October 2017 by W27 Newspaper

Volume 50

Issue 1

October 2017

MASTHEAD Andrea Navarro Daniel Nissim Editors-in-Chief

W27

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Kayla Renshaw Treasurer

ART Victoria Houman Art Director Lara de la Torre Photo Editor Ashleigh Spurgeon Designer

CONTRIBUTORS Helen Dang Shani Hashem Katherine Miles Adam Har Shemesh Anushree Sheth Soni Solano Richard Smith Lara de la Torre

Ellen Davidson Alexandra Mann Faculty Editorial Advisors

PHOTO COURTESY ADAM HAR SHEMESH

Dear Readers, We hope you’re having a good semester thus far. It has taken us a little longer than planned to get the ball rolling for this issue, but we are so glad about how it turned out— and hopefully you will be, too. Before we dive into things, we think it’s important to reflect on all the changes that have happened recently. First, a significant change in the operation of our newspaper: W27 now has two editorsin-chief. We believe this is a first in our newspaper’s history (at least in recent times) and we are excited about this collaboration. On a more serious note, the world has been going through many disturbing changes as well. From the massive destruction from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma to DACA’s ending and how it is affecting communities all over the country —and more specifically, how FIT is handling it— to the threat of nuclear war with Korea and the mass shooting in Las Vegas, there are plenty of reasons to be deeply worried.

But there are always reasons to be hopeful, too. This semester we are launching a new section called “Diary of an Intern,” which is as hilarious as it is informative. We know FIT students are always looking for the best tips when it comes to internships. Want to keep laughing? Make sure you read our “Eclipse Review.” Our cover feature this month is on Fashion Design Major Kaitlyn Hoban. Her work, and Heather Cullum’s eerie pictures will definitely get you in that fall mood. As always, we want to hear your thoughts. Please send us your feedback and tell us what sort of stories you think we should cover. Finally, we want to wish you all good luck this semester. There are many more changes coming your way, and you never know what exciting opportunity is just around the corner. Have a great semester,

Professor Albert Romano Faculty Advertising Advisor Andrea Navarro & Daniel Nissim Editors-in-Chief

ON THE COVER: Designs by Kaitlyn Hoban

W27 Newspaper

Photos taken by Heather Leigh Cullum (www.heatherleighcullum.com)

@W27 Newspaper

Makeup by Michael Shelton Thank you to our model, Kayte Reimer

@W27 Newspaper

www.w27newspaper.org www.issuu.com/w27newspaper

FIT

October 2017

contents ON THE BLOCK

HAUTE CULTURE

A Sitdown with Sonne Bajwa: FIT’s New Student Government Association President

Movie Review: “IT”

NYFW Volunteers Tell All

You Win or You Die: Playing the “Game of Thrones”

New Student Orientation: Cool or Not?

New York’s Reel Treats

MONTH IN REVIEW

FEATURES

Diary of an Intern: My Life As a Product Development Intern

Eclipse Review

How a Terrible Math Class Changed My Life: Kaitlyn Hoban’s Road to Fashion Design

Harvey and Irma: Hurricane Season

DACA: An Overview

FIT SPEAKS

HOFIT

Humans of FIT

The Gallery

W27 IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING. A FIT STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION.

Insta-Hell and the Digital Illusion of Happiness

STYLE ON 27

Style on 27

ON THE BLOCK

W27

A SITDOWN WITH SONNE BAJWA THE NEW FIT STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT BY JENNIFER TRAN Sonne Bajwa isn’t what you’d expect from a student come in with a legacy to carry on. government president. Hailing from Singapore, Bajwa is comfortable, very colloquial and sometimes By the way, there are now 22 members. I hope we a bit too casual. Yet, he’s honest, bold and confident can fill up the last two. Applications are open! in his abilities. He greeted this W27 reporter wearing a plain white FIT logoed t-shirt, dark pants and a Kermit the Frog cap. He was at rest on a fancy chair with his hands clasped — maintaining eye contact with me while he spoke. Here’s what President Bajwa had to share.

Sonne Bajwa: One of the first professors I had in my first semester was Professor Blumenthal — who is the advisor of the Merchandising Society club. He taught me in FM114: Introduction to the Fashion Industry. At that time, the club was looking for a digital co-manager to create an ecommerce site for the Style Shop. I thought the position was interesting, I had done something similar in the past, so I asked him to briefly talk to me about it. He asked me if I would like to interview for the position. I mean, I was a freshman. I hadn’t felt comfortable yet in FIT. I was, and am still, a quiet person. Even now, I usually only talk to people by need. Anyways, in the end, I decided to get an interview, was accepted to the position and built a team of 6 people with me and another partner as the other co-manager. After a year, we launched the site, magically, so now you can shop online. That was how I first got involved. I never thought I would do much more, but when the next year started it got crazy.

SB: FIT has done a lot for me. It helped me grow as an individual, and I want to give back to that community some way or the other. However, I also have friends who are dissatisfied with FIT. They said there is no community, no spirit, no events, which I am not even mad at them for. I know why they feel that way. Personally, I felt that the past administration could have done more…Sure, I was not in their seat, but I am now…People say there is no school spirit, but they don’t realize that they are a big factor. The act of going from one friend to another friend and saying that there is no school spirit — you just contributed to the lack of school spirit. At FIT, there are students who wish to come to class and leave. There are students who wish to be involved. Whatever path you choose, don’t hate on the others. W27: What are your immediate goals for the FIT Student Government Association? SB: I want the SGA to be united. It is simple, but it is a goal I really focus on. I am a confrontational, black or white person when it comes to work. If you did it, you did it. If you didn’t do it, you didn’t do it. Thankfully, many executive board members are friendlier, so they can keep me in check, and I can help them get things done when they slack off. It’s a good balance. I hope when the April re-election comes, 24 of us can move out and the new board can

W27: Can you tell me one thing not a lot of people know about you? SB: Before I came to the U.S., I was always the problem child at school. I nearly got held back when I was 13. The requirement to move on was 50% of the overall grade. I scored 50.3%. When I took my GCSE A levels, which is the thing they do in British style schools, I scored miserably, which was embarrassing. However, when I came to the U.S., I quit smoking and stopped a lot of irresponsible behaviors…I knocked out everything that you think you need to do in college by the time I turned 18. Occasionally, I still go out to a party, but the point is that I have goals now. I had my fun. Everyone in Singapore now wouldn’t believe who I am here. Everyone here wouldn’t believe who I was back home.

W27: When and how did you start to get involved on campus?

W27: What made you want to run for this position?

when it comes to getting work done, but that is only when I want to do something. If you give me something which I think is irrelevant, I have no motivation and will do the bare minimum. But if you give me something meaningful, something I am accountable for, that is when I get very invested. I can go for hours without feeling tired.

W27:If you could give one piece of advice to all FIT students, what would it be? SB: I always tell my friends this: live your life as if there will be an autobiography about you and people are going to buy that book. You are not going to write that book, because if you do, you lie. How do you want your story to be told? If you want to live it like you’re Mick Jagger, like Obama, or like the Kardashians, please do so. However you want to live it, prepare for it to be your legacy. W27: Can you tell me a bit more about your participation and triumph at the Infor/FIT Fashion Design ICONS Awards? SB: This was a competition introduced to me by a professor last semester. It was literally during finals week. I was busy, but still, I applied. My partner Kathleen Grey and I had three weeks to put together this business plan to sell a thousand dresses of a model designed by a FIT fashion design student in three months for Macy’s, then present it in front of some big figures in the fashion industry. The presentation itself was huge. My partner was working, and I was interning. We tried to bounce around it, came to school working from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. We presented. We won. The dress was worn by social media influencer Olivia Perez at the Harper’s Bazaar ICONS dinner, which was the official kick off event for Fashion Week. Since we won, we got to go, which was pretty cool. My goal for the night was to get a selfie with Kendall Jenner and a photo with 50 Cent, and I did. W27:You have been elected president and won quite a few awards recently. You must have been busy. What keeps you grounded? SB: The fact that I know I still waste time and do things that I like, like watching Youtube…I don’t do things that I hate. Deep down, I am pretty nerdy

*This interview was edited for length and clarity.

FIT

October 2017

*CASH ONLY | WITH STUDENT ID

FIT STUDENT SPECIAL! $8 DROP-IN CLASS 1 MONTH OF UNLIMITED YOGA OR 10 CLASSES FOR $69

(offer expires after 2 months)

BEGINNERS ALWAYS WELCOME!

Attention all writers and artists! WANT TO SEE YOUR WORK IMMORTALIZED IN PRINT AND DISTRIBUTED ACROSS CAMPUS?

W27 is open to featuring your work in our next issue Please submit samples of your work to w27_newspaper@fitnyc.edu

ON THE BLOCK

W27

NYFW VOLUNTEERS TELL ALL BY ANUSHREE SHETH

A new academic year means new possibilities. after the show and did whatever heavy lifting And in typical FIT manner, this means the that was necessary. coveted New York Fashion Week for a lot of our students. But what exactly does it mean AS: Did this lead to other opportunities? to be a volunteer at NYFW? VB:Initially, I had signed up for only one Dressed comfortably in all black and in morning shift, but after I got to the first show minimal make-up, Vaidehi Bagrodia shares the person in charge let us volunteer for all her experience as a first-time volunteer. three days. So your shifts aren’t always set in stone, and they are flexible about it. It led to more work opportunities, and I was also able to watch some of the shows since I was Anushree Sheth: How did you get a positioned in the front of the house. volunteer position? AS: What advice would you give to other Vaidehi Bagrodia: The Student Life volunteers? Department had two sign-up days a few weeks before fashion week started. They VB: Don’t wait around for someone to ask you also had flyers and sent out emails about the to do something. Go up to anyone in charge events, so it was impossible to miss it. On the and ask if they need help. Don’t waste time day of sign-ups, I had to wait in line for four waiting in a corner because there’s so much hours, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., before I could to do. The organizers are so busy, They won’t actually register. There was a long line and the find you to do something — you need to find 1200 spots available filled up rather quickly. them. Also, you need to get used to a lot of nude men and women walking around. It can AS: Where did you volunteer? get a bit awkward at times, but that’s just part of the job. VB: I volunteered at the Style Fashion Week on all three days. They showcased a wide AS: What did you learn from this experience? range of designers such as Mulan Breton and Marco Marco. VB: You have to be the calmest person there because everyone else is in such a hurry AS: What position did you initially have and and they’re all so stressed out, you just need what work did you end up doing? to do what you’re told or figure out what needs to be done at the right time and just VB: I was supposed to be an usher, but once do it. I learned how to work under immense I got there they needed more dressers so I pressure in a short span of time and in a fastended up being both. As an usher, it was my paced environment. Things need to be done job to place water bottles and flyers on the immediately. seats, greet guests at the door and escort them to their seats. Also, to make sure nobody AS: Would you do it again? walked on the ramp. As a dresser, I was backstage helping the models get into their VB: I’m doing it again this evening. outfits and make sure that they were ready for the runway. Essentially, as a volunteer, you are expected to help the organizers in any way you can. So, in the three days that I volunteered, I learned to do everything you could possibly could do as a volunteer. I dressed, ushered, cleaned up PHOTO COURTESY WGSN.COM

FIT

October 2017

New Student Orientation: Cool or Not? BY KATHERINE MILES

While the majority of the FITs 2,500 incoming first-year students are pooled from around the state, many are experiencing both New York City and independence from their families for the very first time. New Student Orientation is designed to help ease this transition by providing a week of activities that allow students to get a feel for the lay of the land and provide opportunities for students to get involved in the FIT community right away. To some, a week of sitting through awkward icebreakers and introductory talks may not sound worthwhile, but ultimately, is it cool or not cool? International Student Leader Alin Intravisit would argue “yes” — especially for international students facing “cultural differences, new regulations or even communication barriers.” Intravisit is a Fashion Business Management major in her third semester from Bangkok, Thailand. “I think Orientation Week is that one helpful know-it-all friend for international students. The Orientation Week creates the friendliest environment for international students to explore FIT, participate in on campus activities and ask all sorts of questions — from how to read your DARS Report to where to get donuts.” While leaders such as Intravisit nod to the benefits of the already-mandatory sections of the week, they stress the value that can be found in the other details. Take the Common Project, a collaborative scavenger hunt of sorts, for example. “I didn’t participate last year,” Intravisit admits. “I regret that

after seeing how much fun our group had this year. We got to know each other.” What about Explore NYC? Outside of the mandatory meetings, there were opportunities for students to experience some of New York City’s cultural gems all the way from where to go thrift shopping to where to get the best pizza. “Being an international student myself, I’ve learned that the two factors that help me feel most at home are fitting in with FIT friends and being comfortable in New York City. The transition into the community is more important than any information sessions,” Intravisit said. As a member of the Department of Student Life, it is Catlin Wojtkowski’s role to plan and coordinate the implementation of New Student Orientation. He’s in charge of everything from securing the Hammerstein Ballroom for the Opening and Welcome ceremonies to getting the permit to close 27th St. for the Welcome Lunch. Again, a week of activities may feel like a lot to some students, but Wojtkowski describes the week as being extremely intentional. “It may seem like a lot of stuff, but it’s pretty cool stuff,” Wojtkowski said. “I think the one main benefit of attending orientation is becoming aware of these support services and to get acclimated to FIT by attending some pretty exciting programs. Another benefit is meeting new people. FIT is such a major-driven school that your orientation week might be one of the few times where you can meet and interact with students from all majors.” Most of all, to Wojtkowski, it’s about community. “We hope that by the end of orientation that

PHOTO COURTESY SMILJANA PEROS

attendees, people who attended the entire week, feel like they are members of both the academic and social community at FIT.” Advertising and Marketing Communications major Colleen Gruszecki, 21, participated in New Student Orientation as a transfer student from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. “I can see the experience being cool for a younger audience, but beyond the core accouterments, the kitschy orientation was a little campy for my taste which gives it a firm ‘uncool’ factor in my book,” Gruszecki said. She felt that the program “lacked luster” and that many of the orientation leaders “phoned in their enthusiasm.” So, New Student Orientation: cool or not cool? According to Wojtkowski, the high participation level in contrast to previous years showed that FIT has raised the Orientation Week’s coolness factor. He says the program is continuously evolving and that they have high hopes for next year already. “Upping the fun factor is something we try to do each year,” he said. Aside from providing more academic resources during orientation, Wojtkowski wants to explore ways to cover topics such as cultural appropriation, exploitation and sexism within FIT’s areas of study in ways that are fun and engaging. Regardless of what some people believe, New Student Orientation Week has a something to offer for every incoming student. Whether you only attend the mandatory sessions, or stick around for the full week’s activities, Orientation Week has never been better.

FEATURES

W27

n r e t n I n a f Diary o

PHOTO COURTESY: SMITHSHELL JULIEN

MY LIFE AS A PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INTERN BY SONI SOLANO

Hello, fair readers. I’m Soni, a Fashion Business Management student working in the Handbags and Leather Goods department of a luxury fashion brand as the product development intern. All my prior work experience in this field comes down to a few years working in retail and one FIT product development class. This is what a day of my life as an intern looks like: 9:00 a.m.: I lost an hour of sleep because they needed me to come in early to the office today. I don’t mind, though. We are just starting NYFW, and they need the help and I’m here to learn. Also, I’m getting paid. Unless you are applying to the internship of your dreams, I advise you to only apply for paid internships if possible. 9:15 a.m.: Almost everyone in the office is either in Italy or in Korea doing business. I have a round trip MetroCard to go back to Brooklyn. Yeah, definitely not as cool. It seems like today only me and my supervisor will be at the office today. 9 something: I start prepping samples for market by labeling them with the proper stickers and removing the wrapping paper from the bags. I organize them by group on a table in the design room. One of the designers personally assists me in the process and even asks me what I want to listen to on Spotify. This is one step up from last week when nobody knew my name, and I was being called “intern” by everyone at the department. Casper the Friendly Ghost, who? 10 something: Once everyone gushes over the accessory pieces they brought to life, guess who has to put back all the bags in plastic bins back in the handbag closet? I do. There are over 200 bags in front of me. I’m curious if I can get an intern discount on these. 12 something: My supervisor realized that I’m Hispanic last week and needs me to translate directions to one of our handbag specialists. All those years of having my mom yell at me in Spanish have paid off because I can be of use. If you are currently taking a language class, take it seriously. You will be more valuable in the workplace if you can speak more than one language. I speak three, but they don’t have to know that just yet. 1:00 p.m.: I take an SUV with the office chauffeur to the handbag specialist where I drop off the materials for pickup later this week. I greet him and we get into conversation. I advise you to be nice to everyone and always introduce yourself, both in and out of the office, regardless of their position.

It’s a nice gesture and it’s smart to take the initiative in getting yourself known and remembered. Also, you never know who you are going to meet and when an opportunity for another internship or job will appear. 4:00 p.m.: I get back to the office. Now I have to go to several places in Midtown to pick up materials for a photoshoot and for the fashion show the brand will throw during NYFW. I know when I applied to this internship the job description never fully explained every single little thing I would have to do, but the one thing I wish it mentioned was how much time I would spend out of the office. If I had known, I would have focused on getting a much more functional pair of shoes instead of cute leather Italian zip-up booties. So, I advise you to invest in a good pair of shoes. Not the kind that will look awesome with that outfit in class or to show off on Instagram. You need shoes that will be kind to your feet. Don’t listen to me if you want, but my blistered toes know what I’m talking about. 6 something: My workday is supposed to be over, but with the amount of work that still needs to be done I continue to work as if I forgot. Now, if this was a class that starts to go over class time, I would be up and out. But your internship gives you insight into your future career. Working long hours and past your time is going to happen, especially if fashion is the industry you want to go for. I offer my boss my time in order to help them get more done. If this is really what my future is going to be, I might as well make this experience as realistic as possible. Plus, I want to look good and get asked to stay on for another semester. I really like it here. 9:00 p.m.: I say goodnight and finally head home. Remember that most things your learn at FIT don’t come directly out of a textbook. Your professors and classmates have real world work experience, so listen closely to them, ask questions and pay attention. I hope these tips are useful to you as well and you have great internship experiences. Work hard in the classroom and at your internships and success will follow.

Do you want to submit a page out of your intern diary? Send us an email to w27_newspaper@fitnyc.edu for a chance to have your story featured in our next issue.

FIT

October 2017

Eclipse Review BY SHANI HASHEMI

On Monday, Aug. 21, citizens of the United States witnessed the total eclipse of Bonnie Tyler’s heart At least that’s what I thought it was, until people started pestering me about the solar eclipse. The day was actually special because the moon was moving between the Earth and the sun — blocking out the sun’s light. Apparently, this was a big and exciting phenomenon and, as I’ve heard, a great excuse to host viewing parties. It was also a nice excuse to use one of the various Snapchat filters for your story or to stop in the middle of the street, preferably right in front of another person who’s on their way to class or work, and stare at the sun. But not directly! Oh no, it is unwise to look at the sun during an eclipse without those funky glasses that cost $7 in the most inconvenient stores. I found out later, after extensive research, that the sun’s UV radiation can burn the retinas in your eyes, and cause permanent damage and even blindness. I emphasize “later” because like most uncaring civilians, I did not pay attention to the many lessons taught throughout my primary schooling about how dangerous staring at the sun can be. I mean, it’s being blocked out by the moon anyway; the rays couldn’t be so bad, right? Wrong. Very wrong. I did not find a pair of those totally cool paper glasses in time for the eclipse and did not want to catch whatever diseases my friends have by sharing theirs. Therefore, I decided to throw caution to the wind and take a glance at the solar blockage that was just so important — a “once in a lifetime” occurrence that I just had to witness. It turns out that happens partially, as it was seen in New York, twice a year, by the way, to all those who were probably as innocent and uninformed as myself. Unfortunately, the sun’s electromagnetic radiation

was really strong and my eyes began to tear. What an insane feeling! I highly do not recommend it despite the cool factor you think you will achieve by telling all your friends that you broke the rules of safety. Trust me, they will just make fun of you for not being as smart as you pretend to be. For the few glorious minutes that I witnessed the eclipse, I can say it was a truly beautiful display of the forces of nature. Some may say it was highly overrated, but those enlightened ones who under

stand the majesty of the eclipse will agree that it’s so-so ratings were undeserved. It must have been those loony Lunar Eclipse lovers who tanked the Tomato Score. The eclipse was not only a way to make money on protective paper glasses or a justification for throwing a fun party, it was a promotion of the appreciation for nature — for which America is sorely lacking. It also made a pretty amazing picture if you got one as long as you didn’t end up with a melted lens. I sure enjoyed it and definitely learned my lesson, so I look forward to the next one — if I am still alive and visually capable. And don’t fret about the state of my eyes, considerate reader, because according to WebMD, I don’t have permanent damage— although I am showing slight symptoms of a fever.

10 FEATURES

W27

How A Terrible Math Class Changed My Life Kaitlyn Hoban’s Road to Fashion Design BY DANIEL NISSIM

You’ve heard it before: you never know what sort of experience may change your life. To some, this may be a dreamy notion. But for Kaitlyn Hoban, 23, a fourth-year fashion design major from Rockland County, N.Y., one class set her on a course she could have never imagined. It turns out, it had little to do with the arts and was ultimately an act of fate – pure and simple. Daniel Nissim: How did you get into fashion design? Kaitlyn Hoban: Ironically, it was from a bad math class. I know – weird, weird story. So I was supposed to be in advanced math, but everything in our school system upstate is very political. Some parent pushed for their kid [to get into the class] because there’s only “x” number of spots, so someone had to get bumped. I had to get bumped. So I got bumped out of advanced math, but I already had over a 100 average in regular math so they’re like, “You’re not supposed to be here.” So I had essentially missed a year and a half math with how the curriculum works. They stuck me in this other advanced math class with this horrible, horrible teacher who was always like, “Why don’t you know this?” She had a twin, and they would always argue, so when I got the twin the next year I was like, “There’s no way I can be in this woman’s math class.” The only way to get out of the math class was to take a fashion and textile design class in my high school, and that was it. I fell in love and started coming to Saturday Live at FIT.

DN: So you’re specializing in childrenswear, apart from the styles, what are the differences in the design and construction process compared to womenswear? KH: A) Everything is very tiny and cute. There’s really not much contractually different. It’s just smaller. Babies is very different. The patterns don’t look human. Everything is elongated and the little sleeves and pants’ are legs very short and tiny. They look like crotch seams as opposed to actual sleeves.

DN: What else are you studying? KH: I’m working on my Haute Couture Certificate.

DN: What is that? KH: Haute couture is a higher end version of finishing things. So you learn different hand finishes. You learn a higher quality construction like you’ll use more Hong Kong seams as opposed to running something through the serger. Or you’ll pick stitch a zipper instead of using a machine to put in a zipper. There’s hand applique lace as opposed to zigzag stitching.

DN: Let’s talk about your featured designs. You have some interesting fabric choices. Tell me a little bit about your decisions process and where your fabric is sourced from. KH: I kind of walk around the Garment district and see what catches my eye. I like mom-and-pop shops because they have a lot of different textures. Of course, everyone goes to Mood. Mood is where I get most of my fabrics because there’s such a great variety. They’re not crazily priced. You can decide what price range you’re shopping in. You can get the $10 a yard fabric or the $100 a yard fabric. I love B&J, but you know when you walk in you’re going to end up spending $50 a yard.

FIT

October 2017

DN: What experience at FIT, or through FIT’s programs, have you most enjoyed? KH: I really love the professors and what they bring to class. Everyone has a different perspective, and it really forces you out of your comfort zone as opposed to “this is how I like to do things.” Everyone has different expectations, therefore they get a different quality and level of work, and they help shape you as a designer.

DN: Have you studied abroad? KH: I have. I went on the study abroad trip with Professor Blackman to Paris, Antwerp, Milan and Florence.

DN: And what was that like? KH: It was incredible. It was probably one of my favorite classes that I’ve ever taken. It was my first time, ever, out of country by myself, and it was really interesting to see how different the markets were – not just from a U.S.-Europe perspective. It was different within the European culture. You could go to Paris and you could go to Antwerp, and say, take Zara, for example. They have completely different clothing in Zara Paris compared to what they’re selling in Zara Antwerp.

DN: Do you have some sort of job or internship outside of your classes? KH: I’m kind of a jack of all trades, unfortunately. I don’t know if that’s unfortunate, actually. Right now I’m working on practicum at Pastourelle for childrenswear. We’re getting to see how things actually work in the industry, and we’re going to design a line catered to that company.

But I also work a lot of conventions. I work the Renaissance fair. I’ve worked Fairycon. And that’s a lot of fun because I get to work with a hand silk dyer. His knowledge has really benefitted my process here [at school] because he used to be a professor at SUNY Syracuse. So he was a fashion design professor – both he and his wife have masters [degrees] in fashion. Being able to bounce ideas off of them has benefitted my growth as a designer here.

DN: Where would you say you draw your inspiration from? KH: Umm, kind of everywhere. I really like going to conventions, but sometimes you catch that eye-catching piece in the window or even just, as weird as it sounds, it just kind of flows. Everything kind of falls in place, and you’re like, “I like this design detail, but this is where the piece leads.”

DN: Where do you see yourself after graduating? KH: Hopefully working in the industry. As much as I would love eventually to start my own company, I think, really, the jumping point is to get a nice, solid job in the industry and really learn the process of working with factories and what goes into the whole start-to-finish process.

Designs by Kaitlyn Hoban Photos taken by Heather Leigh Cullum (www.heatherleighcullum.com) Makeup by Michael Shelton Model: Kayte Reimer

HOFIT

W27

HOFIT HUMANS OF FIT BY ADAM HAR SHEMESH

Jasmine Cabrera Major: Fashion Business Management

When was the moment you decided you wanted to go into this field? “I never really had a point in my life that just flipped a switch and suddenly I said to myself that this is what I want to do. It’s because I always knew I wanted to be involved in the fashion world that I applied only to this school despite not drawing or designing a whole lot. I mostly saw ‘Project Runway.’ Eventually, I realized that I wanted to be behind the scenes running the business side of the fashion world.”

Karin Azulay Major: Fashion Design Are your major and your passion the same? “Since I was little, I always knew that I was a fashionista. I would always put outfits and dress my family members a lot. I knew I wanted to do something in fashion design, but didn’t really know what. I took art classes in middle school and high school, fine arts at first and later on fashion art design — something that drew me closer into that field. After that, I took some sewing classes before applying to FIT and getting in.”

Jahi Bakari Major: Fashion Business Management

When was the moment you decided you wanted to go into this field? “Since I was 11 years-old, I watched ‘Rev Run’s House.’ At some point, I found out that his son later went on to create his own brand. I said to myself ‘If he can do it then I can, too’. Nine years later, I still have this dream to be in the industry or do something with fashion. There were times where I thought I was going to do something else, maybe in music or work with my dad in construction, but whenever I started to think about it, it never seemed right. Everywhere I turned, fashion was there. I did try once to start a brand name with my cousin, which later got shut down. But that didn’t stop us. Now, I’m using my actual name, hopefully to trademark it and become a brand myself.”

PHOTOS COURTESY ADAM HAR SHEMESH

FIT

October 2017

Each month, we feature artwork from FIT students. Whether it’s something you’re pursuing professionally or just trying to have fun with, nothing is too big or too small for The Gallery.

THE GALLERY Ayesha Wahid, Interior Design

@ayeshaembroidery is a fun little side project, a good distraction from my classes and homework. This way I get to create some fun art and can make a little extra cash, too!

Amanda Bueno, Illustration

I’m inspired by the fashion editorials that someone might see in a high-end magazine and I wanted to incorporate,or embrace the seemingly delicate aura of nature.

HAUTE CULTURE

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Movie Review: “It” BY LARA DE LA TORRE

Since its release was first hinted at by the film’s director in early January 2016, there has been no shortage of marketing surrounding the “It” movie. It, no pun intended, began with a flood of postings director Andy Muschietti’s Instagram account of missing persons posters. The missing people being local kids of Stephen King’s infamous, fictional town: Derry, Maine. Betty Ripsom, The missing kids, Richie Tozier, Paul Greenberg, Jonathan Chan, and Tania McGowan, were instantly familiar to any classic horror film fan and they knew what was coming: the clown was back. The first official image released in July 2016, six months after the missing persons posters, finally gave the public a good look at this new generation’s version of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Sickly yellow eyes, blood red streaks running down his cheeks and a cracked and caked white face — surely all the makings of a demon. The movie appeared to be fast accumulating all the facets that would make it one of 2017’s best horror films of the year. Or so it seemed. The film did not live up to the hype that has been surrounding it for over a year now for one simple reason: absolutely nothing was left to the viewer’s own imagination. For something to be truly scary, especially in this day and age where generally all horror fans have a “been-there-done-that” attitude, the best approach that could have been adopted was to leave more room for the audience to be left to their own devices and personal fears. Rather than pulling out and dumping every last

cheap jump scare, CGI effect, and gore-for-thesake-of-gore visual possible on the viewers, a less-is-more approach would’ve been much more effective.

Don’t get me wrong, the movie is worth watching. Because, at the end of the day, who isn’t a little afraid of clowns?

New York City’s Reel Treats BY RICHARD SMITH

There’s nothing quite like a night at the movies — experiencing the magic of the silver screen. New York City has an excellent collection of cinemas where one can enjoy the latest and greatest from Hollywood and beyond or gain an appreciation for film history and filmmaking by watching a classic. Here are just a few of them:

BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn)

Museum of the Moving Image (36-01 35th Ave., Queens)

Part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, these four screens focus on classics, premieres and festivals honoring unique motion pictures from around the world — often with the participation of filmmakers, actors and historians to be enjoyed in a state-of-the-art audience experience.

Dedicated to exhibits honoring film and television, the museum, located near Kaufman Astoria Studios, holds special screenings and festivals for all kinds of movies: mainstream classics, independent alternatives, and foreign art films.

AMC Empire 25 (223 W. 42nd St.)

Film Forum (209 W. Houston St):

This grand palace is a great spot to enjoy the hottest new releases in style. IMAX, RealD 3D and Dolby Atmos are among the powerful film enhancers the Empire uses on their 25 screens, and you can watch the action comfortably in leather reclining seats. Make sure you save up, though, because ticket and concession prices are pretty high. And don’t forget about the special screenings of movie classics and stage spectaculars from Fathom Events.

This SoHo house, founded in 1970, is an alternative venue that houses NYC premieres of various indie, foreign and arthouse films, as well as genre and director retrospectives. And don’t forget about the Film Forum Jr. program, which presents timeless movie classics every Sunday morning for the young and young-at-heart. This is New York’s only autonomous, nonprofit theater, and if you wish to help expand and maintain this legendary house, feel free to buy a ticket or make a donation.

Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Ave.)

IFC Center (323 Sixth Ave.)

One of the first institutions dedicated to the preservation of film and video, this venue is an ideal place to study and enjoy hidden gems — presenting more than 900 programs a year.

Located in Greenwich Village and operated by the IFC cable TV channel, this five-screen theater primarily runs independent, foreign and documentary features. It is also home to DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival held every November, as well as weekend programs dedicated to classics and midnight cult flicks, a monthly showcase for films by LGBTQ filmmakers, filmed presentations of acclaimed stage productions and so much more.

Nitehawk Cinema (136 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn) Hidden in Williamsburg, Nitehawk is a unique “dine-in” theater where you can enjoy first-run and repertory films by tableside. On the theater’s three screens, there’s the monthly Signature Series, focusing on different subjects and archival 35mm presentations. Foodwise, there’s outdoor eating and the Lo-Res Bar that serves a variety of cocktails and brews. Famously, the theater singlehandedly contributed to the repeal of New York State’s prohibition-era ban on alcohol in movie theaters, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo shortly after Nitehawk’s opening in 2011.

Of course, there are many other theaters showing the best in current releases and hidden classics, but these are just a few places where film fans can enjoy the best of what cinema has to offer.

FIT

October 2017

You Win or You Die Playing the “Game of Thrones” BY DANIEL NISSIM It’s been nearly two months since “Game of Thrones” wrapped up its seventh season and I am still on edge. With season eight a year or more away, fans have been left eagerly awaiting and fantasizing about the next adventures of the denizens of Westeros. We’re well into Winter, so if you’re not a “Thrones” fan, or you are still catching up, this is The Wall. Stop reading here. Season seven’s finale was satisfying but ultimately fell just a little short. Fans got their ship moments, some heads rolled and the battle for Westeros has crossed The Wall. Time moved quickly, a little too quickly at times, this season. I know Gendry can run and dragons are awesome, but that timing in episode six was ridiculous. Complaints aside, here are some of my favorite moments from the finale and my theories going forward:

changes may be just as important. There’s been a lot of talk about succession, and with Cersei’s “baby” on the way, Tyrion might have concocted some sort of side deal with his sister. Still, I doubt that a) Cersei is truly pregnant and b) if she is pregnant, she will live to have her baby. That flashback scene with Cersei’s prophecy has proved right so far. Once the gang finds a way to off the Night King, Cersei’ll be next on the guillotine. Speaking of Tyrion, what about all that weird loitering outside John and Daenerys’ room while they consummated their love? At first, I just thought he was feeling sorry for them in some sort of star-crossed lovers angst. Still, I feel like there’s something significant here. There were multiple shots of him just staring. While it’s obvious to note that every scene has a purpose, this one held the greatest air of mystery.

not Ned Stark’s son. He is the son of Rhaeagar Targaryean and Lyanna Stark, which means he is Aegon Targaryean — the rightful King of Westeros. You’d think Bran’s Greensight (his ability to see events in the past) would be good for more than messing up Hodor’s mind and possibly creating the Mad King. Maybe, just maybe, if he looked a little harder into the past, and wasn’t such an ungrateful zombie (Meera dragged you all the way home from beyond the wall and you didn’t even gave her a simple thank you), he’d be able to stop Jon and Daenerys’ incestuous coupling. Bran is much more tied into this story than many believe. Some believe Bran has, for better or worse, been the cause of many past events through his use, and misuse, of the Greensight. Is Bran actually Bran the Builder? Is part of Bran trapped in the Night King’s mind? There are too many theories, and I cannot safely speculate.

Jon, Daenerys and The Prince That Was Promised Love it or hate it, Jon and Daenerys finally hooked up. Their warm moment aboard The Love Boat has been coming for a long time — well before their icy meeting at Dragonstone. We’ve been wondering for years who’s this Prince That Was Promised. Many believe it’s either Jon or Daenerys, but I believe it will be neither one of them. The Prince That Was Promised, Azor Ahai, will be their child. Episode Six had too many references about children and succession to be mere filler. Also, Daenerys’ moment with Jon about not being able to have kids anymore was a little bit too on the nose for me. I mean, come on. If some witch lady tells you that you can’t have children, are you really going to believe her? She’s a crazy witch who basically turned your husband into a popsicle stick — not a trusted medical professional. For those of you who have read the books or done some serious wiki reading, you’ll know that Azor Ahai sacrificed his wife, Nissa Nissa, to craft his legendary sword, Lightbringer. This means The Prince That Was Promised will ultimately have to sacrifice their love to fulfill their destiny. You could argue that Jon would have to sacrifice Daenerys, or the other way around, but what if Daenerys has to be sacrificed for the sake of her child? Many significant births in the series ended in the death of the mother — foreshadowing, much? Seriously, why does the Lord of Light give eternal youth to that hag, Melisandre, but can’t bother to protect our heroes?

The Lannister Three Cersei has gone full blown dragon lady, and she isn’t even the Mother of Dragons. Her meeting with Daenerys & Co. went pretty much as expected, but the most intriguing bit might be her tête-à-tête with Tyrion. This is the first time they’ve faced each other since Tyrion killed their father. A lot is said on screen, but what is left unsaid when the scene

My favorite Lannister this season was Jaime, the Kingslayer. He’s not a bad guy. His incestuous sister has twisted him all up, and the Mad King situation was more difficult for him than the rescue of the Kobayashi Maru. Cersei has finally gone too far by backing out of her deal to fight the White Walkers, so Jaime’s headed North to live up to his word. Watch out, Lady Brienne.

The North Remembers Now, I know Littlefinger had to go, but I was a little disappointed with his sendoff. Sure, Sansa made a killer (no pun intended) move with the fake trial, but I was really hoping the writers would go on a different way. One of my favorite theories predicting this moment had Sansa killing Littlefinger in private, and Arya repurposing his face for her own ends — what sweet, sweet revenge would that have been. While the show’s version of events did not live up to my fantasy, it ended with a strong, unified North. Bran finally compares notes with Sam leading to the reveal that surprised no one: Jon Snow is

With only one season left, I am not very optimistic the showrunners will wrap up “Game of Thrones” in a completely satisfying way. They’ve got a handful of spinoffs lined up, so we’ll never be left without our Sunday fix of “Thrones,” but I’m pretty sure the remaining six episodes will not be enough to cover all the romance, war and intrigue left in Westeros. And with no clear date of when those last episodes will come out, I guess we’ll have to wait and see who will win the game of thrones.

MONTH IN REVIEW

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HARVEY AND IRMA: HURRICANE SEASON BY SHANI HASHEMI Every year, people in the Gulf Area must wait for Hurricane Season to begin. Even with the most careful of planning, you never know what might come your way when June rolls around. Tropical Storm Harvey started its destructive journey on the east of the Lesser Antilles on Aug. 17 with the islands in the Caribbean Sea experiencing heavy rain and gusty winds. A couple of days later, Harvey succumbed to dry air and unfavorable winds in the eastern Caribbean, even though its remnants continued to push northwest for several days and eventually crossed Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Once its remnants moved back over water in the southwest Gulf of Mexico, Harvey quickly reformed into a tropical depression. And then, in just 56 hours, Harvey grew from a regenerated tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico into a Category 4 hurricane as it fell onto the Texas Gulf Coast late on Aug. 25.

“That’s similar to a tornado, except this tornado is thousands evacuated the state, and institutions 80 miles wide,” said Jeff Weber, a meteorologist with such as the University of Tampa shut down to allow the National Center for Atmospheric Research. for the safety of its students and faculty members. Irma’s death toll is at 132, as of print. After that, much of South Florida was under a hurricane and storm-surge warning. The hurricane As if two hurricanses were not enough, Hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 feet of flooding along a Maria struck, and devestated, Puerto Rico leaving coastal area that spans hundreds of miles, and Irma many in need just two weeks after Irma. Providing ended up maintaining a Category 5 status for the additional aid was a tough concession for President remainder of its path through Florida. The islands Trump, and he does not believe the United States in the Caribbean were devastated by the storm, with can provide them with aide “forever.” So please, roofs ripped off of houses and airports destroyed; keep a lookout for volunteer opportunities to leaving natives and tourists alike stranded. Then, support the affected areas. It is in times like these Irma continued its path up the coast of Cuba, where simply lending a hand can change lives. ruining homes and flooding the island.

Phil Klotzbach, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University, explained that around this time of the year is the exact Harvey became the nation’s first major hurricane time you’d expect the most since Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida in 2005. powerful storms to form. Wind gusts from Harvey topped 100 mph in many The strength of a hurricane locations leading to the widespread destruction is determined by three main of countless homes and buildings. The maximum factors: water temperature, observed water level rise at Harvey’s landfall wind shear, and moisture in point was 6.71 feet at Port Lavaca, which lead to the atmosphere. numerous flash flood emergencies issued in the Texas metropolitan areas and Bastrop County and Warmer water and their nearby communities. atmospheric moisture give the hurricane energy. Thousands of people were affected by this Irma reached a top speed catastrophic storm and lost their homes and of 185 mph and then businesses to the high winds and heavy flooding. maintained it for 37 hours. As of print, the death toll is at 88, according the What’s more, Irma only Department of State Health Servics. The survivors of encountered more hot Texas are struggling to get their lives back on track water as it continued down after losing so much, and to make matters even its path of destruction, more complicated, the local economy has been approaching 90 degrees struggling to recover from the many lost businesses Fahrenheit as it moved which the government must now pay to repair toward Florida. So there throughout the state. was plenty of energy and moisture to keep it spinning Many students at this school who are from Texas quickly. The Florida Keys and Louisiana have lost much. Relief efforts are were badly hit, losing power still being coordinated through the Department of and experiencing intense Student Life with the assistance of the FIT Student flooding and powerful Government Association, so if you are looking to winds, with over a million help, stop by the Student Life Office for details on people evacuated out of the how you can get involved. It took a long time to hurricane’s direct impact rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in zone. 2005, but with the help of people from all over the country the state was able to get back on its feet. After, the storm’s path The same can be done in Texas. continued through Florida’s peninsula, affecting the Hurricane Irma was the next to hit. Its powerful areas of Fort Meyers and winds kept it a Category 5 for more than two Tampa. Although by the days, which made it one of the most powerful and time it reached those longest lasting Category 5 storms on record. Irma destinations it became sustained 175 mph winds which on average would more of a Category 3 be considered the speed an airplane takes off at. hurricane. Nonetheless,

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FIT

SEPTEMBER 2016

DACA: An Overview BY ANDREA NAVARRO On Tuesday, Sept. 19, a group of students, faculty, and members of the FIT community gathered on the eighth floor of Dubinsky Student Center to hear a lawyer, a psychologist and the director of International Student Services talk for an hour. Unusual combination, right? Maybe. The topic of the conversation: DACA. On Sept. 5, President Donald Trump ordered to end DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) — a program established during the Obama Administration which shielded young immigrants without documentation from deportation, provided them with the opportunity to seek employment legally and apply to schools and universities without fear of immediate removal. President Trump urged Congress to pass a replacement within the next five months, at which point the 800,000 young adults who currently hold DACA will be eligible for deportation. For many, this decision was uncalled for considering that according to CNN, the majority of the DACA recipients were brought to the United States as children and therefore didn’t have a choice in moving to the country or not, and the current immigrations laws make it almost impossible to change their current status. As such, it was natural that protests broke out soon after the announcement — with both Democrats and some Republicans condemning the decisions as “coldhearted and shortsighted.” Immigration activists and university and college presidents also were sure to make strong statements and offering support to students and young recipients of DACA.

Card which in turn would make you eligible for citizenship. However, DACA only provides support for immigrants in the country without the option of a Green Card or citizenship. In Goldstein’s words, “a dead end.”

Services office to help students during this time. Additionally, FIT offered to pay for the cost of a one-hour private consultation with an immigration lawyer of the Goldstein & Cheung LLP firm for all students and employees who desired to sign-up.

He followed up by explaining that the federal government has the power to change immigration regulations and that all states are bound by the decisions made by Congress, including immigration.

FIT also promised to not disclose the personal information and legal status of any student or faculty member unless there’s a lawful judicial subpoena issued by a judge directly to FIT, and how if that’s the case, steps will be taken to verify the validity of those subpoenas in order to comply with them. In that sense, it was said that “you can have a good degree of assurance that your information is protected by FIT.”

Even though New York is “very friendly” towards immigrants, both legal and illegal, it’s still bound by whatever decisions are reached in Congress. However, according to Goldstein “this is a good place to be in bad time.”

The overall sense of the session was one of reassurance: FIT is with you, we are here to help With the stress that a change like this could bring to you. And although statements like that were so many young people and their families, it’s natural repeated constantly during the one-hour meeting, Goldstein also stated how “skeptical” we should be of Congress’ ability to pass legislation in only six months. Despite having bipartisan support, the DREAM Act (first originated in 2001) has never gathered enough simultaneous votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the bill to eventually reach a president that could sign it into law.

that a portion of the time was used discussing emotional well-being. Susan Breton, the director of FIT’s Counseling Center, acknowledged the struggles that immigrant parents have to endure to get their children to a new country and how On Sept. 13, less than a week after President Trump’s said children are allowed to have mixed emotions initial announcement, the FIT community received about it. She stated that it’s normal to have a an email stating that the school has students “confusion of identity” that can make the Dreamers directly affected by the policy, and that the college feel uncertain, and could possibly affect their was working to support them and also keep the concentration, studies and personal relationships. community informed. According to a Sunday Review article in the New On Sept. 19, the school held a one hour info session York Times by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, “[illegal] to continue the DACA discussion. Erika Rohrbach, immigrants […] seem to accept chronic exhaustion, Director of International Student Services, low self-esteem, fear and panic, low moods and fits opened the session with a greeting followed by of crying as normal for the melancholic migrant Kelly Brennan, the Vice President for Enrollment struggling to subsist without being arrested. Older Management and Student Success, who stated immigrants are at the highest risk for mental health that the college was “committed to supporting struggles, having aged out of manual labor, with the community members” and wanted to offer grown children and dead parents, and being unable resources to make the transition easier on the to receive health care.” students and the families affected by the end of the program. With that in mind, Breton advised to “allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling towards this Michael J. Goldstein, of the Goldstein and Cheung, injustice. Your feelings are yours, they are normal LLP firm specializing in immigration law, took over and valid. Seek support, from your peers and to give a DACA overview. He explained, among professionally.” many things, that the main difference between the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education In terms of professional support, FIT was for Alien Minors Act) and DACA is that it affords committed to provide it. Rohrbach offered to host a path to permanent residency, a “secure and Support System Meetings every Monday from valuable status to be in,” that could give you a Green 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm at the International Student

He followed up by stating that people should “make use of the strong, caring community to offer support […] right now the most important thing you can do is be in touch with your representatives and tell your friends and family to take action. By calling your representatives you are letting them know that this effort should be their priority. They need to know how important it is.” And it really is massively important. When it was time for students to ask questions, most asked variations of “now what?” or “is there any chance that I can stay here after my DACA expires?,” — with some students even asking if joining the U.S. Military (a program in which, if someone signed a contract with the armed services, they could become a U.S. citizen after successfully fulfilling service) could make legal status a possibility. According to Goldstein, the Trump administration plans to get rid of the program. The sense of the questions was that of quiet desperation — young people who would try anything for the opportunity to stay in the country they grew up in and call their home. All around the country, young people and students are going through the same struggles and uncertainties. If you are one of them or sympathize with this issue, make sure to call your representatives and make your voice heard. The chances of a successful bill are slim, but it could happen, and it’s up to us now to make sure that the DREAM finally becomes a reality.

FIT SPEAKS

W27

INSTA-HELL AND THE DIGITAL ILLUSION OF

happiness

BY ANDREA NAVARRO

A few days ago I was scrolling through my Twitter feed, and I saw that someone had posted a picture of an article in the September issue of Elle magazine. The article was actually an interview with Dr. Aleks Krotoski, a psychologist, discussing the effects that social media has on our minds. Dr. Krotoski talked about the “Insta-Psyche,” a version of ourselves curated for Instagram. She didn’t seem very worried about it: “we’ve always been interested in how other people think of us,” she explained. “Social media is the latest technology to scratch that itch. […] Instagram is just the latest way that people are trying on an discarding different versions of themselves in an effort to see what fits and what doesn’t.” The irony of reading about this through social media wasn’t lost on me. I, along with everyone I know, am on it. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Tumblr — the whole deal. I like to believe that they are a part of my life, just not a major one. That’s a lie. I’m perfectly aware of the distinct versions of myself I present in each of them.

Some examples that I’ve encountered include, but are not limited to: selecting a new restaurant by how aesthetically pleasing it is and not by the quality of the food, thinking of the perfect “punny” caption for that event you will be going a week before actually going, buying props to visually enhance an announcement (i.e, buying shiny balloons at Party City to state your age on your birthday or spending more money on your clothes than on your rent because you don’t want to repeat an outfit on your latest picture), non-ironically saying how you “wished you had your personal photographer with you at all times” because the sunset right now would be a cool picture background and literally only going to a museum to take pictures with the artwork without, you know, interacting with the art.

Most of these things are inoffensive — just a part of the culture. But I have to wonder, what kind of culture are we creating for ourselves that’s basically based on creating a fantasy of how we Instagram is what I think of as the “accomplished” want to be seen by others? We all love one. In my feed I have rows of pictures showing my validation. Of course it feels nice to get life in New York from going to galleries and music “likes,” but it worries me that people festivals to volunteering in one of the prettiest are spending so much of their “real” bookstores in the city and once, attending a fancy time thinking about how to enhance fundraiser gala. It has pretty colors and the captions their virtual one that it has started to tend to be lines of my favorite songs, books or affect the way in which interactions and poems — often alluding to reminiscence and times experiences IRL happen. past. Instagram is also where I share my “artistic” side, from my poetry attempts to the portraits I’ve According to studies done by Flurry shot of my closest friends or the paintings and and eMarket, “It’s difficult to pin down books that I find intriguing. It also has my face, an exact figure for how much time occasionally. people spend on their mobile phones in 2017, but the simple answer is over four hours a day.” Let Not pictured? Basically, everything else that makes that sink in. No wonder we are bombarded with life, life. I’m not trying to say that I’m insincere — it advertisements. Just this past August, Instagram is me. But it isn’t all of me because Instagram paints revealed that its users 25 years-old and under (their an incomplete picture of what someone’s actual life key demographic) spend more than 32 minutes on is. The frustrations, the insecurity, the anxiety — Instagram everyday. We are spending almost four none of those things are picture perfect. This isn’t hours on the app every week. surprising. What I’m saying isn’t a revelation. We all know this. But for the past couple of months (or Look, I believe that the opportunities granted by years…) this feeling that everyone I know (and don’t social media are unparalleled. They allow for real know) is carefully curating their lives to fit a screen interactions and connections — giving a platform has slowly, but surely, started to unsettle me. for unheard voices and helping us understand the differences of other human experiences. Our thoughts can be communicated in uncensored ways in real time, which can be as empowering and powerful as it can be potentially damaging — as shown by the new instant information-sharing culture that normally leads to what we now know as “fake news”.

“I’m perfectly aware of the distinct versions of myself I present in each platform.”

Let me explain: I don’t think the problem is that people are curating their Instagram feeds. Who would actually, truly, want to know everything about our lives? I think oversharing that much would probably land you the “hopeless narcissist” label faster than you can double-tap your favorite influencer’s latest post. Putting that aside, I believe the real issue is that people are now purposely curating their actual lives to maximize their amounts of likes.

What I want to know is when social media shifted from something that was fun to a tool that carries social currency. I know many people that compare their own levels of happiness and success to what their friends and peers are showing online — from fancy internships or jobs to the lovely new place where to get brunch, we all love sharing special moments. But what we need to understand is that it’s just a digital illusion of happiness. As singer and artist Marina Diamandis puts it, “some people are genuinely having a great time, and they want to share that great time with you, but they’re not having a good time all the time. And that’s the key to remember when we’re embarking on a scrolling spree into the darkest depths of existential hell at 2 a.m.” She follows, “we all have problems. We present the good parts of ourselves because it’s anathema

PHOTO COURTESY ANDREA NAVARRO to document the true nature of our lives, which inevitably consist of moments of disappointment, loneliness and embarrassment.” So basically, when all we are seeing are happy and perfectly curated lives, it’s easy to feel disappointed when our own don’t measure up in a similar way. But by editing our own lives, we are willingly participating and contributing to the unattainable illusion of constant happiness. I don’t really think it’s okay to measure your self-worth by your follower count, and I don’t feel comfortable letting “Influencers” (the very word suggesting a sort of manipulation) tell me what’s good for me. That’s not a healthy way to live life yet I don’t see myself deleting Instagram from my phone and disconnecting myself from my friends and everything that is going on in the world either. So I wonder, what to do once you are aware of your online persona and the lengths you are going for approval? If you don’t reach a certain amount of likes, will you delete your picture and post it again later when traffic on the app is better? Are you aware of the hashtags and posting times that will get you the maximum amounts of likes? Are you posting that picture to share something you love or to make people think of you in a certain way? Think about these questions. I know I will.

FIT

October 2017

STYLE ON 27

RILEY ANDERSON-LUSHER FASHION DESIGN

GIANNA VALENTINI ADVERTISING & MARKETING COMM

BY CARMEN LI, GRACE KRANZ & ANUSHREE SHETH

HALLEY DEONARINE ADVERTISING & MARKETING COMM

ALEX BOCCHINO

What inspires your style?

“Vintage shopping.”

“Eclectic, vintage and funky pieces.”

“Skateboarders and 90’s TV shows.”

“Yves St. Laurent. I saw his look of a suit with a sheer shirt underneath and I just had to try it!”

SHAMEKIA SHANTEL JOHNSON FASHION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

CHRISTOPHER KAN FD

JESSI WU KUO ADVERTISING & MARKETING COMM

LEON HERNANDEZ ACCESSORIES DESIGN

MAX KITABATASHI PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

ADRIANE TAN FBM

ENDIGO CHOI MENSWEAR

REECE LOU FD

Where did you buy your earrings?

What feels new about this semester?

What has been the best part of this semester so far?

What’s your greatest FIT accomplishment?

“Nasty Gal’s sales section!”

“I’m halfway into my career, so instead of being only a student, I definitely feel more mature and responsible for myself.”

"Taking Japanese is kind of cool. I’ve never taken language classes before and my dad is from there, so maybe starting to learn a language is the best part of this semester.”

"Actually, I have a show today for my clothes. I’ve been preparing for a design competition and today is the D-date, they’re going to showcase my work.”

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