Students from Syosset High School’s Fashion Illustration and Design and Fashion Marketing courses recently visited the Fashion Institute of Technology to meet with students and faculty and learn more about opportunities available at the school and in the fashion industry.
The Syosset students observed classes ranging in subject from fashion, jewelry and shoe design to the fine arts and business. They were also given a tour of the loom classroom, where textiles are designed and created on traditional looms as well as state-of-the-art computers. In addition, FIT student works of packaging design, interior design, fashion illustration, photography and toy design were on display throughout the school for visitors to study.
From a fashion marketing perspective, students learned about the various stages of marketing a product and how each plays an important role in that product’s success. From a design perspective, Fashion Illustration students learned about the creation of mood (trend) boards, as well as the standards for the fashion figure model, the croquis.
George Simonton, a famous fashion designer whose clothing line is available in Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus and on QVC, also met with the Syosset students. Simonton invited his guests to sit in on a coat design class he teaches at the institute.
In addition, students took a tour of the FIT Museum, which is currently running an exhibit titled “The History of Denim in Fashion.” They also had the opportunity to shop in the school boutique, which is run by FIT students. Information on weekend and summer courses held at FIT for high school students was also made available to them.
According to Syosset teachers Demi Protonentis (Fashion Illustration and Design) and Melanie Rodenburgh (Fashion Marketing), many students were surprised at how many program majors are available at FIT. Several underclassmen are considering FIT as a possible college choice this year, and one Fashion Design and Illustration student has already applied to the SUNY college. Many Syosset High School students have already participated in FIT weekend and summer programs.