10 Looks to Love From FIT’s Future of Fashion Runway Show

by Eddie Roche May 13, 2019

written by Eddie Roche May 13, 2019

FOF Critic Award winner, Special Occasion Jia Chen Shi walks the runway with her winning design. (Getty Images for FIT)

Even the most jaded fashion show attendee can’t help but be inspired by the innovative and sometimes just plain adorable designs at FIT’s Future of Fashion Runway Show. This year’s graduating class showed their looks at a show on Thursday night at the school’s Chelsea location with guests such as Ken Downing, Dao-Yi Chow, Kesha McLeod, Ruthie Davis, Yaz Hernandez, Rubin Singer, and Erin Walsh sitting front row.

Throughout the spring semester, designers mentored students across FIT‘s five specializations (sportswear, special occasion, knitwear, intimate apparel and children’s wear) as they created their collections, many of which focused on inclusivity and identity as themes. Critics this year included Thom Browne, Ruben Singer, Lisa Di Napoli of Tommy Hilfiger, and Christine Blaine of Ralph Lauren.

This year’s Critics Award Winners are:

Ciarra King – Sportswear
Hannah McHarris – Sportswear
Sifan Chen – Sportswear
Minsun You – Sportswear
Ariel Clarke – Sportswear
Samantha Berger – Childrenswear
Dorshelle Guillame – Intimate Apparel
Claire Serruya – Intimate Apparel
Jesse Doherty – Knitwear
Aldrian Diaz – Knitwear
Jia Chen Shi – Special Occasion
Gwen Hine – Street Style & Athletic Sports Capsule Collection Winner

The event also announced that FIT alum Calvin Klein made a $2 million, multi-year donation to FIT through the Calvin Klein Family Foundation. The school additionally received support from Brother International Corporation who donated over $100,00 worth of sewing, embroidery, and electronic cutting machine products for the students.

This year’s show included the introduction of a new Street Style and Athletics Capsule Collection, which was judged by Nike’s former creative director Christopher Bevans and stylist Kesha McLeod.

Here are some of the standout looks from the class of 2019.