Buttoning Up a Fashion School with Mimi: Fashion Institute of Technology Tour

FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

NEW YORK CITY

TOUR

Please visit my original FIT posting dated June 14, 2014 for more information

as this was only a group tour

On what had to be the prettiest day the city has ever seen, Mimi and I did our (maybe) last school tour - F.I.T. The school is a slice of heaven in a hot, crowded, exciting, dirty, vibrant city.

Located in the garment district of NYC the school is two large main buildings with an additional dorm building in between 7th and 8th Avenue on 27th Street - which they block off from traffic each evening

boasting "fashion ave" and rightly so. The school is modern and new with large classrooms and windows for natural light.

The library is three floors - general studies and information desk, quiet tables where you can study and eat (good for upcoming exams) and the archives on the top floor which includes the very first Vogue Magazine through this months issue.

The cafeteria will "cater" to students dietary restrictions with a nice view of the city.

And they have housing! The cost of housing at Parson's was almost as much as the tuition but FIT is reasonable and the freshman dorm we looked at was big with a really great room divider! Mimi didn't want me to take a picture and I can't find an image on their web site, which suggests the school doesn't realize what they have to offer! Most freshman dorm rooms look like a prison cell, I kid you not. These had dark wood open lattice room dividers that offered decor and storage.

A little like this and on both sides of the room creating a doorway between the two room mates. And each student gets a walk in closet! Fashion schools!

And the building is attractive and right across a quiet 27th street to the classroom buildings.

And as I mentioned earlier - this whole tree lined street is closed to incoming traffic each night starting at 4:30 pm - the students can hang out on pleasant evenings!

FIT is very keen on having fit students! The entire basement are gyms, basketball and volley ball courts, dance studios and cardio machines. They take their schools teams seriously and are proud of the awards they've earned.

This is not a joke like it is at the art school in Rhode Island. On the walls is artwork depicting the different sports and classes they have to offer, I imagine this is an early assignment to promote the students awareness of choices offered,

Ok, maybe not like that - more like

and there was an amazing drawing of a yoga position like this one promoting the yoga classes.

FIT makes these classes mandatory. Our student tour guide wasn't thrilled about this - until she found she could get the needed credit by taking stress management classes! Like many other schools, a student needs to fulfill basic math, science and business classes. You have a wide range of options to choose from and if FIT doesn't have,for example, Asian Politics that you want to study - you can take the class on another State of NY campus.

Just a reminder, the Fashion Institute of Technology is a part of the state schools of New York - commonly called SUNY. When applying to FIT you need to apply to SUNY first and they will then send your application on to FIT to complete the application process.

Internships are mandatory - Calvin Klein would be a good choice as he is an alumni

FIT is the best school in the business, and they take the business very seriously.

Fashion industry management classes are a must to earn a degree

You want to have a full education with an understanding of business management before you enter the real world. But, every fashion garment student knows how expansive fabric is.

Every college campus has a Barnes and Noble bookstore where you can purchase your textbooks - but FIT's Barnes and Noble you can also pick up some fabric and notions too! What a riot!

But let's face facts, most of us are not Stella McCarthy who started out with everything from bankroll to connections

whom I am sure is a lovely person, but most of us have to watch our own business and line of creations.

The school will not let you take a double major they believe the work load would be too great a strain. So Mimi's interest in Menswear would have to be a minor. I asked our tour guide - a junior in business management - if Mimi took two years of Menswear earning an Associates Degree (which is offered) could she then continue on in Womenswear to earn the full Bachelors of Fine Arts?

She didn't know as this isn't her area of study so we're saving that question for the admissions office. It was packed at the end of the tour - so e-mail it is!

Students MUST declare a major when applying - and I couldn't get a sense of how hard it would be if you had a change of heart. Again, a e-mail question. Students start to work in their declared major on day one - Mimi likes that!

The faculty has to have worked in the industry for 10 YEARS before they can teach at FIT!

The students will work with a variety of designers over the years - this is a picture of Caroline Hererra working with a fashion student! And the end of the year's fashion show is very well attended by industry leaders

The Fashion Institute of Technology also has its own museum to show case the students work.

It was closed so we couldn't go in but it also serves as a fashion archive with holdings from Chanel and Alexander McQueen. All of that is good inspiration for students.

I enjoyed our tour of FIT and the students and staff we met were all very happy and relaxed. I know, we are in the middle of summer so everything - including the city - were a lot less crowed than it will be come the fall - but I still like the vibe of the school. If attending, Mimi wouldn't have to be all over the city for school and it's in a good part of town. The campus is just a couple of blocks from the Penn Station train station

so she could easily walk upon arrival and it's a quick train ride to her wonderful grandmother in New Jersey! Penn Station is right next door to Madison Square Garden! She could save up to go see a concert or a basketball game!