List of Fashion Institute of Technology alumni explained

This is a list of graduates, past students and alumni of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Alumni

Artists

• Marie-Denise Douyon – Canadian painter, illustrator and graphic artist^[1]
• Roxanne Lowit – fashion and celebrity photographer
• Ryan Ashley Malarkey – tattoo artist, 2007^[2]
• Janet McKenzie – painter of religious themes
• Lady Starlight – performance artist; muse of pop star Lady Gaga
• Sara Rahbar (1976) – fine artist, attended 1996–2000^[3]
• Fabrice Simon – Haitian American abstract artist and fashion designer.
• Frederick Weston – African-American gay artist whose collages were recognized for their importance late in his life

Actors, entertainment industry

• Karen Allen – actress^[4]
• Madison Anderson – Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019
• Fonzworth Bentley – hip hop artist, entertainer, fashion designer
• Lady Colin Campbell – writer and television personality
• Helen Castillo – fashion designer; cast member on season 12 of the reality television series Project Runway
• Laverne Cox – actress and LGBT advocate^[5]
• Chloe Dao – winner of the TV series Project Runway (season 2)
• Amy Devers – furniture designer and TV personality (Freeform Furniture, Designer People, Trading Spaces)
• Amber Lee Ettinger – model and actress^[6]
• Scarlet Envy – drag queen, contestant on Rupaul's Drag Race season 11 and "Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars" season 6
• Max Hechtman - filmmaker, video editor and videographer^{[7] [8] [9]}
• Caroline Hirsch – founder and owner of Caroline's Comedy Club
• Agot Isidro – actress, singer, and TV show host in the Philippines
• Janelle James – actress and comedian^[10]
• Kilo Kish – singer/songwriter, textile artist, and painter^[11]
• Frankie Knuckles – DJ and producer best known for his involvement in pioneering house music.
• Melissa McCarthy – film and television actress, comedian, writer and producer; attended for two years
• Audrey Quock – model and actress
• Joel Schumacher – director, producer, writer, costume designer
• Angela Simmons – TV personality, fashion designer, CEO of Pastry Kicks.
• Ramona Singer – TV personality, starred on Bravo TV series The Real Housewives of New York City.
• Daniel Vosovic – runner-up of TV series Project Runway (season 2)
• Jasmine Kennedie - drag queen, trans woman and contestant on Rupaul's Drag Race season 14
• Aquaria – winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 10
• Joe Zee – Creative Director of Elle Magazine, host of the Sundance Channel's original program All on the Line

Entrepreneurs

• Laure Hériard-Dubreuil – French entrepreneur and founder of a luxury multi-brand retailer, The Webster Miami^[12]
• Elisabeth Jensen – former Disney Consumer Products executive; education advocate and candidate for United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2014.

Fashion designers

• Robert Abajian^[13] - fashion designer who was Senior Vice President of Liz Claiborne Inc. and succeeded Claiborne as head of design in 1989
• Amsale Aberra – fashion designer of couture bridal gowns and eveningwear
• Reem Acra – fashion designer of couture bridal gowns and eveningwear
• Jeffrey Ampratwum - fashion Designer
• Jhane Barnes – fashion designer
• Stephen Burrows – fashion designer, one of the first African-American fashion designer to sell internationally.
• David Chu – fashion designer, president, and CEO of Nautica International, Inc.
• Mandy Coon – fashion designer
• Francisco Costa – designer, Calvin Klein collection for women
• Laura Dahl – fashion designer
• Marisol Deluna – fashion designer^[14]
• Carolina Herrera – fashion designer, President of Carolina Herrera New York
• Norma Kamali – fashion designer
• Calvin Klein (1962) – founder of Calvin Klein, Inc.
• Michael Kors – Fashion designer, President and CEO of Michael Kors
• Nanette Lepore^[15] – fashion designer and owner, Robespierre, Inc.
• Leon Max – fashion designer, president and CEO of Max Studios
• Arthur McGee – fashion designer, first African American designer hired to run a design studio on Seventh Avenue in the Garment District in New York City.^[16]
• Babette Pinsky, fashion designer
• Ralph Rucci (1980) – fashion designer, Chado Ralph Rucci
• Steve Summers - Costume designer and creative director for Dolly Parton
• Kate Stoltz – fashion designer and model
• Ivy Supersonic – hat designer
• Ouigi Theodore – African - American designer behind the Brooklyn Circus label^[17]
• Isabel Toledo – fashion designer
• Hector Torres – fashion designer^[18]

Illustrators

• Timothy D. Bellavia – children's author and illustrator
  • Enrico Casarosa - Animator at Pixar Antonio Lopez^[19] – fashion illustrator

Jewelry, accessories designers

• Gessica Brooke – fashion and accessories designer
• Carolina Bucci – jewelry designer

Writers

• Cailli and Sam Beckerman^[20] – fashion bloggers
• Angie Cruz – novelist and author
• Erica De Mane - chef, food writer, cookbook author^[21]
• Radhika Khanna – fashion designer and author of Yoga: From the Ganges to Wall Street and two other books.
• Naomi Sims – model and author

Notes and References

1. Web site: Works by Marie-Denise Douyon. Galerie d'art Viva Vida. 8 March 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175141/http://www.vivavidaartgallery.com/index.php/en/art-gallery/artists/marie-denise-douyon. 2 April 2015.
2. Web site: Remling . Amanda . 'Ink Master' Showrunner Breaks Down Season 8 Female Alliance . . 2016-10-18 . 2018-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180503230817/http://www.ibtimes.com/ink-master-showrunner-breaks-down-season-8-female-alliance-2433542 . 3 May 2018 . live .
3. Web site: Sara Rahbar Biography. ArtNet.com. 2017-06-20.
4. Web site: Albany Film Festival spotlight: Karen Allen . 17 March 2022 .
5. https://news.fitnyc.edu/2020/04/23/an-fit-guide-to-binge-watching/
6. Q&A: Amber Lee Ettinger (A.k.a. Obama Girl) . Wired . Buskirk . Eliot Van .
7. Web site: Vatner. Jonathan. Take Five: Max Hechtman. FIT Newsroom. July 31, 2019 . en.
8. Web site: East Meadow filmmaker nominated for three awards at local festival. Brian. Stieglitz. 2020-10-12. Herald Community Newspapers. September 22, 2020 . en.
9. Web site: Satnick. Randi. The Real Deal: A look through the lens of a young Long Island filmmaker. Your News Mag. 2024-02-04. en.
10. Web site: Janelle James on Refusing to Disclose Her Age, Hoping 'Abbott Elementary' Doesn't Last Forever and Why She's Not Interested in 'Sexy' Roles . April 19, 2023 .
11. https://www.spin.com/2016/03/review-kilo-kish-reflections-in-real-time/
12. News: Laure Hériard Dubreuil: Stylish Advice for Effortless Chic. Polla. Ada. 17 June 2014. The Huffington Post. 25 March 2015.
13. News: . Robert Abajian, 62, A Fashion Designer. January 13, 1995 . A25.
14. News: The New York Times Style Weddings. The New York Times . 28 April 2020. 13 June 1999.
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20150818054846/http://wfitnyc.com/ WFIT NYC
16. Web site: Traphagen Alumni The Traphagen School: Fostering American Fashion. Museum at FIT. 2019-12-06.
17. News: Williams . Alex . The Bearded Dandy of Brooklyn . 14 May 2022 . The New York Times . 5 January 2011.
18. News: July 27, 1990 . Hector Torres Is Dead; Fashion Designer, 46 . The New York Times.
19. Padilha, Roger, and Mauricio Padilha. 2012. Antonio Lopez: Fashion, Art, Sex & Disco. Random House Incorporated.
20. News: 'Human Glitter.' The Beckerman Twins Are Fashion Week Stars. Kurutz. Steven. The New York Times. 14 September 2016 . 21 March 2017.
21. Web site: Erica De Mane Fashions a Springtime Dish. Urrabazo. Yolanda. FIT Alumni. Fashion Institute of Technology. 9 October 2014.