The Future of Fashion

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The Future of Fashion

The latest crop of fashion students sent their visions down the runway at the annual FIT fashion show

by Jennifer Sauer

Runway Slideshow

(opens in new window)

In May, I trekked into New York City to glimpse the creativity and talent of fashion's potential trendsetters at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where Calvin Klein and Michael Kors got their start. Via a lively runway show (where an audience of teachers and students offered rousing support), more than 125 graduating students presented their original designs for Fall 2002 in seven categories: eveningwear, sportswear, current scene, tailored garments, knitwear, intimate apparel, and children's wear (for a sampling of the designs, see the Slideshow).

Common themes
It's truly amazing what can be done with red, white, and blue. Working within a patriotic theme and as a tribute to the spirit of New York, students had fun bringing "Broadway Dolls," "Harlem Nights," and "Urban Warrior" to life. (I must admit, however, that the use of face masks as accessories for the Urban Warrior segment bothered me, but maybe I'm overly sensitive about the events of September 11.)

Industry honors
I was quite impressed with FIT's commitment to industry-based education. Top fashion designers, such as Reem Acra, Zang Toi, Yeohlee, and B. Michael, acted as guest critics and worked with the students throughout the semester to perfect their garments. At the show, each designer honored a student with a "Critic Award" (four award winners are included in the Slideshow).

For more information about FIT and FIT events, visit www.fitnyc.edu.

Jennifer Sauer is an associate editor for Threads.

Photos: Jennifer Sauer

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