Keith A. Fraley
Education
BA, Norfolk State University
MBA, LIM College
Biography
In addition to teaching in FIT's Fashion Business Management program, Keith Fraley is advancing his own academic path as a PhD candidate at Cornell University, specializing in Luxury Fashion Management and Leadership studies. He is the co-founder of Kena Frabri LLC, a secondhand fashion business celebrated for its unique fusion of vintage, designer, and contemporary labels.
Fraley previously worked for Nine West Group in New York City, serving as a supply chain coordinator and a product development associate, focusing on footwear products. He leant his expertise to Nordstrom, where he worked as a department manager across various categories, including women’s footwear, children’s apparel, menswear, rack-off price items, and home goods. Fraley's business experience also includes such retailers as Gap, Foot Locker, Journeys, and Burberry, where he was a wholesale account executive in menswear.
Fraley is committed to nurturing the next generation of fashion enthusiasts, particularly in the realms of luxury fashion management and leadership. His passion for the fashion industry is equaled only by his dedication to teaching. Hands-on experience as a fashion entrepreneur and tenure in diverse corporate roles within the industry have given him a wealth of practical insights that complement his strong foundation in academic theory.
Research Interests
Executive Leadership in Luxury Fashion: understanding the role of executive leadership and management within the luxury fashion industry, to include investigating the decision-making processes, mindsets, and approaches of top-level executives.
Management Practices in Luxury Fashion: exploring the management practices and strategies employed by luxury fashion executives.
Reflection and Decision-Making: understanding how the reflective practices of luxury fashion leaders influence their decision-making and overall outlook on the business.
Comparative Analysis of Luxury Fashion Brands: identifying commonalities and differences in executive leadership and management approaches and their impact on company performance of such brands as Ralph Lauren, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, and Chanel.
Blackness and Fashion Organizations: exploring how the concept of "Blackness" is received and processed within industrial cultural organizations, especially in the context of the fashion industry; examining how industrial cultural organizations perceive and interpret the concept of "Blackness."
Cultural Construction of African-American Males in Fashion: understanding the intersection of fashion media and the cultural construction of African-American males, including the influence of media representation on cultural perceptions, stereotypes, and the evolving identity of this demographic group. This research emphasizes the fashion industry's role as a gatekeeper of image and its lasting impact over time.
Conferences and Presentations
The Millennial High-End Travelers: What About The ‘Luxury Travel Retail’ Experience?, World Luxury Destinations Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, March 2018
Exhibitions
"Home - A Collaborative Art Potluck," A Placebo Publication Event, Jill Stuart Gallery, Cornell University, March 2019
Courses
- FM 203 Business Intelligence in Planning and Buying - Retail Math
- FM 330 Data Insights and Fashion Analytics
- FM 361 Leadership Development for Retailing