On September 10, during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) showcased its annual runway show, titled BEYOND, featuring the collections of 13 talented designers from the 2024 graduating Fashion Design MFA class. These designers drew inspiration from their lives, cultures, and unique experiences.
“Our recent MFA graduates have developed impressive inaugural collections and are already establishing themselves as designers to watch in the fashion world,” said Dr. Joyce F. Brown, President of FIT. “We are so pleased to be able to present the runway show for the first time here on the FIT campus as part of New York’s celebrated Fashion Week and help launch the careers of these talented alums.”
FIT MFA Fashion Design Show
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology throughout its history. Providing its more than 8,000 students with an uncommon blend of hands-on, practical experience, theory, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, the college offers a wide range of affordable programs that foster innovation and collaboration.
The Fashion Design Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is one of seven programs in the School of Graduate Studies. In this two-year Fashion Design MFA program, students conduct rigorous research that culminates in the creation of eight-look collections, thesis papers, presentations, videos, lookbooks, brand business plans, and portfolios. Graduates leave the program prepared to make a positive impact as industry professionals by working within existing fashion companies or launching their own brands.
“The faculty and I are so proud of this year’s class — with their individuality, creativity, and commitment to craftsmanship,” said Cathleen Sheehan, chair of the Fashion Design MFA program. “Their collections reflect their unique stories beautifully. I look forward to seeing what these gifted designers do next and how they will contribute positively to the fashion industry.”
The designers shared the following statement about this year’s theme: “Welcome to the culmination of our journey BEYOND where FIT Fashion Design MFA students from diverse backgrounds and cultures converge to redefine boundaries and celebrate unity in diversity. BEYOND explores the limitless possibilities where creativity knows no borders. Drawing inspiration from our unique heritages, each garment transcends traditional norms, embracing fluidity in silhouette, texture, and identity. Our collections are a testament to the richness of our individual stories, woven together into a tapestry of innovation and inclusivity. We invite you to experience fashion that speaks a universal language of beauty and resilience — from the vibrant hues of South Asian embroidery to the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian lines — where every stitch tells a story of courage, heritage, and the boundless spirit of creativity that unites us all.”
Sponsors of BEYOND include Beautick, Benefit, Fekkai, and JINsoon.
Makeup by Marcello Costa
Hair by Anna Cecchi Smith & Eric Gomez
Nails by Alexander Bondoc & Myx Lee
About FIT
A part of the State University of New York (SUNY), the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology throughout its history. Providing its more than 8,000 students with an uncommon blend of hands-on, practical experience, theory, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, the college offers a wide range of affordable programs that foster innovation and collaboration. Its distinctive curriculum is geared to today’s rapidly growing creative economy, including fields such as computer animation, toy design, production management, film and media, and cosmetics and fragrance marketing. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy. Among notable alumni in fashion are Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Reem Acra, Brian Atwood, Dennis Basso, Francisco Costa, Norma Kamali, Nanette Lepore, Bibhu Mohapatra, Ralph Rucci, John Bartlett, Peter Do, Daniel Roseberry, Victor Glemaud, Grace Chen, Randy Fenoli, Zaldy Goco, Ivy Ross, and Michelle Smith. Other prominent graduates include Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals; international restaurant designer Tony Chi; and Nina Garcia, editor in chief, ELLE.
Meet the Designers
Ashleen Tuteja: “Wheels of Honour”
Indian-born designer Ashleen Tuteja holds a BFA from the National Institute of Technology and an MFA in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her work, which seamlessly blends conceptual art, monolithic structures, and technical functionality, is rooted in the values of progress, empathy, social responsibility, and innovation. Passionate about menswear, she believes in the equation: Design + Form + Emotion = Good Design. Her creations center around human emotions, emphasizing core principles to evoke meaningful connections through fashion.
Brunela Ramirez: “Collection 0”
Brunela Ramirez is a Peruvian multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer who incorporates digital design, technology, and sustainability to generate new alternatives in construction, printing, and textile making. She uses her work to explore her curiosity about life’s mysteries, humanity, and gender expression. Ramirez makes research an integral part of her creative process and draws on references such as philosophy, film, and visual media. Her interest in unconventional aesthetics and art influences and defines her work.
Bryan Barrientos: “Juana”
Bryan Barrientos is a Peruvian American designer who is redefining modern evening wear by challenging conventional barriers while also focusing on couture techniques and celebrating individuality. His brand is inspired by history yet offers a contemporary aesthetic for the modern woman. Barrientos earned his BFA and MFA from the Fashion Institute of Technology and has received industry recognition from Supima. His work has been featured in various prestigious editorials including Harper’s Bazaar.
Cindy Qianqian Dong: “Aquaflow”
As a passionate and innovative fashion designer, Cindy QianQian Dong merges art with style to craft distinctive pieces. Inspired by nature, culture, and human emotion, her designs express a profound appreciation for life’s beauty. Through meticulous craftsmanship and her unique design language, Dong creates fashion that resonates with the wearer and empowers them with confidence. To push fashion boundaries and embrace innovation, Dong frequently integrates cutting-edge technology into the creative process, resulting in visually stunning designs. Dong is also expanding the possible uses for 3D printing in her work. She earned a BFA in fashion design from Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Eunhae Cho: “Growing Moments: Memory Fossils”
Eunhae Cho is a Korean designer who was raised in a multicultural environment across Korea, Canada, and the United States. Passionate about community enrichment, Cho is committed to nurturing diversity, inclusion, and cultural heritage and to creating meaningful connections through design. Through her work she celebrates individual stories and personal histories within her community. Cho’s professional experiences and honors include a Volvo x CFDA collaboration and Swarovski sponsorship, and in 2023, she was selected as a CFDA Geoffrey Beene scholarship finalist. Cho has worked with Gucci, Ashlyn, and R13, and she is proficient in research, illustration, patternmaking, and sewing, with additional expertise in jewelry crafting.
Natalia Robles Oteíza: “Tessellated Resistance”
Natalia Robles Oteíza is a Chilean fashion designer who focuses on sustainability, technology, and storytelling through design. Natalia has worked across various areas of fashion and textile design, ranging from hypoallergenic children’s wear to highly technical uniforms for female automotive technicians. In her personal work as a designer, she is focused on combining zero-waste patternmaking techniques with 3D modeling and printing technology.
Qi Yun: “East Meets West”
Qi Yun is a fashion designer from Beijing based in New York. She studied fashion design for six years at the Fashion Institute of Technology. By integrating her cultural background and her understanding of fashion design, Qi’s designs tell unique stories and create a cultural tapestry that transcends borders, showcasing the beauty of cultural synthesis.
Talia Abbe: “Bubble Wrap”
Talia Abbe, a native of New York, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in textile and fashion design with a certificate in entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She then pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Abbe’s personal struggles with mental health inspired her to make a positive impact on others facing similar challenges. Her work centers around creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. While cognitive abstraction influences her prints, her voluminous designs and vibrant color palettes exude childlike playfulness.
Urvi Selarka: “NEBULA”
Urvi Selarka is an Indian women’s wear designer. All her creations are a kaleidoscope of sensorial experiences. She is a 3D artist who fuses the worlds of art and fashion. Her work heavily involves innovative patternmaking and technical draping. And with their unconventional materials, Selarka’s designs take you on a journey through her creative universe.
Yixuan Apple Zhao: “Seika”
Yixuan (Apple) Zhao wants to change the fashion industry to be more inclusive. Originally from Harbin, China, she has studied in North America since age 14, and her creative work combines all the cultures she has experienced and her fascination with fashion. With their emphasis on size, gender, and cultural inclusivity, her designs help others discover new identities.
Yixuan Nie: “YAN XIA”
As a designer from Beijing, China, Yixuan Nie draws inspiration from her hometown. In her design, you can see many traditional Chinese elements integrated into modern clothing through printing, flocking, and handcrafted sculptures. She hopes to use the beauty of silhouette to convey what she has seen in everyday life on Beijing’s old streets. She deeply loves the joy that colors bring, so in her work, vivid colors reflect her sense of a relaxed atmosphere, presenting a contemporary China that combines modernity and tradition.
Yoon Seo Lee: “Smuggler”
Yoon Seo Lee, a South Korean streetwear designer, finds inspiration in the overlooked details of everyday life and in the things that happen behind the scenes. She aims to uncover hidden narratives and spark connections through clothing. Her designs blend contrasting elements, embodying duality, and her innovative approach integrates 3D printing into garments and accessories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship.
Ziling Dong: “Harmonious Collision”
Ziling Dong is a women’s wear designer whose specialty is finding harmony in contrast and conflict. Delicate insight often leads her into contradictory thoughts, prompting her to strive for a balance between reason and sensibility. Stylistically, she is influenced by the orderliness and fluidity of industrial aesthetics. Through exquisite and structured fabric, a minimalist silhouette, and the flowing divide, a feminine image of hardness and tenderness is created.
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With love,
FWO
