W27 The Community Issue (November 2022)

Writers & Editors

Lonnie Brown

Lillian Dixon

Sara Hamilton

Kylie Hull

Darnae James Charles Kam

Josefina Lopez de Roma Elena May

Kriti Nagar Saloni Nanavati

Clara Oates

Yobany Reyes Emily Simon Alisha Singh

Pamela Valdez Lily Walsh Kaili Woop

Abigail Zwirecki

Graphic Designers

Danielle Bilelllo

Adriana Bolanos Falconi

Leia Chen

Jessica Ehrenfeld

Anthony Gingerelli

Claire Jung Danielle Limmer Miles Malanowski

Megan O’Haire Cheyenne Syrek

Juliana Vicente

Illustrators

Analise Banko

Roxenne Contreras Nozanini Ergashzoda

Jake Gross

Joshua Guerr Maison Lamanna Jessica Lyle

Emmett Magalhaes Aleksey Nisenboym Sarah Piccinini Cover Designers

Jake Gross Aleksey Nisenboym

Violet Burburan Faculty

Ellen Davidson

Alexandra Mann

ETTEL R FROMTHE EDITOR

It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was the people I chose to surround myself with that truly made me happiest; however, it took me a bit longer to realize that it wasn’t only the people I chose that made my everyday routines safe and familiar that formed my “community”. It included the people I inherited from being a part of a whole: family, the person who sits in the same spot in the dining hall on Tuesday mornings, or my neighbors I hear behind the far wall in my dorm room. Community also came in the form of the annual “Weenie Roasts” hosted by my grandfather, my “PopPop”, in the yard of our generation’s deep family home in the country. Community felt like when my roommate would make me tea before bed with a spoonful of honey or the music shared shoulder to shoulder played by my favorite band in my favorite venue. But what does community look like through a lens other than mine? How do others experience community?

When dreaming about the theme of the issue, I knew that it had to

be something that would allow writers to be honest– uncovering the real experiences and emotions of something so coveted. I wanted to unveil the unspoken bond of the commune. I asked our contributors to write about what community means to them and how it shows up in their life. They chose to write about what they observed or how being a part of their community (or the lack thereof) affects them at FIT and beyond.

Throughout this issue you will bear witness to accounts of saddening confessions, queer spirit, communities that deserve to be recognized, and the discovery of one that fell. Community has an inherently good aura, but it can be filled with hate and cruelty, as we’ve come to witness. It can be the river that connects or a moat that divides. From Berlin to West 27th, dog park to dining hall, we all find ourselves unintentionally immersed in these puddles of people that flow into a pool of togetherness. Through that we form a community.

As you turn through the pages, between the lines of ink and artistry I invite you to reflect on your rendition of community and to take the opportunity to delve into a perspective that may be different from an experience you’d normally come across. I imagine that you’ll be surprised to see what you learn about others, and with that, yourself.

I’d like to thank the W27 team for this labor of love and for helping foster the voices of FIT.

Lonnie Lee Brown Editor-in-Chief, W27

MEETTHE EXECUTIVE

FFAT

Haneen Elmeswari Digital Curator

Jessica Lyle Head of Illustration

Claire Jung Art Director

Abigail Zwirecki Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Elena May Secretary

Rosie Hernandez Outreach/Events Coordinator

Fareeha Ahmed Treasurer

Aleksey Nisenboym Assistant Illustrator

Jake Gross Social Media Graphics Co-Director

Maison Lamanna Social Media Graphics Co-Director

Dana Flores Culture Editor

Julianna Vicente Assistant Art Director

Community, or Lack Thereof by Yobany Reyes

Moda Hoy! by Josefina Lopez de Romana

Mx. FIT 2022 and the Drag Community at FIT by Kaili Woop

Midwest Community by Kylie Hull

The Luxury Rat House: Is it Worth the Unpaid Internship? by Charlie Kam

COMMUNITY, OR LACK THEREOF

by Yobany Reyes (AMC ‘23)

as “Very hard. If you’re not a model type person or have any interest in fashion it’s very difficult.” Others attributed their negative experience to other factors, such as competition within one’s major, “Everyone in fashion design views each other as competition and a lot of them will do whatever it takes to be on top. But it’s also so easy to talk to people, just hard to make real friends” being one, or being a commuter as another. One student says, “As a commuter, it’s one of the hardest things to do. Most people who dorm already have their own cliques and there doesn’t leave much room in class to try and make friends as well.”

and when they do, they are not fun. I honestly just want basic stuff like an ice cream social or pizza party or more block parties. Like drag bingo freshman year is a terrible way to meet people and there is nothing for upperclassmen.”

Whatever the case may be, many students of all years had little bits of wisdom to impart to others. Most responses were people stressing the importance of talking to others, such as one student who says,

The FIT Confessions Instagram account (@fitconfessions) is home to a wide range of confessions submitted anonymously by the student body, housing anything from “If you type insanely loud in class, I don’t like you,” to recounts of midnight escapades (in graphic detail). However, only a few weeks into the fall semester, there have been an influx of confessions regarding the community (or lack thereof) at FIT as students lament the social atmosphere of the college.

At a school like FIT, one would assume that there’s a community for everyone — with students of every background and demographic in attendance. However, the submissions to FIT Confessions tell otherwise.

With some being upset by their lack of friends or social groups and others admitting anger at their peers who they claim are inauthentic and cliquey, it seems like no one’s happy here. There are confessions claiming FIT has a “reverse catfishing problem,” that “some people look so interesting on the outside only to have the driest, most disappointing personality,” and even more calling FIT’s social atmosphere “intimidating.” They also complain of how difficult it is to maintain genuine relationships. One confession went as far to say “Honestly [the social life at FIT is] really shitty. It’s very high school and popularity driven. Too many people have complexes because they think they dress best. It’s childish.”

As it stands, the FIT Confessions page is a place where students can share their thoughts and affairs unabashedly and talk about how they feel about the school and its attendees.

Given an anonymous forum, it’s clear that FIT students feel free to express themselves and all of their innermost thoughts. With this in mind, I reached out to the account itself and collected anonymous responses from over 60 students. I had them respond to a series of questions concerning the social

experience they’ve had at FIT and advice they have for others. Unsurprisingly, the students involved got very candid about the school and their peers. In order to get a full idea of what students thought, I asked the students their graduating year– to describe their social lives at FIT, what they thought of the environment FIT creates for students and finally, what advice they have for others.

Surprisingly, the majority of responses came from upperclassmen. While it would’ve been interesting to see the perspectives newer students have of the college and to hear about their experiences, students who have spent more time at the school had more to share about how they socialize and that much more advice to give to others.

When asked about their luck with finding community and socializing with their peers, the responses were very much a mixed bag. Some responses were more optimistic, such as a student saying, “It’s been odd, but I have a really great circle that took time to build. Despite what people say, I think there are some really cool people here and putting yourself out there is essential. There are lots of cliques, but that’s not all there is. It takes effort but the effort is worth it.” Some are more positive, but cite socioeconomic factors as possible reasons that people might find it hard to socialize.

“I think at FIT it is easy to make friends. I mean we are all pretty like minded to a degree. The only people I’ve met and I’m not the biggest fan of are the straight men in my year. Otherwise it’s a great community and I’ve never had this many girl friends before. I think sometimes there’s a classist divide but nothing I’ve experienced is too crazy. Just some privilege that some people aren’t aware they have.”

However, there were many more which were less than kind. One student described their experience making friends

All in all, the responses were mainly negative. A recurring theme was the idea of “24-hour friendships,” aka how friendships can quickly blossom and wither away even faster. Some students even attributed personal reasons to their failures, such as mental illness or introversion. Colleges are just as much a place to make connections as they are a place to learn. Many students began to speak on the culture FIT creates and how the school itself makes it difficult for so many to find community.

It’s common knowledge that the vast majority of FIT students are careeroriented, passionate people. It makes sense that the college encourages this behavior. However, when asked about how the FIT administration contributes to its social environment, people brought up a variety of things. A reply that stands out states, “FIT is a suitcase school. It’s also a trade school. It doesn’t really seem like it’s meant for making friends. FIT also doesn’t do much to help students have social lives on campus.” There seems to be common thought that, in some aspects, the issues FIT has with the community are foundational. Many cite specific examples of things they like and dislike and express that FIT could stand to help its students commune with each other.

“Absolutely terrible social environment. There are barely any social activities

“I think your best bet is…to talk to people. I know, crazy right? I can’t help but feel like we are wrong for making an effort to build connections with our classmates. Start conversations with new people you find interesting, attempt to start discussions after class and get people’s socials. That one person you’ve been eyeing that you think is cool or attractive or whatever, talk to them, they’ll really appreciate being noticed by you!”

Many responders said something along the lines of, “Literally [go] out of your way even though you feel annoying.” A few stressed the importance of being authentic and not trying too hard. And even the person who stated, “i have no friends i am in no place to give advice,” was at the very least, honest.

Community is a strange and fickle thing. Despite the many horror stories shared on the FIT Confessions page about insane roommates and the loneliness felt across campus, it has in its own way, fostered a community. People from all majors can come together, shout into the void and hear the inner workings of their classmates’ minds. People comment under each post with their own experiences and validate one another– (albeit the odd comment whining about how everyone uses the account to complain about escalator traffic).

Even if it doesn’t seem like so, community can be right under your nose–and even if FIT doesn’t always make it easy, there will always be someone to relate to (whether they be anonymous or not).

Illustrations by Jessica Lyle (Illustration

by Josefina Lopez de Romana (AMC ‘24)

As National Hispanic Heritage month was coming to an end, FIT’s museum decided to organize a symposium titled: “¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion,” in preparation for their upcoming exhibition opening up next May. The talk took place Friday, Oct 7th in the Katie Murphy Amphitheater, where I got the chance to hear from two of the curators here at FIT’s museum: Tanya Meléndez-Escalante and Melissa Marra-Alvarez.

The symposium gathered people from all backgrounds, where in some shape or form related to Latin culture. As an audience we shared the same interest over topics that go unspoken, such as Latin Fashion. Coming into this I was not aware of the impact the topics of conversation presented would have on me. Arriving at 10:30 a.m., I entered the amphitheater to find Hanayrá Negreiros and Laura Beltrán-Rubio sharing their thoughts about “Identity and Fashion in Latin America.” Outlining how in order to understand Latin Fashion, we would first need to understand the background concept of “decolonizing fashion.”

Growing up in Perú, as a result of the Spanish colonization of the Americas, our culture had been heavily influenced by the European way of living.This also included their influence on fashion. Where the European standards that Peruvians had now aspired to resemble, had little to no similar characteristics to Peruvians appearance or culture. This created a disparity between standards of Westernized and indigenous beauty standards.

Sadly, this is something a lot of people inside these communities still look up to as the only right way of doing things. The more the speakers reflected over this idea, I couldn’t help but start to feel guilty for the way I had perceived Latin Fashion growing up. I grew up within a society where they had internalized the idea that “real fashion” came strictly from places like Europe or North America. Whereas Latin designers who decided not to follow this select aesthetics, they would end up being looked down upon and criticized by our society.

Back then I felt a strong sense of shame towards

!

the way we dressed as a whole, neglecting the fact of how that represented our culture, which is so precious to me now. I used to feel alienated and upset from how this also restricted selfexpression. Given the fact most people possessed a conservative and religious view, self-expression in ways of behaving and dressing was very limited. And consuming media that portrayed fashion as the art of experimenting with eccentric and controversial elements, I felt consumed by the thought of what the people around me would think if I decided not to follow the “mold.”

M HOY! O M O D A D A

As 11 am rolled around, we were introduced to the Colombian professor William Cruz Bermeo, who would reveal how Latin Fashion had always been present across the twentieth century in Western media outlets in what we now refer to as: cultural appropriation. He supported this by showing pictures from past collections from brands like Dior and designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, which would take typical elements present throughout different Latin cultures and base their designs and collections from it, without making sure to give them any recognition. The fact that big and recognized brands had managed to steal the ideas

and realistic side of the Peruvian culture, this represented the same idea of “what we know and follow” being that the European influence in Peruvian culture.

In addition, Vogue released that same year but in December an issue titled “Christmas at Cuzco.” Where they photographed locals in their typical attire that made use of embroidered skirts and the classical Andean hats. Seeing something so typical and natural from my culture being represented as something “exotic” didn’t bring me a sense of shame anymore but a feeling of disappointment from Vogue and the media’s perception of my culture.

On a lighter note, we needed that preface in order to understand and transition into the next interview that presented two Mexican designers: Brenda Equihua and Bárbara SánchezKane, who would share a conversation with the curator Tanya Meléndez-Escalante. Although both designers presented completely different aesthetic and design styles, they both make use of elements inside the popular culture in Mexico as well as challenge some of the conservative ideas around its culture.

Brenda Equihua, creator of her namesake brand “Equihua.” to make clothing out of them. She draws inspiration from symbols of Mexican and Chicano culture; from music and religious iconography, such as The Rose of Guadalupe, to simple everyday objects of cultural significance like the traditional tablecloths used to make hats or the iconic tiger blanket she used to make coats and earrings.

Bárbara Sánchez-Kane inversely uses every day elements tochallenge some conservative ideas found in Latin cultures to empower sexual liberation. It was refreshing to see how her designs and collections included things one wouldn’t expect like shoes that have shopping carts as part of the heel or a hairstyle that makes use of clothing hangers as hair pins. These elements as normal as they may seem have a deeper meaning to them, for example the clothing hangers are a representation of polemic across abortions.

from small underrepresented cultures and profit from them made me feel enraged. Why were these elements accepted and seen as fashion coming from big designers, but disapproved when it came from the actual members of that culture?

Professor Cruz explained how Latin America was used as a “muse and landscape backdrop,” by taking the surface aesthetic and blurring what it represented to that culture. Where there was this idea of how fashion fluctuates between what’s expected and what’s deemed exotic to the western media consumers. .

In a series of pictures taken by Vogue for their Feb 15, 1949 issue titled “Flying Down to Lima.” Vogue had produced an editorial photoshoot taken from the perspective of a tourist visiting Lima, Peru. However, we can only identify the victorian elements left by Spain’s impact over the city. Instead of showing the most authentic

The moment right after the presentation was over, the space felt as if it had been filled with a sense of gratitude and comfort. This event not only helped bring attention and awareness to a nonwestern branch of fashion, but helped to overall provide a safe space to foster the latin community.

Living in such a culturally diverse city like New York makes it hard to feel in touch with one’s culture. Where it’s easy to feel like you are on your own and have no one to fall back to that will fully understand where you are coming from. So having these events gives us a sense of comfort and the representation we do not necessarily see on an everyday basis. I am so happy to see FIT’s museum taking steps towards making the latin community finally feel seen and represented the same way we have seen other cultures throughout time.

Illustration by Jessica Lyle (Illustration ‘25)

PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THE EVENT

Photos by William Viquez Mora

by Kaili Woop (Fine Arts ‘23)

The Drag Community is an essential way for individu als to express certain gender roles, as well as their gender identity. Tyler Lormel (FA ‘23), better known by her Drag name, Crystal Tyler, has been a part of the Drag Community since she was in high school. Throughout her time at FIT, Lormel has evolved her gender identity as a Queer person in the Drag Community.

Lormel’s passion for Drag started in high school while watching the show “Drag Race”, after which she tried on drag publicly, which gave her confidence and pride in herself. During this time, Lormel was also the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at her high school, demon strating her passion for activism in the Drag and Queer Communities. When being interviewed, Lormel stated, “It’s important to show case the spirit of queer folk that fought for queer artists to have a spotlight today.”

Lormel is grateful to have been able to attend FIT due to the college’s heavy influence on her identity and sense of com munity as a whole. Lormel ac knowledges the numerous opportunities the school

has given her, including the chance to participate in drag through FIT’s own drag system.

Crystal was determined to participate in FIT’s 13th Drag Pageant after being inspired by videos from previous years of performances by Aquaria and Can dy Sterling. She created outfits from ripped-up t–shirts, soda bottle wrappers, fabric painting, and other media to portray her creativity and ambition in the Pag eant. Lormel has felt welcomed by the FIT Drag Pageant Coordinator, Denise Delgado Pesante since she first performed in the Spring of 2019.

Crystal’s contribution to Drag is to show and prove that creativity is lim itless, survival is real, dreams come true and magic exists. According to Lormel, “Drag gives me life because seeing queer people in their most power ful form is what inspires me the most.” Lor mel is an active member of digital Drag commu nities as well as ones outside of FIT. She has started a web show, “Dragging Faery Tales” with the goal to increase the presence of drag and digital performance through the fan tasy genre and the power of storytelling. To Lormel, Drag is a blend of a complete magic, fantasy, and a true story of power and activism, “The most powerful magic, to me, is belief.” Lormel’s major upcoming projects include her step-down performance from her title as Mx. FIT, as well as her project for the Fine Arts senior thesis. She plans to participate more in the gender-bent side of drag while continuing to embrace her femininity when she stated, “I’m an explorer. I’m a storyteller. I’m a dreamer.”

“It’s important to showcase the spirit of queer folk that fought for queer artists to have a spotlight today.”

“Drag gives me life because seeing queer people in their most powerful form is what inspires me the most.”

Midwest Community

by Kylie Hull (AMC ‘23)

When I tell people in NYC that I grew up in St. Louis, I’m often met with sentiments of “what do you do there?” or overtones of “isn’t that cute.” Most Midwest states are viewed as flyovers, or nice places to make a pitstop on your way to greater things. However, in the most unconventional way, St. Louis is an oasis in the heartland of America. The city is powered by a unique life line of bold teens and young adults who orga nize revolutions, create masterpieces, transcend boundaries and bring life to the very city that shaped them.

Cities like New York and Los Angeles have an aura of success, creativity and drive, provid ing built-in outlets for the youth who grow up there. There are many brands born from these cities and there are many opportunities for younger artists to find inspiration, foster com munities and explore forms of expression.

Smaller cities like St. Louis shape the culture of America with a quiet tenacity and these communities are pushed forward and built by the young creatives and revolutionaries that care for their city as much as they do their art. They’re taking a blank slate and building these outlets for themselves and the other landlocked youth around them.

In a city that has been deemed dying, dan gerous, or desolate by the outside world, St. Louis’ community building and city pride are

strong forces that brew from within and are unmatched. The creative youth are a bubbling force under the surface of this seemingly mun dane Midwest city.

For example, there is no “St. Louis Fashion Week.” Kids who want to pursue fashion cre ate fashion shows in skateparks or empty ware houses with their friends as models. There is no built-in artistic space or industry. This lack of resources really shapes people on an individual level. They learn a lot about self-sufficiency and building things from the ground up when pur suing their artistic ambitions. They also know what it’s like to be an outsider, because the goals and dreams they have aren’t necessarily accept ed or expected within your environment. The people around them may deem these pursuits fruitless or unrealistic.

The ones who push through that uncertainty and doubt come together and create a strong scene filled with abundant support and collab oration. They’re able to turn to those around them who are doing the same thing and are able to lean on and build off one another.

From a young age, this showed me what it means to be in a communal space where you uplift one another and ride for one another. This energy is unique and it’s the reason why people who have made it big from St. Louis, like Nelly, Smino or Karlie Kloss, claim and honor the city heavily. The national narrative is that Missouri is plain

and St. Louis is dangerous. When I venture out into the world and hear this narrative about the city that shaped me, I feel an impulse to stick up for it and the community that is still there.

There are no huge music, art, or fashion indus tries that reside in St. Louis. The presence of these communities is literally being built from these kids. They are resilient, unapologetic and fearless. St. Louis is the heart of America, phys ically and culturally and when you grow up there, you can feel the pulse in anything you do. You carry that with you. I’ve moved to New York. I know people from St. Louis who have moved to LA, New Orleans, Houston and Chi cago. The community, creativity and self-suf ficiency that you cultivate in St. Louis carries you everywhere you go. There is an instinct to uplift, honor and return to this city no mat ter where you’ve landed throughout your life. There’s a need to give back to a city that gave you everything and that need is so valuable.

So, when people say, “I’m sorry you’re from St. Louis,” to be truthful, I feel sorry for them. There is a magical region of the country that people have wrongly judged and cast aside. There is so much to be learned, appreciated and honored within these spaces and communities. It’s time to start acknowledging and uplifting the voices of these youth and the culture that they are energizing.

Illustration by Aleksey Nisenboym (Illustration ‘23)

THE LUXURY RAT-RACE: IS IT WORTH THE UNPAID INTERNSHIP?

by Charlie Kam (ITM ‘23)

I’ve cycled through nine fashion internships this past year — ranging from PR to HR, sitting on the floor in fitting rooms waiting for buying teams to leave to aiding in the hiring process of boutique/ corporate personnel. I’ve been yelled at by a customer over an ankle strap THEY lost and had to bike to the Box Hotel in Greenpoint from Soho and back because my internship was really unpaid. After every frustrating moment, I still feel the rush I felt when I was 14 walking into a showroom and seeing a new collection — the hours of designing, fitting, sourcing, embellishing and hard work that goes into the creation of a new garment is continuously inspiring to keep me pushing through. My friends scold me for taking yet another unpaid internship, but to be honest: why do I need to be paid right now? I have the support that pays my rent and gives me money if I need it.

The paid internships are for contemporary brands, or luxury brands that want you in the office as a part time job. Do you know how inflexible these paid internships are during the semester? 20 to 25 hours a week for $18 an hour, all while requiring you to be a full-time student? Be for real. The people you meet are honestly insane. The range is like a complete spectrum of the human population: I’ve met and befriended students from every university in the city. People who are older and more glamorous than my grandparents, children of celebrities. People who just moved here from the middle of nowhere chasing a dream of working in the industry, amongst many others. All of us have a collective goal to create beautiful clothes and garments to share with the world.

It’s important to be friendly with everyone you meet because you really don’t know where you, or they, will end up. Statistically, the more people you know and meet, the more companies and people you’ll have an extension to. So why wouldn’t you want to make friends? If you have four friends at one fashion house and you all move to different companies with teams of four, you all now have a connection to a total of five new companies and 20 new potential work colleagues and connections. Internships can last as little as two months. So, by taking that into account, your intern team has five interns and you all take a

new internship every two months. After one year, your original intern group could have a direct connection to 55 new companies and 200 direct connections.

Where do you meet fashion people? Everywhere. I’ve met PR coordinators on the subway hungover at 3am, models dancing at Paradise Club and corporate employees randomly on the street waiting for the light to turn on Broadway. The city is filled with fashion people and you don’t have to intern in order to make connections – just go outside and make small talk with people you think are cool. Maybe they’ll think you’re cool too.

Photos courtesy of Charlie Kam (ITM ‘23)

My first year at FIT I lived in Alumni Hall, just seconds away from my classes. FIT has a large percentage of commuter students, only 18% of students live on campus and 82% live off campus. Now, I am an hour and thirty minutes away from my class es. I have become part of the NJ transit commuter community. A train departs a few yards from my home every hour or so. An expansive selection of characters run these south bound trains. Most of them, commuters to New York like my self. There’s floods of men dressed in light blue dress shirts and old spice cologne, la dies who run swiftly with bags and bags and more bags, peo ple fold newspapers under their armpits and pesky folk yap away on their phones.

The remainder of us read, rest, or watch something on our phones. Anything to make the time go by faster. Sometimes, we stare out the cloudy window into the muddy water of Secaucus, watching the twiggy cranes take off and land into pools of brackish water.

The values of a commuter include, safety, patience and minding your own business. We have adapted to the train hissing and honking, the conductors clicking and jin gling, the three beep tones that warn you the doors are about to close and the ro bot women saying through the speakers:

“When leaving the train please mind the gap.” It is thrilling to just make it on the train, the ends of your hair getting clipped in the closing doors, entering a car of maroon seats and city workers. Before departure, the conductors loiter outside the train entrance and joke. I’m sure they talk about us – the commuters. They are separate from us. They are our teachers and we are the students, we are on their terms. The train is our mother, we sit in

by Lily Walsh (FBM ‘23)

her belly and she brings us home, to work, to school, to Secaucus. We are mutually in sympathy with one another, sharing a few minutes, maybe hours a day together.

Andrew Lee (Fashion Business Manage ment ‘24) is also a commuter. He travels from Flushing to Manhattan for school and work. Andrew is an experienced com muter, commuting for 4 years now. He browses through clothing items, articles or watches netflix shows.

Fellow FIT commuter student, Juliette Dunn (Fashion Business Management ‘24) travels from Astoria. In the Fall of 2021, she had a much longer commute of

2 hours from eastern Long Island. She has been commuting for about a year and pre vious to that, we lived together in Alumni Hall. I asked her what she does to pass the time on her commute. Since her com mute is much shorter, she usually will just “go on TikTok ‘’ or just “listen to music on the subway.” Juliette doesn’t love the early wake up, but admits that it can be nice to have that time to do other things.

I look on the bright side and enjoy the simple things. I get to watch the sunset as we leave the sta tion, I have time to read and write and I save money on housing costs. It is a bittersweet feeling leaving the campus and boarding a train. I’ve gotten used to my routine and I value my time more. My perspective has changed about commut ing and I respect my fellow commuters. I don’t envy those who live close to school. We all have the same goal: to get some where.

We have an unspoken community, us commuters. There is mutual support and understanding, as well as gratitude for public transportation. When you look around campus, we see students, but there is depth to their day, where they came from and where they have to go next. In New York it is a never ending pace of life. Commuting into this city is worth it.

Illustration by Sarah Piccinini (Illustration ‘25)

TO EVALUATE (VARIETY):

LOCATION.............25TH AND 7TH AMBIANCE..................VINTAGE, CLASSIC, SLIGHTLY CORPORATE WORKABLE.......................YES INDIVIDUALITY......HIGHLY ETHICAL LY SOURCED COFFEE DIVERSE...............TO AN EXTENT TASTE OF COFFEE/ESPRESSO: GOOD ETHICALITY...................HIGHLY ETHICAL, DIRECT RELATIONSHIPS WITH FARMERS, TREATED AND PAID FAIRLY, SOURCE FROM SMALL INDE PENDENT FARMERS AND ROASTERS MATERIALS..............PAPER AND PLASTIC, RECYCLABLE BUT STILL TRASH PRODUCING PRICE RANGE........................$ BATHROOMS......................YES NOISE LEVEL.....................LOW (SOFT MUSIC, OCCASIONAL PEOPLE TALKING) OPEN LATE........................YES SPECIALTY DRINK.............NONE

Photos courtesy of Kashi Nanavati (Communication Design ‘25)

Suburbia Women Prosper in the

Big City

by Lillian Dixon (ITM ‘22)

Igrew up in a small antiquey town in Massachusetts. My mother dressed me in corduroy skirts and vintage plaid shirts. Polo matches, suede shoes and tennis skirts were my norm. So,when I got to New York and walked onto FIT’s campus for the very first time, I was fascinated with what stood in front of me: girls wearing baggy jeans, boys in long skirts ,sequins, dazzling pearls, sweater vests and 12-inch stilettos . I had never seen any thing like it. Each person was so alluring and exquisite and so rare, that even the most minimalist girl from sub urbia Massachusetts could feel inspired.

“My parents loved dressing me in skirts and all pink, they were very excited to finally have a girl”- Kana Yamamoto, AMC ‘23

Growing up in Hiroshima, Japan, Yamamoto found it difficult to stand out. In this homogeneous society, ev eryone wears similar things, starting as early as elemen tary school. Students wear uniforms, have black hair and wear a black hair tie. There’s a saying: The stake that sticks out gets hammered down, basically meaning, things will go smooth if you don’t stand out. Moving to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, Yamamoto has been able to dress for herself and not the social norm. She has immersed herself in different sub cultures and has been influenced by everything around her, helping to “build [her] dream wardrobe.”

“FIT culture is the opposite of where I’m from… it embraces style standing out” - Ingrid Hrobuchak, FBM ‘23.

Love it or hate it, New York City’s “mind your business” attitude is what we are best known for here at FIT. This, in Hronbuchak’s opinion, is the best part of living here because you never really stand out and you definitely don’t feel judged. If you’re getting stares, it’s out of admi ration. The exact opposite from the stuffy suburbia town that she grew up in in Pennsylvania.

“I get to use some of my older pieces again. I get to reclaim them” - Rebecca Yoo, AMC ‘23

Rebecca sees some “crazy outfits” on campus and al though they may not always appeal to her specifically, it always starts a conversation. While growing up in the suburbs of Houston in the early 2000s, all styles being “similar,” having a sense of self wasn’t necessarily “com mon ground.” Now, years later, she gets to use some of her older pieces again by styling and upcycling, making them her own.

“A lot of us think we’re going to be the next Andre Leon Talley or Anna Wintor for god’s sake.” - Connor Griffin, AMC ‘24

Griffin explains that sure, you can wear whatever you want at FIT, but, “kids are gonna judge you,” just not in the way that you may think. It’s like an episode of Project

Runway, the best of the best are all put in the same room. As a trans woman, she experiences great support from FIT as compared to the small upstate New York commu nity where she grew up. However, apart from creating an identity that is beyond sleek, she’s also a realist. Griffin didn’t fail to call bs where she sees it: she has been mis gendered “almost everyday” by her professors. She then goes on to explain that sure, you can wear whatever you want at FIT, but, “kids are gonna judge you,” just not in the way that you may think.

There are things I’d like to tell the younger versions of Yoo, Griffin, Yamamoto, and Hrobuchak. The kids who felt pressure to dim their lights. The kids who learned to cater to the men in their life diligently, hoping to please a gaze. The kids who want people to mind their own damn business.

I would tell them that although they are going through something, they shouldn’t be afraid. I would tell them that I’m proud of their curiosity for their masculine side or feminine side. I would tell them to keep going.

So, if you grew up in a small suburban American town, a small city in Japan, or even New York itself, pressure to conform is part of all of our stories and our commonal ities began with our cravings for authenticity, grit, and the unrelenting courage to claim our own identities, to form our own narratives.

Illustration by Nini Ergashzoda (Illustration ‘25)

The Ultimate College Checklist (‘After Covid-19’ Edition)

by Kriti Nagar (Communication Design ‘23)

When the pandemic hit us, we hit a new low. Social distancing made us forget how to socialize, wearing a mask made us mask our emotions and the initial fun of time-off during lock down turned into frustration. This checklist pretty much sums up the awkward phase we had to deal with while trying to disconnect from the online world and reconnect in real life. Let’s see how many conversation starters you can tick off to get back into the swing of things!

o “Welcome to New York!”– Getting lost in this matchbox city ALL. THE. TIME.

o “Wait, how many labs does our col lege have?”– Low-key need a map to help you navigate around college.

o “Ugh, why do I have to wear pants?”– Looking well-dressed once a week, wearing pajamas on other days.

o “Pizza for lunch? Not again!”–Tired of having restaurant (or dining hall/ cafeteria/ non-home) food.

o “Are they in our class?”– Awkward ly staring at everyone trying to figure out who they are because they’re wear ing masks.

o “I think I’m an ambivert?”– Con stant urge of wanting to be noticed and wishing you were invisible at the same time.

o “It’s complicated.”– Having online friends who ignore you in real life and offline friends who don’t text you when you get back home.

o “Wrong way on the subway.”– Hav ing freedom is liberating but scary at the same time (also read: Adulting).

o “I have my priorities straight.”–Skipping classes one day and cancel ing plans the other.

o “Drinks are meals.”– Hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot water.

o “Mood swings? No, just weather swings.”– Summer during the day, winter during the night.

o “Oh no, our assignment is due tomorrow!”– Accidentally taking a 4-hour long nap.

o “I am a material gworl.”– Too many bills to pay, not enough dollar bills.

o “Sit still, look pretty.”– Fit check in FIT.

o “The city that never sleeps.”– Won dering why everything closes at 7 pm! (Thank god for Taco Bell)

o “Text me when you get home.”–Scary subways, scary streets

Illustration by Aleksey Nisenboym (Illustration

3 Ways To Network As A College Student & Why

While New York is truly a city like no other, we as college students share a com mon struggle in trying to create a name for ourselves amongst eight million peo ple. The ability to network is imperative to being able to stand out. At FIT, I’ve learned the importance of utilizing Linke dIn, connecting at brand events and find ing internships..

One of my favorite ways to network with people in any industry is LinkedIn. A lot of people don’t talk about LinkedIn and they think that it’s strictly just for ap plying for jobs or internships. In reality, there are so many people you can con nect with on Linkedin that can lead you to your dream job or teach you new skills that you didn’t know before.

I’ve recently been using Linkedin to search for a job in my desired field. I typed in similar job titles, favorite brands and as people appeared in my search results, I sent them a connection request. Within these connection requests, I sent a note attached saying that I would love to con nect, chat and possibly learn if there are any open roles at their company or if they know that they can refer me to. Although I did get a lot of rejections, I did have a few people get back to me who said that they would love to chat. One person even connected me with an employee on their

company’s team to submit my resume. If I never reached out, I wouldn’t have been given the opportunity to connect and in teract with people from one of my dream brands.

If you are looking to build your network, you can start by searching for jobs that you are interested in and then the name of your dream company to work for. Af ter this, scroll through everybody who you think may be interesting to connect with and send them a request with a personal message attached. LinkedIn is a platform that so many college students need to take advantage of because, after graduation, it allows the opportunity to already have a strong foundation of contacts when be ginning your job search.

Another one of my favorite ways to make connections is by attending brand events. I’ve started to post much more on my so cial media accounts, which has attract ed the attention of many of my favorite brands. Whenever there are any small events or launches in New York, they will send me an email and ask if I would like to attend, simply just to attend. At these events, I try to meet the hosts in order to introduce myself, ask how they got their job and ask to exchange contact informa tion. I will usually send a text or email the following day thanking them for taking

the time to invite and talk to me. Depend ing on how much we were able to con verse, I might also ask them to meet over brunch to develop that relationship.

I used to be a super shy person. The last thing that I wanted to do was talk to a stranger, let alone go to events surround ed by a bunch of them. In the end, it taught me how to get outside of my com fort zone.Now I have no problem going up to brand reps or associates.. I love talking and getting to know them. I also ask them if they have any advice or open roles.. These people might remember you in the future if they continue to invite you to more events. You can reach out and ask if they are hiring, or if they know anyone that can send you their information.

The last tip for networking in New York, is pitching yourself to companies or brands that you are interested in. Batch up a bunch of emails for brands that you really love, and pitch yourself to them. This is another great way to stand out from those that are simply applying through the online job posting.

You’ll most likely find an email to reach out to for people at your top company,. Sometimes, you might be able to guess an email only knowing a name, as the struc ture of email addresses are relatively sim ilar from company to company. When I pitch myself in these emails, I attach my résumé and give a little introduction about myself: where I go to school, my current year , replace with extracurricu lars and why I would love to work with them. I also ask that, if they are not part of the hiring process, they could forward my email to someone at the company who is.

When I’m writing emails, one of my favor ite tips is to include an email signature. This tops it off. (Canva has this feature for free). It’s about being that one per son in their inbox. Networking in one of the busiest and most bustling cities in the world can have its advantages, and when you take the first step to go towards your goals and dreams, you never know what can happen. That’s the fun of it all. Af ter reading this, make a list of what you want to accomplish in the next month, six months or even a year. Write it down. Do everything you can to follow your goals and see where you’ll be in a few months from now. Life is too short not to try.

DOg parks

by Clara Oates (AMC ‘24)

Four tiny paws hit the concrete of the sidewalk in search of an unknown destination. The endless tide of people rushing around the city is parted by the small black nose and eager eyes that search through the crowd. Tail wagging along with each step, that nose picks up the scent of the happiest place on earth: the dog park.

To a city dog, the dog park is a dream. Bright green tennis balls fly through the air with a stampede of dogs chasing behind. The first to catch the ball triumphantly runs with their prize and stands atop the grassy hill, looking out over all the other pets running around below. A friendly golden retriever collides with a clumsy corgi puppy.

The gentle giant softly plays with the puppy while their owners watch from a distance. As the play gets too rough, the humans intervene to pull the eager corgi away from the oblivious retriever. The owners share a laugh at the corgi’s determined resilience.

Small interactions like this can be seen in multitudes around Jemmy’s Dog Run in Madison Square Park. The newly renovated dog park reopened this September and is the neighborhood meeting place for dogs and dog lovers alike. The dog run features a wide green turf for the dogs to chase, tall mounds to climb and even water trenches to cool off. Separated into areas for big and small; the dog run welcomes furry friends from short legged dachshunds to towering dobermans.

The dog park welcomes more than just furry friends. On a Saturday morning in Madison Square Park, there is always a crowd surrounding the gates of the dog park. Walkers stop by to smile and point out their favorites inside the park. Some of the people in the crowd came to the park just to watch the dogs and drink their coffee, which happens to be one of my

favorite pastimes. Whatever brings you to the park, the dog park has a magical power to draw people in.

Whether you are a dog parent or just a dog lover, you can feel a sense of community at the dog park. With the simple question, “Can I pet your dog?” you can dive into unsuspecting conversations or just acknowledge the connection you feel in your love for dogs. Especially for those of us that have left our furry best friends at home while at school, visiting this oasis and being surrounded by wagging tails is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. So the next time you head out on a walk with friends or even solo, walk just a few blocks from FIT to the dog park at Madison Square Park. One piece of advice from a frequent dog park visitor, is to try to get a spot near the entrance gate. This spot is prime real estate for saying “Hello” to all the puppies as they are heading home.

Illustration by Roxenne Contreras (Illustration ‘23)

As an FIT student, you’re probably used to the amount of things that are “gate kept” at this school… things that people or groups try to limit access to. Everyone has their favorite bathroom on campus that no one else uses and I know a few com muters who won’t tell me where they like to hide out between classes. It’s all good, we all need something for ourselves, a spe cial space to call our own—but I’m here to let you in on a few secrets and “unlock the gate” on FIT’s Best Kept Resources.

I asked a few students and a few trusty employees from FIT’s Student Life office (did you know that existed?) for some things they think FIT students often over look—resources that have yet to be un locked by the masses. If any of these are your secret, don’t fret, there’s more than enough to go around. I bring to you, FIT’s Best Kept Resources.

A SWEET ESCAPE

The 6th floor library is the perfect place to be ALONE. Not to mention there’s a small photo studio available to all students you can use for school projects or just for fun… first come, first served!

PUT

A CORQ IN IT

If you always miss out on FIT’s hottest lineup of community events, download the CORQ app! Take a friend to the next movie screening or sound bath session!

FIT’S BEST KEPT RESOURCES

by Lonnie Brown (AMC ‘23)

THEY’RE GR-R-REAT

Most student jobs aka Tiger Leaders start the hiring process the semester before the placement. So if you want a coveted Student Life Assistant job or want to be an Orientation Leader next semester, check in towards the end of the semester to get in on the hiring process!

@studentlife_fit

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Peer mentors are available for students who want some guidance through their time here at FIT! Meet with your mentor once a week to chat or get advice, whatever you need for success!

@fitpeermentoring

SAFE AND SOUND

FIT’s security team does more than just check your IDs. If you want to feel more safe on your walk home, public safety will accompany you to the subway or Penn Station upon request. Just give them a call 212-217-7777.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Group fitness classes happen every week. Have no fear, the classes are fit for any level of skill. Try spin with Aubrey Brown or Cardio with Monica Lessard!

@fitathletics

FOR PLAYLIST MAKERS ONLY…

WFIT is our own official radio and broad casting station at FIT. On Thursdays from 1-2pm their resident DJ Autumn can teach you to spin! @wfitnyc

UP ON THE ROOFTOP…

FIT’s Natural Dye Garden, which is stu dent-run and maintained since 2014! Lo cated on the ninth floor rooftop of the Feldman Center, students and profes sors have used it as an educational tool–demonstrating an alternative to toxic syn thetic dyes.

SAVE PAPER (TREES AND DOLLARS, RENT A TEXTBOOK

The library allows you to rent textbooks for two hours at a time. Visit the stacks instead of buying them! @fitnyclibrary

SINGLE TAKEN HUNGRY

FIT has a food pantry, for ANYONE who needs a bite to eat or staples to support food security. With a wide variety of foods, including vegan and gluten-free options, stop by and grab something! If you run out of tiger bucks or just simply want a snack, the pantry is at your disposal!

@studentlife_fit

NO CAP!

CAP! is a student support program for FIT student-parents and provides a range of services to student-parents pursuing their degree programs: peer support group meetings, informative parenting discussions, assistance with supplies purchases and subsidized child care coverage for AAS students (only) who are eligible.

Line_Osias@fitnyc.edu.

Illustrations by Jessica Lyle (Illustration ‘25)

I have yet to feel a sense of community at FIT. Yes, the school tries its best despite all the commuters and career-driven kids. Yes, I’ve joined clubs and I’ve made an effort to socialize. But when tasked with writing about community, I was genuinely questioning how I could write about something I have yet to experience. I eventually decided to write about the history of POC students at FIT and how they built community at the school through volatile times. It felt like the right place to start to better understand the contemporary experience of POC students at FIT. What I uncovered was the past formation of a student community founded in pro-union beliefs that helped fuel activism on campus.

Sitting on the ground between the aisles of the school library, I flipped through the 60s and 70s editions of Portfolio, FIT’s yearbook that went out of commission in 2014. In 1969, students at FIT were complaining about how the congested escalators in Feldman always break down when you’re late for class. 53 years later, students still complain about the congested escalators in Feldman that always break down when you’re late for class. I also found that the engineering management club had only male members for quite a while. But what interested me the most was the short story on interracial marriage from the ‘64 yearbook: it was closer to the kind of information I was looking for. The pages with their heavy ink and vintage lettering made me feel more connected to the school than I ever had before.

When I googled the official history of FIT, of course, it was all about how well the school has handled its diversity and the achievements of its POC students. The institution will always talk about what makes it look good. I knew, however, from talking to my fellow students, that FIT still has to reckon with its inability to provide a comfortable environment for its “diverse student population” inside and outside the classroom. From kids haughtily announcing that race is a “primitive matter” to performative “wokeness” we, as a school,

have a lot of work to do. It took a true deep dive into the school’s archives to understand what was really happening on campus in the 60s and 70s. Unfortunately, with an injured foot, accessing on-campus archives wasn’t something that I could do, so the FIT Oral Histories from the digital archive helped me connect the dots. I would have never expected to find as much as I did, or what I did (some employees were more frank about the past than others). Produced in the 90s, these were pretty informal interviews featuring faculty and staff talking about their experiences at the school in the 60s and 70s. It felt like listening to the eyewitness accounts in the CNN Decades docuseries.

Anti-war, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, Environmentalism, LGBTQ+ Rights, Sex Positivity— America’s youth was looking for justice and freedom. It was a tumultuous period on college campuses and FIT was not immune. To understand what shaped the culture on campus we have to look at how the school got started. The Fashion Institute of Technology had humble beginnings: beginning on the top two floors of the High School of Needle Trades with only a hundred students in 1944. Thirty years later, it was an accredited institution with a proper campus of its own and thousands of students. The school, however, remained pretty homogeneous for a long time, with a mostly female and white student body. Yet, it’s important to remember that these students came from working and middle-class, immigrant backgrounds, many being first-generation college students. This was a school that had a big hand in upward mobility for both its students and its faculty. In the 60s, faculty were coming in from families with pro-union backgrounds such as Professor Joe Garofalo who would go on to form FIT’s union with around six others. They wanted to change harmful working conditions under the chairman, Lawrence Bethel and his administration but could receive no help from others in power. The unionization process began in 1965 and received support from pro-labor people on the Board of Trustees, such as Louis Stulberg and David Dubinsky. In 1967, the United College Employees of FIT was established as a part of the American Federation of Teachers. It originally represented full-time faculty and, by 1970, staff and part-time employees were included as well. Once the union was formed, it really allowed entities such as the ad hoc committee on race to be formed. This committee looked into racial issues at the school and advocated for the recruitment of more minority students and faculty.

It was at this time that the Soul Club and the Black Student Club were founded, with the latter putting out a student newspaper called Black Rap. One of the scans includes a sketch of the raised fist next to the words “Free Huey’’ referring to the incarceration of Black Panther leader Huey Newton between 1968 and 1970. The more I listened to the oral histories, the more I came across activism and collaboration between students, faculty and staff. These included protests against Vietnam, environmental and anti-nuclear talks and women’s rights conferences. The campus and the times fostered a politically active community. Run by Professor David Zeigler, the school newspaper at the time, Fashion Collegiate, would publish letters between the student body and faculty regarding issues such as teaching style

and race relations. There was a dialogue taking place, people were organizing and it was happening on campus. FIT wasn’t a bubble exempt from the state of the world: it was a community and a place that played a large part in people’s lives. Students weren’t hesitant to express dissatisfaction with the system, something that was encouraged due to the fact that the school was pro-labor and understood the need to challenge the status quo. According to world affairs Professor Web Boodey’s 1994 interview, things especially revved up in the spring of 1970 with the invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State Massacre taking place. This mobilized students, faculty and staff to form committees to engage in acts of protest. At one point a group even went to Penn Station to hand out flyers but were eventually removed by the cops.

Many participants in the Oral Histories talk about this strong sense of community and family at FIT during this time period. Many also allude to the loss of this feeling at the time of the interview in the 90s due to the growth of the school and the focus on hiring part-time. They discuss the significance of the union and of being a part of something constant that everyone at school could depend on. In all of this, I find that the depoliticization of the school is what led to this breakdown in the sense of community as well. The school I am at now feels extremely disconnected from the portrait I see painted in the yearbooks, the college catalogs and the oral histories. I go to classes that talk about how diverse foundation shade ranges will drive sales and how war affects the retail markets. We need to build camaraderie and community by helping and allowing students to not only develop a deep understanding of the world but also express their views.

We are being trained to go into an industry that is exploitative and problematic, not only in fast fashion factories but right here in New York City. With everyone trying to strike gold, it makes our students vulnerable to exploitation, racism, classism and sexism. We need to build a community that will support them, not just tell them that this is how it is. We cannot expect students to be cogs in the machine, accepting problematic behavior as the norm, especially when we have two buildings named after major labor leaders who fought for workers’ protection. Last June, when I came to the school to talk about an exploitative situation, I felt dismissed and patronized and I do not want that to happen to anyone again. I may have worked on this article for only a couple of weeks, but it has truly been months in the making. Relevant discussions about these topics can only happen on a campus where students are encouraged to be a part of a community that addresses issues, instead of sweeping them under the rug. We cannot allow fashion to continue to be taught as something that is apolitical. Fashion is political and this cannot be ignored.

INTO THE OF PSYCHE FIT

by Abigail Zwirecki (AMC ‘24)

“Look good, feel good.”

These are the words you may have told yourself as you slicked your hair back, accessorized your phalanges with your favorite silver rings, and put on your prized houndstooth blazer. We, as a strange but fascinating species, dress the way we dress in accordance with our mood. Or, we might dress to boost it.

Fashion and psychology are two words that have never been used together until recently. The idea was formerly known as the Psychology of Dress— illuminated during the late 19th century by psychologist Williams James at Harvard University. James believed clothing to be an essential part of our “Sartorial Selves”.

In our current century, a pioneer finally put the words fashion and psychology together. Not only that, but she declared it as a field— owning the trademark and patent of her field of study. She defines fashion psychology as the “study and treatment of how color, image, style and

beauty affects human behavior, while addressing cultural norms and cultural sensitivities.”

She is Dawnn Karen, A.K.A “the Dress Doctor,” The New York Times’ World’s first fashion psychologist and first female African American professor of psychology at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Karen tells W27 that fashion psychology is both a science and an art:

“The science psychology people were like, ‘Why pair such a trivial notion of fashion with psychology?’ Why marry the two?’” But Karen explains that “fashion isn’t just the labels, it’s actually really smart.”

According to Karen, there are two types of dressing. Her first theory, mood enhancement dress, otherwise known as dopamine dressing, is when we dress to improve our overall mood. Bright colors and fun prints can rid of that “blah” feeling.

Her second theory, mood illustration dress

(A.K.A. serotonin dressing), is dressing to maintain an emotional equilibrium— dressing to match our mood.

Karen admits that FIT students do a lot of dopamine dressing, but during midterms, examinations and final projects, we’re very much serotonin dressing. She can tell when we’re in distress.

One look at her class and Karen can determine which dress theory they’re using. “Oh, they’re not dopamine dressing today— this will most likely be a “blah” class,” she says. “Low on participating, dry in their vocal. Just blah.”

I conducted a survey to 35 students to discover what they think about the relation between the clothes they put on in the morning and how they feel because of them. Around 57% of students admitted to dopamine dressing. Feeling motivated and satisfied while wearing a fire fit is ideal. The rest, 42.9% prefer to feel emotionally stable by serotonin dressing.

Pick A Pattern FIT’s Favorite Fit Statement Pieces Keep it Comfy

Between glen plaid, floral and animal print, 53.4% of FIT students say that glen plaid makes them most confident, while 25.7% say floral and 20% say animal print.

42.9% of FIT students say loose-fitting clothes make them more confident, while 40% prefer structured clothing and 17.1% prefer tight clothing.

Of the three choices, 45.7% of students say excess jewelry makes them most con fident, and another 45.7% say a pumped shoe does. 8.6% say a purse or nice bag.

65.7% of FIT students say sweatpants make them feel comfy, while 34.4% say they’re evidence of their laziness.

Every FIT student has their own favorite mood-enhancing or mood-stabilizing fit.

Like Dana Flores (AMC ‘22), who says her ideal dopamine outfit is “a pungent red lip, hair in a sleek side part, oversized biker jacket, black crop top, black cotton wideleg loose fitting pants, black converse and a royal blue silk scarf.”

Serena Brown (AMC ‘24) prefers something structured and fitted to her waist— clothes that show off her figure but make her look professional always give her that “power suit” confidence.

Other students, like Lonnie Brown (AMC ‘23), prefer to be more comfortable in their favorite fit:

“I have these jeans that I’ve had for five years. They were my painting jeans during

Free People Count Your Lucky Stars Ring Set www.freepeople.com

quarantine— they’re about to rot but make me feel the most comfortable— like my body doesn’t exist.” Lonnie pairs their ideal serotonin fit with a striped tee with a heart-shaped hole through it (accidentally cut while doing crafts). “It’s cozy, it’s free and it’s me.”

“I like a giant, fugly, old person sweater with a collar underneath,” says junior fabric styling student Peggy Haas (FS ‘24) about her serotonin outfit. “Then, the smallest skirt possible, frilly socks, platform Docs, and my excessive jewelry. Most importantly, a tacky cheetah jacket.”

Karen advises that anyone can mix the items that they have by utilizing colors, fabrics and different textures to pair things together that normally wouldn’t. You can read her book Dress Your Best Life, which tells readers how they can

H&M Relaxed Fit Sweatpants www2.hm.com

dress themselves from the inside out by not only changing their look, but their attitudes too. The book is available in Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, English and Czech. Additionally, Karen runs the Fashion Psychology Institute®, the world’s first online institute offering courses in the new Fashion Psychology Field® she created.

Next time you get ready for the day, analyze the mood you’re in, and how that correlates with your outfit. Dreading midterms and deciding to go with sweats? You’re serotonin dressing. Feeling a little down one day and the thought of attempting a fierce makeup look turns you on? You’re looking for that dopamine rush. Try new colors. Wear a different fabric. Apply a pungent red lip. Get into your fashion psyche.

Professor Dawnn Karen Photo courtesy of Professor Dawnn Karen

Max Mara Orche Glen Plaid Virgin Wool Blazer www.saksfifthavenue.com

OSKA® Trousers Birda / BCI Cotton - Stretch Corduroy us.oska.com

Illustrations by Jessica Lyle (Illustration ‘25)

Glen Plaid Dominates

Kicking it Loose Brass Knuckles + Four Inches Sweats for the Win

new wave of creativity in berlin fashion puts a strain on business

A new generation of young fashion de signers are changing Berlin Fashion week and culture from both an aesthetic and economic standpoint. As a result of major trade shows pulling out of fashion week, younger talent had the opportunity to showcase their perceptions on the rebel lious nature that is Berlin fashion, leaving many to question the future of the busi ness and trade portion of the industry. Berlin’s fashion week which took place from Monday, Sept. 5 to Saturday, Sept. 10, displayed the works of nearly 80 of the best German design graduates from 10 different technical and art colleges. Col lectively, 11 different local fashion schools put on 15 different shows with over 900 different looks. Premium trade shows, which bring in buyers, decided this year to move business to Frankfurt Germany, giving much more jurisdiction to smaller designers. Spectators commented on how the show better reflected what is current ly trending in Berlin streetwear, more accurately depicting the overall spunky aura that is Berlin fashion. The seeming lack of commercialism at the show this year provided for more creativity and flu idity, however, the concern for economic sustainability raises questions about the long term profitability of Berlin fashion week.

The runway this year, evidently took in spiration from the underground club and rave scenes of Berlin, this is nothing new to the younger generations of Berlin as rave culture has been a part of youth ethnology in Berlin for generations. A lot of brands incorporated some common themes across the board, such as inclu sion, diversity, sustainability and gender neutrality. Designer Lucas Meyer for LML Studio incorporated a modern take on re constructed vintage and historical tailor ing in his collection for Spring 2022/2023. Everything from the model castings, to the collection itself, to the venue location embodied the artistic venture posed by the designers. Models were of all back grounds, shapes, sizes, sexualities and genders. A majority of designers chose to use all repurposed materials for their lines as well, giving an eclectic garb to ev ery individual piece showcased. Luxury brand SF1og gave viewers an apocalyp tic experience by strategically using an old World War two telecommunications bunker as the runway, while models strutted about with asymmetrical and deconstructed hemlines, fishnets and dark makeup. These fresh designs and fabrications from young artists drew attention on a global scale, however, young Berlin artists are trying to stray away from commercialization and the effect that big business can have on local, authentic creativity. Viola Schmidt, one of the two winners of the European Fash ion Award flash supported by the Fonda tion of German textile Industry gave her thoughts on commercialization interfer ing with her creative endeavors. Scmindt said, “My work was part of a project nev er meant for a commercial approach, but rather a conceptual one.” The fact of the matter is that younger generations are less concerned with commerce and more concerned with authenticity. This “rebel lious” sort of sentiment towards big busi ness and authoritative figures in general

by Emily Simon (AMC ‘25)

is what makes up the quirky, strident cul ture rooted in Berlin’s History.

Berlin is historically noted for its out wardly open mind, creativity and apos tasy, however as spectators commented, this was not previously represented in Berlin fashion week, leaving viewers un derwhelmed. Around the time when East Germany, which used to be known as the

written by emily simon

German Democratic Republic (GDR)”, was a socialist workers state; self expres sion and ornamental or ingenious ways of dressing was censored by the Communist forces in Berlin. Factories and food supply were owned by the people but in actuality tightly under the control of communist party insiders. This inclined 4.5 million to flee west over the Berlin wall. The state had total control over the factories that made clothing. The communist party em ployed designers to design poorly made, drab colored, ill-fit ting clothing made out of a synthetic, non woven, polyes ter material called vlisett. In response to the rigid control over fashion and ex pression of artistry, GDR teenagers would buy bedsheets, dye them and sew them to construct more fashionable clothing. Oftentimes, teens would smuggle jeans across the border or crochet and embroider clothing in direct

The issue with major trade shows pull ing out of Berlin and moving business to Frankfurt, is the fact that trade shows such as Premium, Seek and Neonyt are responsible for bringing in around 70,000 spectators and around 240 million euros worth of business to the capital annual ly. Trade shows facilitate the commerce of Berlin fashion, thus giving them a lot of jurisdiction over the timing, schedul ing and overall commercialization of the show. When the trade shows made the decision to pull out, this warranted a lot more control over the show to small business owners, facilitating more busi ness to customer dialogue. Perhaps this change was long coming. In 2018 it was a big shock when Mercedes Benz decid ed to not renew their sponsorship with Berlin Fashion week. Janina Waschkows ki, owner of NOVE, a maternity clothing line, noted the difference, “Since I started shortly before the pandemic and mainly operated online up until now, it was a great experience to be in direct contact with customers and exchange ideas with other people in the industry.”

With the growing dissent towards com mercialization, increasing push towards advocacy of creativity, diversity and au thenticity, this leads us to wonder about the future of the business of fashion in Berlin. From the small amounts of in formation that could be gathered about sales during Berlin fashion week, the numbers were sub par as compared to last year, despite the traction and attention the shows provid ed this year. Some concerns are that, sim ply, smaller brands cannot afford to reach markets in ways in which bigger brands can. There is a possibility that as a result,

defiance over the communist reign. The tenacious, daring essence that is Berlin culture, is dispersed all throughout his tory. You can see this for yourself in his torical and artistic context. For example, at the MET you can find Marsden Hart ley’s world famous painting “Portrait of a German Officer,” which is one of the very few Berlin paintings in the museum. This painting encapsulates the risky genius that is Berlin art. The painting itself uses mediums which were frowned upon at the time, to depict hardships of life in Berlin during the World Wars.

brands will start to tailor their de sign and marketing strategies to reach the same target market, selling ideas and aes thetics originating from smaller design ers. Finding a balance between publicity, commercialization, purity and originality would enable smaller designers to sustain a place in the market while also staying true to their brand values and make a profit to help grow their brand. Howev er, whether or not bigger companies will allot space for them in a crowded and em ulous market can only be determined by the brands’ willingness to put everything on the line.

written by emily simon (amc '25 )

illustrated by analise banko ( illustration '23)

Illustration by Analise Banko (Illustration ‘23)

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My work was part of a project never meant for a commercial approach, but rather a conceptual one.

“It was a great experience to be in direct contact with customers and exchange ideas with other people in the industry.

I know the feeling all too well, you’re sitting by yourself as groups of people walk by, they’re talking about the class they just came from, catching up with each other, or giggling uncontrollably at a joke. With each person that walks by, the growing feeling of loneliness becomes more prevalent. You don’t have anyone to laugh with or relate to. Were the YouTube videos about

How To Find Community at FIT

Never miss a connection at FIT: resources so you can reach out

by Darnae James (Entrepreneurship ‘24)

the school setting us up? Is our school lacking a real sense of community?

For many of us, it can feel this way for reasons like the class structure, synchronized club times and the school’s reputation for being more work-oriented. On top of that, the pandemic didn’t make it much easier and since we’ve been back many of us probably had to re-learn how to socialize again too.

Create a Connection Any Way You Can

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is not your typical college, as we don’t get to have the typical campus experience. Manhattan is our campus so it’s easy to feel lost, overwhelmed and not really know where to go

or what to do. There’s an epidemic of FIT students who yearn for connection. Sofia Santos (Art History and Museum Professions 2024), the face behind the Instagram account @fitmissedconnections has seen this first hand. Feeling isolated herself, she created the account that subsequently led to the pouring outreach of students who wanted to connect with each other.

The account has made a significant impact with its funny relatable submission posts and students finding their missed connections with other students. “I get sent random dm’s of people thanking me and expressing their appreciation,” says Santos. There’s a common theme among submissions. “The people who submit are common threads of what we’re all feeling.”

The account is a good promoter of events that would otherwise get overlooked. “The page unintentionally connected me with the community and other clubs,” Santos explains. “It made me feel more comfortable.”

This school has a lot of cool people and it’s great when students find others that can make the experience memorable. Go up and tell that person how much you like their shoes! If anyone rejects your efforts, forget about it and congratulate yourself for trying. Rejection is inevitable and the embarrassment won’t last for too long. Don’t fret, your people are out there, you just need to put yourself out there too.

Instagram is a great source for finding people and things related to FIT. A great tip is to follow FITrelated accounts and look through their following for more. Some good account suggestions are SAB (Students Activity Board) @thefitsab, student life who oversees all the clubs

@Studentlife_fit, BSU which is the Black Student Union @thebsuatfit and SGA (student government association) the voice for the students @fitsga.

Don’t You Forget About Joining Clubs

Social media is a great first step in finding community. While Sofia Santos brought students together

Many people are in the same boat with wanting connection so don’t be afraid to make the first move. It will surprise you how many people would love to have a conversation.

online, Masyn Williams (TD ‘24), creator of Breakfast Club at FIT, brought students together in person.

Breakfast Club is a social club for students run by students. The club is dedicated to help students connect with each other through fun bonding activities, like a human scavenger hunt where members go around the room looking for whoever matches a given description to find someone whose parents are also divorced. They also plan events such as field trips to the Botanical Garden and are planning upcoming events and collaborations with other clubs including the Costume Design club, RHA, Anime club, and Film Club.

“Our goal is to get students to collaborate more,” says Williams, who noticed early on how disconnected students were to other members of the college’s community. “For a lot of students all they do is go to class and go home.” Williams made it her mission to make FIT feel more inclusive and welcoming.

Illustrations by Cecilia Nevada (Illustration ‘26)

At its core the club challenges members to leave judgment at the door, come in with an open mind and be ready to mingle. “I want to make sure everyone is comfortable in the club, they feel the exact same way that I do, ”explains Williams. Ideas from students are also highly encouraged. “I think it makes others more excited about being involved in the school.”

You can follow Breakfast Club on Instagram @breakfastclub_fit for more information. Interested in finding out about more clubs? Go to the club fairs hosted at the beginning of each semester. Don’t be too concerned with the number of clubs you sign up for, still leave your email on as many lists as possible because they will be the ones to keep you updated on what goes on around the school. If you miss the club fair, find them on Instagram and don’t be afraid to DM them and ask to be put on their email list. Interact with clubs in any way that you can, they’re here for that reason. It’s also good to follow clubs related to your major for possible opportunities and for international students, clubs related to your culture will provide further advocacy.

Residential Hall Association (RHA). Affiliated with campus life and student life, the clubs main goals are to be an advocate for students and host events.

It doesn’t matter if you live on campus or not, there’s always something for everyone to participate in. “Campus can feel very isolated, it’s really important to do little events to tie the community together,” Nicole Kubinski (Advertising and Digital Design ‘23), Director of Advertising for RHA explains. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a town hall or normal event, what matters is getting everyone together.

The club emphasizes the importance of togetherness in each of their events whether it’s just little interactive meetups or bigger events. The Condom Bar and Block Party are two of the biggest ones they hold. “It’s so much fun and you could really just tell everyone there has such a great time, ” says Kubinski. Getting more involved in school events and club activities gives you a greater sense of belonging. “You really get to feel more in touch with the pulse of it all.”

Making the FIT Community Stronger

No doubt putting yourself out there can feel scary, especially going to a school with such cool looking people.

“It’s an intimidating group but once you immerse yourself in it you become part of them,” Kubinski reasures. “I’ve learned so much about myself and myself in the context of others.”

Once you feel like you’re a part of something the fears and phobias will naturally dissipate. Don’t separate yourself from others because more than likely they are going through the exact same things as you and feeling the same way. Once you realize that you’re not the only one you’ll hopefully have the inclination to seek others like you. To all of FIT’s clubs out there, put yourselves out there more to the students too, let them know that you’re here for them.

If community building is something important to you, prioritize it. Know that everyone is just as nervous as you are and wants to make friends as badly as you do too.

Over Medicating Society

Has the de-stigmatization of mental health issues and prescription medication caused a generation-wide dependance?

From ADHD, to anxiety, to acne treatments, it seems like everyone is taking something. As the conversation about mental illness has become less stigmatized, access to these types of medications has become much easier to obtain. While this de-stigmatization has aided many, it hasn’t come without its repercussions.

“I feel like the pharmaceutical industry is taking advantage of the rising awareness of mental health issues and is trying to profit off of our problems rather than solve them,” says Adderall user Tori Russell ‘25.

Now, while the de-stigmatization of mental health problems such as ADHD

and anxiety are great, to what extent has Big Pharma taken advantage of this?

The most common types of drugs given to teens and young for anxiety adults includes Lexapro, Zoloft and Prozac. For ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), the most commonly prescribed drugs are Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin. Despite the fact that these are the drugs most commonly prescribed to teens and young adults, the side effects for these drugs range from irritability, to loss of appetite, to memory loss.

Experiencing these severe side effects from medication as a teen or even as a young adult is worrisome, so how did it become a normal part of our culture?

It seems that kids today are more hopeless and anxious than ever before.

From 2009 to 2021, the amount of American high schoolers that say they experience “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” jumped from 26 percent to 44 percent, according to a new study done by the CDC. Obviously, this could be in part due to the social and political unrest, the vast amount of information on the internet that’s been thrown at us since we were children, and the fact that we’ve lived through two recessions and one pandemic before we could legally drink. But you would think that this combined with 20 mg of Lexapro would even out, right?

Prozac and Adderall user Noelle Meister ‘26 says, “I felt utterly powerless before starting medication, like there was nowhere else for me to turn for help. I don’t feel as bad as I did before but that doesn’t mean that problem has completely gone away either.”

A study done by the New York Times revealed that about half of the medications prescribed to those 2-24 for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were not even approved by the FDA, but that physicians have every right to prescribe them to those they deem it to be necessary.

And it seems that physicians have been doling it out more and more. An article from CNN states that, “exposure to common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has increased by more than 60 percent in US children and adolescents.”

The same New York Times study also found that 40.7 percent of those patients were also prescribed another medication for anxiety or depression.

Alyssa Serri ‘25, who has been put on six different medications for anxiety and ADHD says, “it seems like doctors just want to throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks. I understand they probably have a lot of teens coming in for these problems but for them to switch my meds eight times in the last two years just seems like it creates more harm than good.”

Not only is it just an issue of overprescription, but of abuse as well. According to The University of Roche-

ster’s Medical Center, “Many students wrongly believe stimulants will improve their ability to learn and get better grades. ADHD medicines are also being used to curb appetites for weight loss. Some also use them to get high.”

When high school and college students are overworked and find temporary relief within pills that are not hard to get a hold of, it can create a highly problematic addiction that’s very hard to cure.

Most students can get the medication from friends or family that have a prescription. But when people who do not have ADHD take this medication, it can “rev up the brain and body,” according to the medical center at The University of Rochester. When the dosage is not controlled by a doctor these stimulants can be highly addictive, especially when they are using it for the purpose of weight loss or grade improvement.

While these medications are necessary for many people on a day-to-day basis, the pharmaceutical industry and doctors should be much more cautious when prescribing anything that is addictive. Especially now when more and more people are starting to come to terms with their mental health issues and seek help from the professionals, we want to be able to trust their judgment.

Illustration byAleksey Nisenboym (Illustration

Illustration by Aniya Thorne (Illustration ‘24) (@niyy.niyyy)

“I named this piece “Happy Place”. I feel at home with my bunnies and no matter where I am if I’m with them I feel whole. I wanted to show that even though we’re in the middle of a forest with nothing, I’m still happy. This piece is also a tribute to Rudolph, the bunny I’m holding.”

Illustration by Andrea Heinze (Illustration ‘23) (@girl.whodraws)

“This piece explores the theme of childhood and growing up. I wanted to portray an older version of myself cramped/crouching in a dollhouse playing with a toy version of myself. It represents growing old, looking back on childhood memories, and realizing you no longer fit in this childlike space.”

“It was a sketch night event at the Society of Illustrators held on September 23rd where they partnered with Linus rescue and brought in some doggos for people to draw. The fuzzy brown one is Charli, the smoother gray one is Bailey. Part of the ticket sales went to the rescue organization”

Illustration by Aleksey Nisenboym (Illustration ‘23) (@artofaleksey)

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