Coffee Connections

Variety Coffee - 261 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Cat Carney, Advertising and Marketing Communications '20
LinkedIn | Instagram

Fashion (copy)writer, tabby(cat) mom!
Brand experience: Stuart Weitzman, Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, and current: Ulla Johnson. 

Meet me at Variety Coffee to talk all things fashion comms, city life (any fellow commuters?), and life post FIT. :-)

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La Bomboniera - 203 W 82 St, New York, NY 10024

Fern Clausius, Fashion Design - Intimate Apparel '19
LinkedIn | Instagram

Since graduation, I started my label, FERN, a luxury lingerie and eveningwear maison. I balance my days between the creation and business sides of the industry. I’ve also worked at Kiki de Montparnasse, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Louis Vuitton, in product development, visual storytelling, and luxury client engagement. Excited to connect with other entrepreneurs, business talents and other creatives to share our journeys since graduation!

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Bel Ami - 960 Lexington Ave at 70th Street

Lauren Ceravolo, Advertising Marketing Communications '10

Hi, I'm Lauren class of 2010. I credit FIT for my career experiences, working on the brand side to the publishing side at some of the world's largest luxury brands including Prada, Valentino, Elle Magazine and goop. I'm excited to meet other alum from various industries and classes to exchange experiences and make new connections. I am part of the Alumni Advisory Council to support enhancing Alumni Relations of the future classes.

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Cincio Coffee Company - 199 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Liz Breuer, International Trade and Marketing '19
LinkedIn | Instagram

Hi! I'm the founder of a purpose-driven brand marketing agency called New Normal Bureau. We support both emerging and established brands on event productions, campaign development, go-to-market strategies, social media management and influencer marketing. I 've recently become an adjunct professor for precollege classes at FIT where I'm teaching influencer marketing so it's truly come full circle. In my free time I run a lot, attend dance classes, go on hikes or explore new art exhibits and aesthetic coffee shops. 

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Debutea - 71 Smith Street, Brooklyn NY

Yecca Zeng, Fashion Design - Intimate Apparel '12
LinkedIn | Instagram

An insatiably curious product strategist passionate about transforming innovation into beautiful products and crafting the stories behind them. After leading teams at Victoria's Secret, PINK, and aerie, I founded my own consultancy to help brands bring new ideas to life. I love exploring new worlds—whether hunting down New York's best coworking cafés or gallivanting between museums across the globe. I find inspiration everywhere, especially through art, music, food, and film, and I'm always looking for new recs! 

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Copper Mug Coffee - 131 N 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Rowell Concepcion, Fashion Business Management '11
LinkedIn | Instagram

Founder and milliner behind Binata Millinery, a New York-based headwear brand, FIT alum, and member of the FIT Alumni Advisory Council. Connect with me to talk about accessories, fashion, entrepreneurship, creativity, or navigating a career in the industry. Looking forward to meeting fellow FIT alumni! 

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The Inwood Farm - 600 W 218 Street, New York, NY 10034

Tanya Scott, Fashion Design '98
LinkedIn | Instagram 

Tanya L. Scott, creative story teller, Founder and Creative Director of Cealle Creative, a luxury silk scarf brand and author of The Girl God Imagined: An Adult Fairytale for the Young at Heart. I’m also an Executive Assistant for a global beauty company,, and a proud FIT alum who believes it’s never too late to pursue new dreams.

I’m passionate about fashion, travel, museums, entrepreneurship, and building meaningful connections with fellow creatives. 

I look forward to meeting and connecting with fellow alumni!

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Starbucks - 49-19 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

Lara Eurdolian, International Trade and Marketing '05
LinkedIn | Instagram

Lara Eurdolian is a fashion and beauty editor, contributing to NewBeauty magazine and News12. 

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Farmacie by the French Market - 157 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732

Bridget Mulrenan, Fashion Business Management '20
LinkedIn | Instagram 

Bridget Mulrenan is a brand marketing and communications professional with experience across luxury fragrance, media, PR, CRM, and consumer engagement. She currently works on the Bvlgari Perfumes team, where she supports brand storytelling, launch strategy, and market activations across the Americas. An FIT alumna, Bridget is passionate about the intersection of luxury, creativity, and meaningful consumer experiences.

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Maman - 70 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

 

Amanda Nieves, Fashion Business Management '16
LinkedIn | Instagram

Hi! I am Amanda Nieves class of 2016 where I majored in Fashion Business Management! I recently returned and graduated from FIT in 2024 with a MPS from the Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management program. I have been working for CHANEL for the past 9+ years where I currently work on the Commercial Development team in the Fragrance and Beauty division. I love connecting with fellow alums and building my network so I am looking forward to meeting anyone who is available!

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Hey Coffee People - 103 Garden St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Annette Pramano, Fashion Business Management '19
Instagram

Hi! I’m Annette, a lifestyle content creator sharing wellness, hidden gems, and romanticizing life in New York. My favorite thing about FIT alums is how you can find them in any industry, always bringing a creative eye and cool hobbies with them. Looking forward to connecting!

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Chashni Cafe - 349 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042

Jackee de Lagarde, Fashion Merchandising Management
LinkedIn | Instagram

I've spent more than 20 years building global brands through licensing, strategic partnerships, and business development, working with Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, and Ralph Lauren. I'm happy to connect with fellow alumni about career growth, leadership, brand strategy, entrepreneurship, board service, and the power of building professional relationships. Favorite things about FIT alums - no matter what industry we end up in, we all share a creative mindset, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to open doors for one another. 

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Philz Coffee - 9300 Culver Blvd #113, Culver City, CA 90232

Ana Rubenstein, ACC '13
Instagram 

Founder of The Casual Creative and Dostana House. Bringing casual creative play to adults through thoughtfully designed events and experiences. Looking forward to connecting with local FIT alums!

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Pantheon Coffee, 1010 N Fairfax Ave West Hollywood

Joe Zee, Advertising and Communications '92
Instagram

I came to New York to study AdComm at FIT (really for Magazine Journalism), graduating in 92 before working my way through nearly every form of media (print, digital, broadcast, streaming, social, etc) Along the way, I have become a fashion editor, celebrity stylist, creative director, TV host, producer, author, red carpet commentator and professional opinion-giver (and now Professor too) proving that FIT literally prepared me for everything. But everyone loves asking me, what brought you to LA? we can all dissect our stories over coffee.

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Côte France - 100 Plaza Real S Suite K/L, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Amy Pravda Holland Lieberman, Advertising Design/Fashion Illustration '74
Instagram

I'm proud to be an alumni from the Class of 1974.  I'm currently showing my Mixed Media Art at Galleria of Arte in Boca Raton.  FIT enriched my life experimenting and creating many products over the years.  I'm excited by my latest obsession creating art on Gel Plates!  I love connecting with FIT thru the FIT Alumni Paris trip, Alumni Weekend at FIT and The FIT Alumni trip to Japan this March.  I'm looking forward to meeting you and sharing your memories!

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Buddy Brew Coffee - Hyde Park, 1605 W Snow Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Tara Poinsette, Advertising Communications and Marketing '06
LinkedIn | Instagram

By day, Tara keeps Macy’s Private Brand systems running smoothly. By night(ish), she’s behind the camera on Style Brief with Tara Poinsette, breaking down the business side of fashion, “the stuff Vogue doesn’t cover.” 15+ years in retail means she can talk buying, merchandising, or content strategy with equal enthusiasm. Would love to connect with anyone building a side hustle, dabbling in video, or just wants to swap FIT stories over what makes a great Fendi Baguette deep dive.

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YELLOW Georgetown - 1524 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Lauren Granatelli, International Business Marketing + Advertising Marketing Communications
LinkedIn | Instagram

Hi everyone! I'm Lauren Granatelli, originally from New Jersey and now living in Alexandria, Virginia. I work full-time at Amazon Ads and am also building Vibe Live, a platform that helps people discover, plan, and make the most of concerts and live music experiences. In my free time, I love going to concerts, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and especially excited for the FIT Alumni trip to Japan in 2027!

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Georgia Grace Cafe - 8333 Main Street, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Christina Fulton, Fashion Merchandising Management

Marketing and partnerships professional with experience across sports, fashion, retail, and lifestyle brands, including the NFL Players Association and Macy’s, where I led experiential marketing, strategic partnerships, and consumer activations. Currently working as a fractional advisor to brands and organizations, as well as a subject matter expert with LIM College.

Always happy to connect about arts and culture, fashion, sports, brand experiences, or navigating careers in creative industries.

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Frothy Monkey - 1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

Lindsay Alexander, Advertising and Marketing Communications '06

Lindsay Alexander is a fashion-reporter-turned-creative-studio-lead with experience across both digital and traditional media. Her work has appeared in WWD Accessories, Esquire, British VOGUE, Lucky Magazine, Men's Health, Women's Health, and more. She’s currently the Director of Content Operations & Production at Mars, and writes a Substack newsletter called Mixed Prints. She loves connecting with other creatives and also enjoys volunteering in animal rescue in Nashville! 

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Sterling Coffee Roasters - 518 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Cristina Beasley Weeks, Fashion Merchandising Management '02
LinkedIn | Instagram 

My time at the Fashion Institute of Technology was truly transformative. I had the privilege of learning from top industry professionals who brought real-world insights into the classroom. I also connected with fellow students who had impressive internships and hands-on experience, which made the whole journey incredibly enriching. Now, as I advance in my career, I’m focused on building strong networks with others who’ve shared this positive FIT experience. I’m also committed to giving back and supporting the next generation of creative talent.

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ARS Cafe - 3116 Monsarrat Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Polina Gorman, Interior Design and Fashion
Instagram

Polina Gorman is a Hawaiʻi-based filmmaker, designer, and founder of SISHawaii. Her background spans film and television production in New York and Hawaiʻi, swimwear design, and 15 years of interior design in New York. She is interested in connecting with other creatives, entrepreneurs, and FIT alums working across fashion, media, and design. Her favorite thing about FIT alums is that they are super driven and know how to make things happen.

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WatchHouse Bermondsey - 199 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW, United Kingdom

Porscha Hill, Fashion Design and Merchandising

Hi, I’m Porscha! I’m a designer based in London and the founder of a natural dye studio, where I explore plant-based colour, sustainable textiles, and creative workshops. I’m excited to reconnect with fellow FIT alumni, meet new faces in the London community, and chat all things London, fashion, and creativity.

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ARABICA - Av. Veracruz 102, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Cara Araneta, Fabric Styling '05
LinkedIn | Instagram

Hi, I’m Cara Araneta, an FIT alum whose career has moved through fashion, hotels, members clubs, and brand experiences, which is a polished way of saying I’ve always been interested in people, taste, and vibes. I’m endlessly curious about culture, food, fashion, travel, and the strange, useful paths creative people take to get where they’re going. Currently based between Mexico City and Guadalajara. I’d love to connect with fellow FIT alums on pretty much all of the above. 

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Via Savona, 101, 20144 Milano MI, Italy

Darlene Sullivan, Fashion Design '07

Hi! I'm Darlene and I'm Design Director of a kid's swimwear brand and a freelance textile / surface designer. I am interested in sustainable design and getting to know other designers in Italy! 

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