Student Award Winners
Live Art Duel
Sponsor: FIT Foundation
Challenge: As artists work, spectators can watch the creative process come to life. At the end
of each round, the judges will vote for their favorite pieces of art in real time.
The top artists will advance to the final round and battle it out for the championship.
One-of-a-kind works of art will be available for auction following the event. All
funds raised will benefit FIT students.
Participants: Open to all FIT students
Outcome: 1st Place: Brooke Ledda (Illustration BFA); 2nd Place: Eyoab Desalegn (Fashion Design
MFA); 3rd Place: Hailey Lee (Fashion Design AAS).
Contact: Fine Arts Professor Josef Zutelgte ([email protected]).
Articles: Eight Fashion Institute of Technology Students Duel for a $10,000 Prize, Live Art Duel Artists, Creating Masterpieces Before Your Eyes, FIT Students Show Their Artistic Talents During Inaugural Live Art Duel, A Live Art Duel and a $10K Prize: How One FIT Student Came Out on Top
Reimagining The West With Stetson Student Design Contest
Sponsor: Bulova Stetson Fund
Challenge: Students in the FIT's Fashion Design Program were asked to reimagine western style
through their own creative lens and design two looks that embody their personal design
vision and aesthetic while also nodding to Stetson’s heritage as America’s indispensable
western brand. Each look had to incorporate a Stetson cowboy hat.
Participants: Open to all FIT students
Outcome: 1st Place Co-Winners: Dahlia Gonzales (Fashion Design BFA, Minor: History of Art,
Concentration: Sportswear) and Anabelle Huntzinger (Fashion Design AAS); 2nd Place:
Ellie Reed (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Sportswear); 3rd Place: Manya Sharma
(Fashion Design – Florence Program).
Contact: Fashion Design Apparel Professor Nicole Benedetto ([email protected]).
Articles: Eight
FM 422 (Merchandise Strategies Capstone Project)
Sponsor: Pac Sun
Challenge: Create a brand merchandise strategy plus marketing development of the strategy idea
for Pac Sun.
Participants: Open to FIT students enrolled in the Fashion Business Management's Fall 2024 FM 422
(Merchandise Strategies Capstone Project Course).
Outcome: 1st Place Winning Team (Pacsun Homecoming): Claire Bellue (Fashion Business Management
BS), Courtney Francisco (Fashion Business Management BS), Abigail Seifert (Fashion
Business Management BS), Madison Westerfield (Fashion Business Management BS); 2nd
Place Winning Team (The Ultimate Dorm Edit): Taylor Benda (Fashion Business Management
BS), Izzy Herbert (Fashion Business Management BS), Sydney Marshall (Fashion Business
Management BS), Viktoria Orlikowska (Fashion Business Management BS); 3rd Place Winning
Team (Pac 1980 Reinvented): Maya Burke (Fashion Business Management BS), Kimiko Quayle
(Fashion Business Management BS), Jaanavi Venkatachalam (Fashion Business Management
BS).
Contact: Fashion Business Management Professor Nancy Sheridan ([email protected]), Fashion Business Management Professor Catherine Geib ([email protected]), Fashion Business Management Professor Vincent Quan ([email protected]).
17th annual $10,000 Supima Design Competition
Sponsor: Supima
Challenge: Design a capsule collection of five women’s wear looks featuring the unique characteristics
of Supima cotton.
Participants: 2024 graduating seniors from Academy of Art University, Fashion Institute of Technology,
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Kent State University, Parsons School
of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Outcome: FIT Finalist: Mina Piao (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Knitwear) '24.
Contact: Fashion Design Apparel Professor Susanna Moyer ([email protected]).
Articles: SUPIMA Announces the 17th Annual SUPIMA Design Competition Hosted by Phillip Lim
Loro Piana Knit Design Award
Sponsor: Loro Piana
Challenge: Reimagine how tradition and craftmanship can be combined with technical innovation
and excellent performance to create a piece that will last for the next 100 years.
Participants: Talented students from leading design schools around the world.
Outcome: FIT Finalists - Isabella Fernandez (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Knitwear)
and Madison Lee (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Knitwear).
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Tom Scott ([email protected]).
Articles: Dive into the 2025 Knit Design Award announced by Loro Piana
Close To Me Wheelchair Bag Student Design Contest
Sponsor: Eve Xanthopoulos
Challenge: This competition challenged students to innovate and create a functional and stylish
bag tailored specifically for individuals using wheelchairs.
Participants: Open to all AAS and BFA Footwear and Accessories Design Students.
Outcome: 1st Place: Heaven Cluesman (Footwear & Accessories Design AAS); 2nd Place: Andrew
Kaefer (Footwear & Accessories Design BFA); 3rd Place: Madison Gaworski ( Footwear
& Accessories Design BFA).
Contact: Footwear and Accessories Design Chairperson Sarah Mullins ([email protected]).