Last night, FIT hosted its annual Future of Fashion Runway Show featuring innovative looks created by the top graduating fashion design students. The show featured designs from FIT’s five categories: knitwear, sportswear, intimate apparel, special occasion, and children’s wear. The latter always being the highlight of the show when adorable tots walk the runway. Throughout the spring semester, designers mentored students as they created their collections, including Chris Gelinas, Erin Rechner, Flora Gill, Karen Sabag, Morgan Curtis, Victoria Lambourne, Isabella Tonchi, Peter Do, Sander Lak and Sophie Theallet. Once the students’ collections were complete, a lineup of five fashion industry professionals judged the designs to determine which garments earned a coveted spot on the runway—think Project Runway for students! This year’s judges were Ken Downing (Neiman Marcus), Nicole Phelps (Vogue Runway), Lilliana Vazquez (TODAY), Diana Tsui (New York magazine’s The Cut) and Kemal Harris (stylist).
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Natalia Herrera Cardozo at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Victoria Nickerson at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Enoch Park at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Kelly McHugh at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Aravanh Ackharath at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Ayao Sasaki at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Models pose backstage at the 2017 Future Of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Taylor Ormond Sander at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
Those who came out for the show included Dennis Basso, Fern Mallis, Ken Downing, Shaun Ross, Ty Hunter, Claire Sulmers, Nicole Phelps, Randy Fenoli, Kemal Harris, Ruth Finley, Stefan Larsson, Sophie Theallet, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, Liz Peek, Karen Sabag, and Ruthie Davis. “I was extremely impressed with the quality, creativity, and craftsmanship of the students’ work,” Mallis, who was recently named FIT Foundation Director, told The Daily. “Everything from the children’s wear, the sexy lingerie, and the spectacular knitwear that blew me away could all walk off the runway and into retail stores tomorrow. I seriously hope these FIT students get placed with good positions in the industry immediately!”
Also spotted front row was influencer du moment Olivia Perez. “FIT invited me to attend their senior fashion show and I was absolutely blown away by the students’ creativity, skill, and ambition,” she told us. “The future of fashion is incredibly bright, and I’m so excited to see how these young designers leave their footprint on the industry.”
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Nicole Phelps, Vogue Runway Director attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: A model walks the runway wearing a look by Deborah Kang at the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Designer Dennis Basso attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Fern Mallis attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus Fashion Director attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Model Shaun Ross attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Dr. Joyce Brown, FIT President, attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Ty Hunter attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)
- NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Designer Jill Stuart (R) attends the 2017 Future of Fashion runway show at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for FIT)