyone in the FIT family at the bazaar.
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Saturday October 18
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Celebrity stylist Jeffrey Ampratwum (CCPS Advanced Fashion Styling '18) will give style lessons covering color analysis, styling tips, fashion theory, industry news, and give individual assessments of personal style! This workshop is a great way to invest in your own style and if you're interested in monetizing your closet, you’ll learn strategies for reselling pieces online. Jeffrey will also cover the best social media strategies needed to leverage your personal brand.
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Saturday October 18
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
If you've been wanting to learn to knit but haven’t found the time, now is your chance! Join freelance hand-knit designer and Craft Art Council certified knitting teacher Felecia O’Connell (Fashion Design, ‘95), for this fun and informative workshop where you’ll learn knitting basics and more. Each participant will be given all the materials, instructions, guidance and hands-on support to get started on a beginner-friendly, quick and easy hand-knitted scarf.
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Saturday October 18
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Join us for a hands-on introduction to natural dyeing—explore its history and techniques and create your own unique design using plant dyes. Learn directly from Porscha Hill (Fashion Merchandising Management ’14), the founder of Porscha Hill Natural Dye Studio based in London. Using pre-dyed fabric sheets, fresh lemons, and a special discharge paste made from citric acid and guar gum, you’ll experiment with making your own patterns and textures. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have your own piece of textile art as an Alumni Weekend souvenir!
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Saturday October 18
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Unwind and reset with a restorative sound bath meditation hosted by Well Reserved, a group fitness/wellness platform founded by FIT alumni and longtime friends Tatyana Sinn (Fashion Merchandising Management ’08) and Jenniffer Willis (Fashion Merchandising Management ’06). Using crystal singing bowls and soothing sound frequencies, this immersive experience will help you relax your nervous system and recenter your energy. Whether you’re new to sound healing or a longtime fan, this session offers a peaceful moment amidst a vibrant day on campus.
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Saturday October 18
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Join fellow alumni and students for the Entrepreneurship Social hosted by William Reinisch, Associate Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at FIT, and Professor Renee Leibler, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at FIT. This is your chance to network with like-minded founders, exchange ideas, learn about what FIT is doing and get advice from our faculty and alumni entrepreneurs Rowell Concepcion (Fashion Merchandising Management '11), Founder of Binata Millinery and Michelle Feinberg (Fashion Design), Founder of New York Embroidery Studio. At 5 pm, we will host an optional "2-Minute Open Mic"—a fast-paced opportunity to share your latest idea, business update, or entrepreneurial insight, or seek advice or networking with the community. Whether you're just getting started, looking for collaborators, or scaling up, this is your event to connect with the FIT entrepreneurial ecosystem, find inspiration, and make meaningful connections.
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Saturday October 18
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Reconnect with fellow recent graduates and enjoy great vibes at Good Behavior (44 W 29th St, 18th Floor), an iconic New York rooftop bar. Don't miss this fun evening of networking, music, and celebration! This event is intended for graduates of the last decade (class of 2016–2025), but all FIT alumni are welcome. Additional ticket purchase required. Ticket price includes a selection of light bites and one drink ticket.
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Saturday October 18
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Dining Room, Dubinsky Student Center, Eighth Floor - Saturday’s programming will conclude with an enchanting fall evening at FIT’s Decades Dinner, a golden celebration where alumni will be seated by decade, creating a journey through the eras as we share stories and rekindle friendships. Guests are invited to interpret the evening’s gold color-theme through festive attire while enjoying a seasonal feast featuring pumpkin ravioli with pesto cream sauce, whole poached salmon, roasted shallot mashed potatoes, and locally-grown greens, with various dishes incorporating herbs grown right at FIT on the rooftop garden! Raise a glass with our featured Spiced Pear Cocktail as we toast to the past, present, and future of FIT. The evening also features live entertainment and a surprise or two! This event is intended for graduates from the class of 2015 and prior.
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Sunday October 19
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Dining Room, Dubinsky Student Center, Eighth Floor - Toast to old memories and new connections at the Department Reunion Brunch! Reunite with former professors, swap stories with classmates, and meet the faculty shaping today’s FIT student experience. Whether it’s been five years or fifty, come celebrate the department that sparked your journey and the people who made it unforgettable. Peruse the yearbook station to see if you can spot all the fashions that have made their way back around. Although we know our alumni are always on the cutting edge, ditch the trends and wear something timeless: your FIT swag, of course! Indulge in delicious brunch classics, with gluten-free and vegan options, and gourmet mimosa bar. Customize your bubbles with Prosecco, pomegranate juice, OJ, white cranberry juice, peach nectar, and a vibrant array of fresh fruits and herbs.
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Sunday October 19
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Join FIT instructor, architect, and NYC tour guide Erik Hodgetts for a fun and informative stroll through one of Manhattan’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Experience public art along the High Line and learn how the West Side waterfront has evolved from its commercial shipping roots to a vibrant mix of features attracting New Yorkers and tourists alike.
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Sunday October 19
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join acclaimed stylist Darshan Gress (Fashion Buying and Merchandising ’96) for a curated shopping adventure at New York’s legendary City Opera Thrift Shop. Known for its ever-changing selection of designer pieces, vintage gems, and one-of-a-kind accessories, this nonprofit boutique has been a style insider’s secret for decades. Darshan will share her expert tips on spotting quality fabrics, identifying timeless silhouettes, and styling secondhand finds into fresh, modern looks. Whether you’re hunting for high-fashion bargains or just love the thrill of the thrift, this experience promises plenty of inspiration with fellow alums.
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Sunday October 19
2:00 PM - 3:20 PM
Join fellow FIT alumni for a Sunday matinee of SIX on Broadway! This high-energy, Tony Award–winning musical remixes history with pop-concert flair as the six wives of Henry VIII reclaim their stories—live, loud, and unforgettable. Limited seats available!
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Friday October 17
Designed in collaboration with the students from the Product Development Team in the Style Shop, this hoodie is a love letter to both the Big Apple and FIT. Inspired by the charm of vintage postcards, our design highlights classic New York City iconography. Featuring a modern, relaxed, and comfortable fit that looks great on everyone. This hoodie is more than just a hoodie, it’s an expression of an FIT’s student connection to the city that never sleeps. Because it’s FIT, or nowhere. Available in Vintage Black and Vintage Brown. 60% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton Cotton, 40% Polyester fleece. Pick up during the Alumni Bazaar on Saturday, October 18.
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Alumni Weekend welcomes all alumni. If you are currently experiencing significant financial hardship and cost is the only barrier to your participation in Alumni Weekend activities, please get in touch with us to see how we can help: alumnirelations@fitnyc.edu

 

Get Alumni Weekend Merch

Photo of male model wearing a hoodie with postcard style graphics.

Place your order during registration to pick up your hoodie at the Alumni Bazaar on Saturday, October 18.
Designed in collaboration with the students from the Product Development Team in the Style Shop, this hoodie is a love letter to both the Big Apple and FIT. Inspired by the charm of vintage postcards, our design highlights classic New York City iconography. Featuring a modern, relaxed, and comfortable fit that looks great on everyone. This hoodie is more than just a hoodie, it’s an expression of an FIT student's connection to the city that never sleeps.

60% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton / 40% Polyester fleece
Available in Vintage Black or Vintage Brown.
Comes in size S–3XL.