Family Weekend 2026

This event is only open to current students. Parents and family members are encouraged to explore other tours and workshops offered at this time!

Virtual workshop | Register to receive link

You never know who you’ll run into at Alumni and Family Weekend—a casual encounter just might unlock your next career breakthrough. But will you know how to start the conversation? And what to do next? Join legendary creative director Joe Zee (Advertising and Communications ’92) for a candid virtual workshop on making these serendipitous moments count. After decades of scouting top talent and building teams, Zee knows exactly how to make a lasting impression.

Learn how to research the room, introduce yourself without a sales pitch, navigate a lunch table conversation, read the moment, and know precisely when—and how—to share your resume. You’ll also master follow-up strategies that transform brief interactions into lasting connections. You’ll leave with a playbook for confidently networking your way through Alumni and Family Weekend and beyond!

Students can register here for this workshop.

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Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT (MFIT) will honor Diane von Furstenberg—fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist—with the 2026 Couture Council Award for her transformational influence on women’s fashion. Von Furstenberg will receive the award during MFIT's annual Couture Council Luncheon. The fundraising event benefits The Museum at FIT, the only museum in New York dedicated exclusively to the art of fashion. Couture Council board members Anne Baker, jewelry designer at Anne Baker Collection, and Alida Boer, CEO and founder of Nolé Care and Marias, serve as the event co-chairs. 

Register for the Couture Council Fundraiser

^ Additional ticket purchase required. Registration is separate from Family Weekend. This event is open to guests 21+.

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This event is only open to current students. Parents and family members are encouraged to explore other tours and workshops offered at this time!

Alumni Roundtables are a chance for students to hear insights and candid experiences from alumni in small group conversations moderated by a faculty member. Each conversation is limited to 25 student attendees. 

Photography & Related Media
Joyce F Brown Building, Second Floor, Room N204 
Steven Molina Contreras (Photography ‘20), Freelance Photographer | Published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Aperture. Moderated by faculty member Brad Paris.

Production Management
Joyce F Brown Building, Second Floor, Room N206
Alice Franco (Production Management ‘24), Founder, Alice Franco Design.
Moderated by faculty member Salvatore Giardina.

Film and Media
Joyce F Brown Building, Second Floor, Room N207
Haylie Lavin (Film and Media ‘25), Video Editor and Motion Designer. Moderated by faculty member Dahlia Schweitzer. 

Fashion Business Management
Joyce F Brown Building, Eighth Floor, Room N807
Tafani Mustafa (Fashion Business Management ‘23), Digital Merchandising Specialist, Louis Vuitton. Moderated by faculty member Vincent Quan. 

Students can register here to attend an Alumni Roundtable.

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This event is only open to current students. Parents and family members are encouraged to explore other tours and workshops offered at this time!

Alumni Roundtables are a chance for students to hear insights and candid experiences from alumni in small group conversations moderated by a faculty member. Each conversation is limited to 25 student attendees. 

Fashion Business Management
Joyce F Brown Building, Third Floor, Room N305
Jayde Ferraro (Fashion Business Management ‘22), Digital Content Producer. Moderated by faculty member Catherine Geib.

Production Management
Joyce F Brown Building, Third Floor, Room N307
Deanna Crevecoeur (Production Management ‘23), Founder & Designer, Deanna Crevecoeur. Moderated by faculty member Salvatore Giardina.

Students can register here to attend an Alumni Roundtable.

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Katie Murphy Amphitheatre

Hosted by the Baker Scholars Program
Join a high-energy panel of FIT alumni trailblazers who turned side hustles, unexpected pivots, and bold leaps into thriving, one-of-a-kind careers. Learn how to transform your diverse interests into your greatest professional asset and confidently build a career that excites you every single day. 

Panelists include

• Natalie Holloway, AAS Fashion Merchandising Management ‘08, co-founder of Bala and author
• Kristina Velkova-Levine, BSc Fashion Merchandising Management ‘15, co-founder of Vitaclean
• Ramona Dunlap, assistant professor, Fashion Business Management
• Christopher Wallace, BSc Production Management ‘16, director of Global E-Business at Thom Browne
• Namra Khan, BSc Fashion Business Management ‘22, program manager at Fashion Scholarship Fund

Register for the Baker Scholars alumni panel

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Pomerantz Center Lobby

When you arrive on campus, check in with the FIT Foundation team to receive your lanyard and badge, which you will use for access to campus throughout Alumni and Family Weekend. 

Coat Check and luggage storage are available during the same hours, located nearby in the John E. Reeves Great Hall.

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This event is only open to current students. Parents and family members are encouraged to explore other tours and workshops offered at this time!

Alumni Roundtables are a chance for students to hear insights and candid experiences from alumni in small group conversations moderated by a faculty member. Each conversation is limited to 25 student attendees. 

Fashion Business Management
Joyce F Brown Building, Eighth Floor, Room N806
Jennisa Visram (Fashion Merchandising Management ‘07), Principal & Founder, The Collective. Moderated by faculty member Laticha Brown. 

Illustration & Interactive Media
Pomerantz Center, Sixth Floor, Room D615
Ashley Vargas (Illustration ‘21), Graphic Designer, Highlights for Children. Moderated by faculty member Steven Tabbutt.
Note: This will be an extended session from 1–3 pm. 

Students can register here to attend an Alumni Roundtable.

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Concurrent events; choose one. Space is limited. Register now!

Doll Dressing Guided Tour
Goodman Center, Museum at FIT Lobby
1:30–2 pm

Join museum staff Raissa Bretaña (Fashion and Textile Studies MA ’19) or Kristen Stewart (Fashion and Textile Studies MA '08), for a tour of Doll Dressing. The exhibition features approximately 170 objects, including dolls, photographs, video, and clothing by designers such as Balenciaga, Jeremy Scott for Moschino, and Anna Sui. The exhibition highlights the longstanding relationship between dolls and fashion, with emphasis on how dolls have inspired clothing design.

Toy Design Studio Tour with Student Demonstrations*
Dubinsky Student Center, Fifth Floor, Room A580

Visit the Toy Design Lab, where you will hear from toy industry veteran Damian Mucaro, associate chair of the Toy Design program. Program graduates have designed some of the most popular toys of the last three decades, including Tickle Me Elmo. Observe students in action as they bring their ideas to life.

School of Graduate Studies Information Session
Feldman Center, Ninth Floor, Lagary Board Room

Take the next step in your professional journey with FIT’s School of Graduate Studies. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or are a student exploring future career paths, this session offers an overview of FIT’s seven master’s degree programs across museum conservation, design, illustration, and the business of fashion, cosmetics, and art. Discover our curriculum, application process, and industry networks, followed by a live Q&A with admissions counselor Stefania Chomczyk.

Student Panel: The Study Abroad Experience 
Bob Fisch Presentation Hall, Joyce F Brown Building

Join the Office of International Programs for an engaging panel where current FIT students share their firsthand experiences studying around the globe. Hear inspiring stories and practical advice on navigating daily life, cultural immersion, and academic growth in international settings. This session is designed for students and family members of students who are curious about studying abroad or are planning to study abroad next spring semester.

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This event is only open to current students. Parents and family members are encouraged to explore other tours and workshops offered at this time!

Alumni Roundtables are a chance for students to hear insights and candid experiences from alumni in small group conversations moderated by a faculty member. Each conversation is limited to 25 student attendees. 

Fashion Business Management
Joyce F Brown Building, N307
Megan Conover Lewis (Fashion Business Management ‘19), Merchandise Planner, Madewell. Moderated by faculty member Warren Satchell. 

Textile Surface Design
Joyce F Brown Building, Third Floor, Room N305
Sydney Dunda (Textile/Surface Design ‘22), Assistant CAD + Print Designer, Victoria's Secret. Moderated by faculty member Susanne Goetz. 

Footwear & Accessories Design
Feldman Center, Sixth Floor, Room C615
Luke LaSpina (Accessories Design ‘21), Associate Designer, Men's Footwear, Steve Madden and Jefferson Linares (Accessories Design ‘23), Special Projects Apprentice, Coach, and Gabrielle Litterio (Accessories Design ‘15), Technical Designer, Sprayground. Moderated by faculty member Sarah Mullins. 

International Trade & Marketing
Joyce F Brown Building, Fourth Floor, Room N405
Brandice Daniel, (International Trade & Marketing ‘09), Founder & CEO, Harlem’s Fashion Row. Moderated by faculty member Christine Pomeranz.

Students register here to attend an Alumni Roundtable.

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John E. Reeves Great Hall

Connect with some of your student's professors and instructors at our inaugural Department Networking Mixers. Designed as a community-building open house, join other students and families, faculty members (current and retired), and alumni to learn what's happening today in your student's department.

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Katie Murphy Amphitheatre

Join us for an inspiring fireside chat as FIT President Jason Schupbach sits down with SKIMS Chief Communications Officer Tracy Nguyen (Fashion Design '01). In a candid interview, President Schupbach will discuss Nguyen’s remarkable journey from the C-Building¹ to the C-suite, exploring the pivotal moments that defined her career.

Since joining SKIMS, Nguyen has been a driving force behind the brand’s global communications strategy and cultural relevance. Hear firsthand industry insights and practical wisdom from one of the industry’s leading voices.

¹The Feldman Center used to be referred to as the C Building…If you know, you know.

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Fifth Floor Student Commons, Joyce F. Brown Academic Building
Building Tours offered at 6:20 pm and 7 pm | Meet at EATS kiosk

Kick off Alumni and Family Weekend at our Welcome Reception in the brand new Joyce F. Brown Academic Building! Hosted by FIT President Jason Schupbach, this is a chance to connect with alumni and faculty over light bites and beverages. 

Welcome Reception Co-Hosts

• Irene Buchman, former director of Presidential Scholars program
• Roberta Elins, faculty, Advertising and Marketing Communications
• Lynn Glazer, former Student Life program advisorcoordinator
• Jacqueline Jenkins, executive director, Center for Continuing and Professional Studies
• Yasemin Jones, interim vice president, Academic Affairs
• Patrick Knisley, dean, School of Liberal Arts
• Shannon Maher, dean, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology
• Troy Richards, dean, School of Art and Design
• Albert Romano, faculty, Marketing Communications
• Steven Stipelman (Illustration ‘63), faculty, Fashion Design
• Linda Tain (Fashion Design ‘64), faculty, Fashion Design
• Constance White, senior executive program director, FIT Social Justice Center

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Pomerantz Center Lobby

When you arrive on campus, check in with the FIT Foundation team to receive your lanyard and badge, which you will use for access to campus throughout Alumni and Family Weekend. 

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Katie Murphy Amphitheatre

Hosted by FIT's Social Justice Center
Start your morning with complimentary coffee and pastries followed by a fascinating fireside chat featuring The Cheetah Girls creator Deborah Gregory (Fashion Buying and Merchandising '75) and Constance White, Senior Executive Program Director of FIT’s Social Justice Center.

Constance will interview Deborah about her journey from an FIT student to becoming an acclaimed author. Together, they will explore how to build a world-renowned creative franchise and discuss what to expect with The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen movie filmed in South Africa and slated for its cheetahlicious release in 2027.

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Fifth Floor Student Commons, Joyce F. Brown Academic Building

Join alumni and students for the Entrepreneurship Social to hear from founders, exchange ideas, and learn about entrepreneurship offerings at FIT from William Reinisch, Associate Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship. Get advice from FIT alumni entrepreneurs, including: 

• Jenny Zhu (Textile/Surface Design '05), Founder & CEO of Lush Decor
• Chris Mazzilli (Menswear '85), Founder, Gotham Comedy Club and Dream Car Restorations, Emmy-Award Winning Producer of Downey’s Dream Cars

Students and alumni are invited to participate in our 90-Second Open Mic—a fun, fast-paced opportunity to share what you’ve been working on! Pitch your latest idea, give a founder’s update, share your entrepreneurial insight, or seek advice within the community.

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Dubinsky Student Center

Parents, family members, and guests enjoy 10% off at the Dining Hall, just show your Alumni and Family Weekend Lanyard!

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Concurrent events; choose one. Space is limited. Register now!

Campus Highlights Tour*
Meet in Feldman Center Lobby

Discover the dynamic spirit of FIT on a tour designed to showcase our innovative academic environment and hands-on learning facilities. This guided experience takes you through the key creative and technical spaces where student talent comes to life across art, design, business, and technology.

Soil to Surface Exhibition Tour
Pomerantz Center Lobby
11:30 am–12:15 pm

Join Textile/Surface Design faculty member Deborah Hernandez (Illustration '88) for a tour of Soil to Surface, an exhibition that highlights the creations of small-scale women farmers, women’s cooperatives, and internationally recognized designers from Türkiye, alongside the work of School of Art and Design students, faculty, and alumni at FIT. Proposing an alternative framework where farmers, craftspeople, and designers operate on equal ground, the exhibition sees the FIT community actively reimagining agricultural byproducts as materials for contemporary design.

Dress for the Career You Want: Personal Style Workshop
Feldman Center, Sixth Floor, Room C615

Celebrity stylist Jeffrey Ampratwum, CCPS Fashion Styling: Advanced Certificate '18, will give an interactive workshop covering color analysis, wardrobe coordination, fashion theory, and industry news—concluding with individual aesthetic assessments. This session is a great opportunity to invest in your personal look. Additionally, those interested in monetizing their closets will learn strategies for reselling pieces online, as well as the  social media tactics to build your personal brand. 

Toy Design Studio Tour*
Dubinsky Student Center, Fifth Floor, Room A580

Visit the Toy Design Lab, where you will hear from toy industry veteran Damian Mucaro, associate chair of the Toy Design program. Program graduates have designed some of the most popular toys of the last three decades, including Tickle Me Elmo. 

Behind the Broadcast: How the Magic Happens*
Dubinsky Student Center, Room A586, Fifth floor

Presented by Elena Romero, assistant chair and associate professor, Advertising and Marketing Communications, and award-winning TV correspondent and producer

Ever wonder what happens behind the cameras and microphones that bring you the finished stories you see and hear? Step inside FIT’s video production suite for a hands-on look at how journalism students turn an idea into a compelling broadcast or podcast. Explore the art of interviewing, storytelling, production, and editorial decision-making—and experience how faculty guide students from the first question to the final cut. Families and alumni will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking that bring FIT journalism to life.

Highlights From the FIT Special Collections and College Archives
FIT SPARC Reading Room, Goodman Center, Fourth Floor, Room E-435

The FIT Library’s unit of Special Collections and College Archives, better known as SPARC, is excited to share with alumni selections from its rare book and manuscript collections. Explore the exceptional special collections from the FIT Library with unit members Tiffany Nixon, Samantha Levin, and Julie Sandy-Boyle. They will lead tours of the vaults and have on display SPARC highlights, which include college yearbooks, designer sketches, rare fashion prints, 1800s fashion magazines, surface and textile design, and much more. 

Think Like A Fashion Designer*
Joyce F. Brown Academic Building, Eighth Floor, Room N806

Learn how to think like a fashion designer, illustrate your own fashion figure, and create an original garment design. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity and an interest in exploring fashion design education at FIT. Led by Su Ku (Fashion Design ‘94), chair of the Fashion Department at FIT, this hands-on workshop draws on her extensive experience as a fashion design executive and educator. Come discover how designers turn ideas into original fashion.

* kid-friendly event, fun for all ages!

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John E. Reeves Great Hall

Go inside the FIT classroom during this lively luncheon conversation with faculty representing some of the college’s most dynamic disciplines: Juliana Cho of Fashion Design in the School of Art and Design; Laticha Brown, Chair of Fashion Business Management in the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology; and Julia Jacquette of Fine Arts in the School of Art and Design.

Hear how FIT faculty are inspiring students, bringing industry and real-world perspectives into the classroom, and pushing creativity and innovation forward. From fashion design and business to the fine arts, this conversation will give alumni and families a fresh look at the breadth of the FIT academic experience and how today’s students are preparing to shape what’s next.

Come for lunch, connect with the FIT community, and get an inside perspective on the people and programs defining FIT today.

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West 27th Street
2–3 pm | Meet ChalkFIT Illustration students
3 pm | Student Performances

Pick up your Alumni and Family Weekend sweatshirt here!

Join us on 27th street for a block party with WFIT spinning tunes. Partnering with the Style Shop and the Merchandising Society, our annual Alumni Bazaar features goods from 30+ alumni makers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. From artisan jewelry and natural skincare to unique home decor, the Alumni Bazaar will have something for everyone.

While you browse, enjoy a snack and sip on coffee, courtesy of Cotti Coffee, and check out the Street Fair presented by Student Life to learn more about student clubs, campus resources, and catch special performances from the FIT Dance Team and K Wave K Pop Dance Club.

* kid-friendly event, fun for all ages!

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The Goodman Center Lobby - The Museum at FIT

Join museum staff Raissa Bretaña (Fashion and Textile Studies MA ’19) or Kristen Stewart (Fashion and Textile Studies MA '08), for a tour of Doll Dressing. The exhibition features approximately 170 objects, including dolls, photographs, video, and clothing by designers such as Balenciaga, Jeremy Scott for Moschino, and Anna Sui. The exhibition highlights the longstanding relationship between dolls and fashion, with emphasis on how dolls have inspired clothing design.

Back to top

Concurrent events; choose one. Space is limited, register now!

Campus Highlights Tour*
Meet at Feldman Center Lobby

Discover the dynamic spirit of FIT on a tour designed to showcase our innovative academic environment and hands-on learning facilities. This guided experience takes you through the key creative and technical spaces where student talent comes to life across art, design, business, and technology. 

* kid-friendly event, fun for all ages!

The Fashion Calendar: From Ruth Finley to Today's NYFW with the CFDA
Bob Fisch Presentation Hall, Joyce F. Brown Building

Join Natalie Nudell, Art History and Museum Professions faculty, for a panel discussion on the history of New York Fashion Week and the calendar that sets the schedule. First published in the 1940s, Ruth Finley's Fashion Calendar laid the foundations of how New York's fashion and creative communities were structured. Today, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) organizes and supports the industry with the CFDA Fashion Calendar. Joseph Maglieri, Senior Director of Fashion Week Initiatives, and Kevin Bass, Manager of Fashion Week Initiatives from the CFDA will share insights into how the calendar comes together each year. 

This talk will include a demonstration of FIT's Fashion Calendar Research Database (FCRD), an innovative open-source tool that combines Finley's Fashion Calendar with the CFDA's calendar, as part of an ongoing collaboration, Archiving New York Fashion Week: FCRD x CFDA.

Soil to Surface Exhibition Tour
Pomerantz Center Lobby
4–4:45 pm

Join Textile/Surface Design faculty member Deborah Hernandez (Illustration '88) for a tour of Soil to Surface, an exhibition that highlights the creations of small-scale women farmers, women’s cooperatives, and internationally recognized designers from Türkiye, alongside the work of School of Art and Design students, faculty, and alumni at FIT. Proposing an alternative framework where farmers, craftspeople, and designers operate on equal ground, the exhibition sees the FIT community actively reimagining agricultural byproducts as materials for contemporary design. 

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The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West

The recommended arrival time is 11:15 am; tour begins promptly at 11:30 am.

Join a private guided tour of the newly opened Weitzman Shoe Museum at The New York Historical. Experience a stunning collection of footwear assembled by renowned shoe designer Stuart Weitzman and businesswoman and philanthropist Jane Gershon Weitzman. Your ticket includes admission to all current exhibitions on display and a 10% discount in The New York Historical museum store.
 
^ Additional ticket purchase required.

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