Ann Cantrell
Education
BA, Denison University
MBA, Green Mountain College
2019–20 FIT Faculty Excellence Award
Biography
Ann Cantrell believes in economic and environmental sustainability and teaches these two in tandem in FIT's Fashion Business Management program. With a product development background in fashion at brands such as Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, and Coach, she is well versed in the fashion cycle, while also able to skillfully evaluate it through a lens of sustainability.
Cantrell is an entrepreneur who established her own store in Brooklyn in 2007: Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store. The business has received worldwide recognition and is often featured in local and national news outlets, including "Best of New York" from New York Magazine. She is recognized in the industry as a conference speaker, business consultant and part of small business action groups at the NRF, Shopify, NYNOW, as well as annual events with American Express advocating for small business.
Research Interests
ROI in Sustainable Fashion Business
Conferences and Presentations
Long- term Goals vs. Short-term ROI: Navigating Sustainability and Profit Now, Sustainable Fashion Forum, April 2024
Key Fashion Trends for 2024 & beyond, The Association of Golf Merchandisers Conference, Orlando Florida, January 2024
The Innovation Collective, American Express, New York, NY, November 2023
Sustainability begins with sourcing: Leveraging the procurement process to meet sustainability goals, NRF SUpply Chain 360, Cleveland, OH, June 2022
Planet & Responsibility, The Robin Report, Virtual, November 2020
Courses
- FM 326 Circular Economy for Sustainable Fashion Business
- FM 361 Leadership Development for Retailing
- FM 109 The First Year Experience
- FM 245 Fashion Forecasting for Merchandisers
- FM 251 Small Store Fashion Retailing