Fashion Business Management
Behind every fashion purchase, there’s a multibillion-dollar global industry influencing what’s for sale. As a professional in the field, you’ll choose the best looks and trends, in the right colors, sizes, and silhouettes, to create a merchandise mix that keeps your customer coming back for more.
This prestigious program is closely connected with industry, providing real-world experience, networking opportunities, and insider insights. The fashion business is both creative and analytical, and you’ll learn the skills and innovative thinking you need in product development, merchandising, styling, e-commerce, and much more. You’ll graduate prepared to succeed in this rapidly changing industry, now and in the future.
Programs
Fashion Business Management AAS
This industry-driven program focuses on the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the fashion business: research, technology, analytics, teamwork, ethics, critical thinking, and more. A two-semester “First-Year Experience” exposes you to all segments of the industry, from concept to consumer, enabling you to plan your academic path to suit your career goals. You’ll learn presentation and merchandising skills, and explore issues important to consumers, such as sustainability and corporate social responsibility. While building the foundation you need to apply to the bachelor’s degree program, you’ll create a digital portfolio you can show when applying for internships or jobs.
Fashion Business Management BS
In the largest and oldest degree program of its kind in the country, you’ll study fashion business, marketing, product development, buying, planning, fashion forecasting, sourcing, styling, management, artificial intelligence, social media, and analytics. New York City serves as your extended classroom as you visit flagship stores, unique pop-up shops, fashion exhibitions at renowned museums, and even go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. You’ll have the option to take an internship at a leading company, providing real-world experience.
If you have an AAS in Fashion Business Management from FIT, you may apply to this program. You may also be eligible if you have an AAS from other programs in the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. Learn more about eligibility for this program.
Our Work
Our faculty, students, and alumni combine creativity, business skills, and analytical thinking to bring the best ideas to market.
Maria Barraza, Fashion Buying and Merchandising ’77, has been supporting emerging designers since 2016. She and her husband founded the Brooklyn Fashion Incubator (BFI), working with four or five people at a time.
Two Fashion Business Management students were among four FIT students who won the 2016 Retail Futures Challenge by developing a concept designed to disrupt Nordstrom’s dominance in the retail space.
Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store, owned by Ann Cantrell, who teaches Fashion Business Management, was selected by the National Retail Federation Foundation for a partnership with Qurate Retail Group.
First-year student Muskan Manzoor, studying at home in Houston during the first year of the pandemic, got herself some real-world business experience as a social media manager for a jewelry store while also writing for FIT’s Blush magazine.
Impact
Business matters … Management skills, market insights, and effective leadership enable companies to operate profitably, ethically, and responsibly.
Outside the Classroom
Internships are recommended, and you may find yourself at Macy’s, Kohl’s, Bloomingdale’s, Rent the Runway, Stitch Fix, ThredUp, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Ross Stores, Nordstrom, Saks Off Fifth, TJX, or fashion forecasting firms. You may also be eligible to apply to a five-week summer internship in London. Graduates have worked at Kohl’s, Lululemon, The Gap, J. Crew, Nike, and Macy’s. They work as account managers, buyers, product developers, marketing consultants, store managers, visual and e-commerce merchandisers, social media content developers, and fashion stylists.
Triple Threat
Triplets Grace, Kacie, and Madison Lacadie, Fashion Business Management ’27, dreamed of going to FIT together, starting in their sophmore year, because they find that togetherness helps them motivate each other to produce their best work.
Explore More
some related minors
Learn From the Best
Vincent Quan
Specializing in retailing and merchandise planning, Quan is an associate professor in the Fashion Business Management Department. He attended New York University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing. He received an MBA in managerial reasoning and decision-making from Empire State College.
Shawn Grain Carter
Initially a Bloomingdale’s executive, Carter subsequently worked as a buyer at Bergdorf Goodman, where she launched "The Home on Seven," and as merchandising director at MCM. In 1997, Macy’s hired Carter to launch Macys.com. She is an associate professor of Fashion Business Management. She earned her BA in African American Studies and Women's Studies at the University of Virginia.
Contact Us
Fashion Business Management
Laticha Brown
Jennifer Bentivegna
Catherine Geib
Vincent Quan
Christine Stragazzi
International Coordinator
[email protected]
Let's Make It Happen
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS