Course General Description

You come to the Master of Fine Arts program in Fashion Design with an idea to explore—then embark on a personal journey of discovery. The relentless pace of fashion can hinder innovation, so here the design process slows down to allow experimentation and reflection. Through a thesis process that makes this program like no other, students have the freedom to explore within a structured, highly mentored environment. You’re given the time, resources, and support to innovate in design, fit, cut, construction, silhouette, and materiality. While guiding you to create your own rules to realize your vision, the program matches you with an industry partner to help you focus your design work, develop prototypes, and define your market niche. Specially designed courses, including The Fashion Activist, Design Archeology, and craft:OLOGY, encourage original thinking. Students leave with a viable body of work that reflects their design fluency as formidable makers and articulate influencers in the fashion industry. Graduates will work in large, high-end design houses and smaller ateliers, entrepreneurial ventures, and consultancies, or go on to further study at the MPhil or PhD level.

School General Description

One of New York City’s premier public institutions, FIT is an internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. We’re known for our rigorous, unique, and adaptable academic programming, experiential learning opportunities, academic and industry partnerships, and commitment to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While our pedagogical mission is to prepare our students for professional excellence in design and business, our broader ethos is to foster creativity, inspire leadership, impart a global perspective, and educate students to embrace inclusiveness, commit to sustainability, and engage with community. We encourage students, scholars, teachers, and industry colleagues to cross traditional boundaries of both geography and disciplines. Together we strive to develop innovative design and strategic business solutions that will upend the status quo, create personal and professional opportunity, and have a lasting and sustainable global impact.