Beyond Graduation

Many of our graduates go on to experience great success in the fashion design industry. Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and Ralph Rucci are just a few of our notable alumni who have made enormous contributions to the fashion design world.

working on fashion garment

Career Pathways

FIT prepares you for a variety of careers in fashion design. Graduates hold positions such as design assistant, designer, CAD designer, stylist, and collection specialist.

Fashion Design graduates start their own lines or work in major design houses including Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Elie Tahari, BCBG and BCBG Max Azria, Carolina Herrera Ltd., Kleinfeld Bridal, Alice & Olivia, Nordstrom, and Spiegel Brands.

Career Outlook

Information about this career outlook data

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Where Are They Now?

Our graduates exemplify what it means to deliver style, inspiration, and innovation in the world of design.

Rebecca Dayan as Elsa Peretti wears the caftan as Ewan McGregor as Halston admires his handiwork.

The Art of Costume Design

FIT alumna Jeriana San Juan, Fashion Design ’04, is the creative force behind the costumes in hit Netflix productions like Halston, The Get Down, and The Mother starring Jennifer Lopez. “The costume designer is a storyteller ... our language is through clothes,” she says. And through her designs, San Juan brings characters and their worlds vividly to life.

 

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The ByBorre knitting lab is used to create samples quickly. Photo by Jordi Huisman.

The Future of Fabrics

Alum Borre Akkersdijk launched his Amsterdam-based clothing line, ByBorre, as a sustainable platform for emerging brands to produce their collections—showcasing the innovative textiles he began developing as an FIT student.

 

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The National Museum of African American Histoey and Culture at Night. Photo by Alan Karchmer.

Landscapes in Harmony

Acclaimed landscape architect and Fashion Design alum Kathryn Gustafson is known for creating innovative, beloved public spaces around the world. Her philosophy: uncover the “soul” of a place and design a landscape that fits it seamlessly—honoring its history, culture, and natural environment through every element, from layout and materials to plants and water.

 

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What makes a successful career?

For Amy Deal Denet, a Diné (Navajo) Fashion Design alumna with four decades of industry experience, a meaningful career has meant transforming her expertise with global brands into a platform for supporting and uplifting her community. 

It was going from very large productions to things I create with my own hands, and focusing on reusing things that are already here on the planet.

AMY DEAL DENET

Fashion Design
Amy Deal Denet, Fashion Design alum

Learn more about Amy's career journey

Crystal Thompson built the costumes worn by the Fates in Hadestown. Photo courtesy of Crystal Thompson

Behind the Seams

The costumes that bring Broadway characters to life represent the work of many skilled hands. Alumni Crystal Thompson, Fashion Design AAS ’93, and Michael Harrell, Fashion Design alum, are costume builders, transforming designers’ sketches into finished garments tailored for the stage.

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Contact Us

If you have questions about this program, please reach out.

Fashion Design
School of Art and Design
Business and Liberal Arts Center, Room B701
(212) 217-5000