Retail Spotlight

You planned your collections management internship before the pandemic. What happened?

I always thought I’d be doing my internship on site, so when COVID hit, I was devastated. But now I have a remote internship with FIT’s Digital Image Library. I’m cataloging and adding metadata to images from the annual exhibitions by the Fashion and Textile Studies program, so I’m particularly invested in the content. My supervisor and I chat on Slack, and we meet virtually. If I was at the FITDIL offi ce doing this, I’d be working on a computer there, so it’s translated well.

How do you plan to use this training?

The goal is to work in a museum or private collection, helping to evaluate which objects can be shown safely, and designing storage and display solutions using archival techniques. Collection managers are advocates for objects.

I want to ask about your studies, but first: I hear you’re way into FIT’s online gym classes.

Yes! Initially I was nervous to try the new format, but now I’m a regular. At first I kept my camera off during classes. But eventually I got more comfortable with it; the instructors can support you more that way. Plus the camera acts like a mirror, which feels more like I’m actually back at the gym. And it’s motivating to feel like someone will notice if I don’t show up for my workout.

Major: Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice MA ’22 The Pivot: Cubas was disappointed when the pandemic disrupted her internship; then an online version proved just as valuable. And she’s loving FIT’s virtual fi tness classes.

What’s the advantage of virtual?

My gym reopened, but I’m not comfortable going back yet. Instead I’m doing FIT’s Sculpt & Burn, yoga, and Pilates classes at home. The Athletics department is also sponsoring a virtual fitness challenge with prizes. It’s a daily survey that asks about your health habits (mental and physical) so you can try to improve them. There’s a box you can check if you’re struggling with something, and they’ll respond with helpful tips. I’ve noticed working out helps alleviate pain and stress from working at my computer all day and lifts my spirits.

Do you need any special equipment?

No, the instructors plan the class so you won’t need any—you just use your body weight. It’s very accessible.

Left: Cubas says, “My favorite exhibition that I’ve uploaded to FIT’s Digital Image Library [FITDIL] is The Women of Harper’s Bazaar, 1936–1958 , organized by FTS students in spring 2016. It was an exploration of the collaborative relationship among Carmel Snow, Diana Vreeland, and Louise Dahl-Wolfe during their time working together at Harper’s Bazaar . “Here’s my favorite image from the set. It shows a Claire McCardell wool jersey swimsuit and a Dahl- Wolfe photograph of Betty Bridges modeling the garment in Rio de Janeiro for the May 1946 issue. I saw the photo in a lecture last semester in my History of 20th Century Fashion class. When I came across this installation shot, I was immediately struck by the image—but now, it was accompanied by the garment itself!” (The Museum at FIT, The Women of Harper’s Bazaar, 1936 1958, installation view.)

When Uribe started landing superstars for the SAB’s events, he saw a significant uptick in audience numbers. Above: A virtual flyer for drag bingo with Shea Couleé.

BECAUSE CELEBRITIES

Name: Anthony Uribe Major: Advertising and Marketing Communications ’21

The Pivot: Uribe, the entertainment chair of FIT’s Student Activities

Board, noticed a decline in attendance of student events. His solu-

tion: Bring in boldface names.

Seeing FIT’s legendary drag pageant your first year was important for you. Why?

I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I remember being in the audience thinking, I need to be the one running this next year.

So you became the entertainment chair for the Student Activities Board (SAB). What happened when the pandemic hit?

In March, we were gearing up for the pageant. I thought FIT would be closed for two weeks at most. So much work went into that project and it ultimately got canceled. We pivoted to virtual events, but at first students weren’t really into it.

What changed?

At the end of spring semester I brought in Monique Heart from RuPaul’s Drag Race for a virtual drag bingo event. That was the first time I booked a celebrity, and it was fun getting to negotiate back and forth. The event was super successful so I decided to redo it for freshman orientation with Drag Race: All Stars winner Shea Couleé. That event had more than 300 attendees. After that, audience numbers kept growing.

This is what you want to do for your career, right?

Yes, I’ve always been interested in event planning and public relations. I have a virtual internship with BPCM, a PR firm, in their L.A. offi ce, creating press clips and pitching influencers. It’s L.A. time, which is hard, but I get to sleep in, which is nice. I like matchmaking influencers with brands. It’s basically what I do for FIT. I’m really in tune with pop culture. I know who would be good for what brand.

You even got one of the guys from Queer Eye for an event.

I wanted to do a cooking demo for Thanksgiving, so Antoni Porowski, the food and wine guy, came and made brussels sprouts with prosciutto chips on Zoom. (Mushrooms were the vegan substitute.) Our Instagram DMs and the SAB account were flooded with emails, and people were texting me about how great the event went. “Stay at home” gave us the opportunity to work with people I could only dream of because to get him in person would be so expensive.

And you finally got to promote the drag pageant—FIT’s 14th.

I was so excited that we were able to pull off the show virtually. We got Miz Cracker from Drag Race to host, and we had the college’s first ever openly nonbinary winner, Mannie Quinn. The contestants taped their solo performances all over the city. One did it in Times Square; one transformed their backyard into Alice in Wonderland. They were so creative, and it made for an amazing show.