FIT MFA 2025: Living Archives

Amrutha Ramkumar

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

The inspiration stems from arranged weddings in India, where sarees woven with pure gold zari threads are worn once and then stored away for years. I was struck by both the beauty and the waste of this practice, as these textiles hold immense cultural and material value yet remain hidden. Through my work, I reimagine heirloom sarees by upcycling them into contemporary streetwear. In doing so, I hope to honour their heritage while giving them new life, allowing the next generation to carry forward these stories in forms that feel relevant and wearable today.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked primarily with pure silk sarees, garments deeply tied to tradition, and chose earthy tones to reflect cultural grounding. I wanted the colours to feel rooted and timeless, echoing the essence of Indian heritage. Techniques included traditional Indian handcrafts, many fading from practice, alongside denim to bridge heritage and streetwear. I incorporated Indian dyeing methods such as shibori and intricate zardosi embroidery, layering them into new forms. Together, these choices created a dialogue between the old and the new, balancing tradition with reinvention.

What’s next?

I am exploring my passion for styling and recently began working in film styling, which allows me to express creativity in new ways. At the same time, I feel a deep pull toward continuing my work with sarees, collecting those no longer in use and giving them new life, whether customised for their owners or passed on to the next generation. My long-term vision is to dedicate myself fully to upcycling sarees, preserving their emotional and cultural value while reimagining them for today. For me, it’s about keeping traditions alive through modern, meaningful expression.

@amrutha_ram

Ethan Lewy

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

When something is too familiar, it fades into invisibility. Fabrics like tweed, pinstripes, and corduroy are so classic they’re often underestimated. My collection reimagines these staples, spotlighting their richness through unexpected combinations of colour, pattern, and proportion. Like textile designers who reinterpret checks and florals rather than inventing new motifs, I build on menswear traditions to reveal their expressive potential. Each garment carries thoughtful details that reward close attention – the longer you look, the more you see.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked with deadstock wools, tweeds, pinstripes, corduroy, and velvet sourced in New York’s Garment District. I used the full spectrum of colour – from bright greens and yellows to muted browns and blues – without limiting myself to “seasonal” palettes. For me, colour is about the feeling it creates, not rules about when it should be worn. Tailoring techniques are mixed with playful interventions: hidden pockets, fun linings, combo fabrics, and hand-finished details that invite intimacy between garment and wearer. Each piece is made slowly and thoughtfully, emphasising both craftsmanship and discovery.

What’s next?

I’m launching my brand Ethan Lewy with a new collection and debut pop-up on the Lower East Side this October (Oct 24–26 at 48 Ludlow St). It will be the first chance to see and shop the new collection in person – come through!

@ethanlewy

Evelina Epp

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

The “Destiny Lock” collection explores the interconnectedness of life’s events that lead us to meet the right person, at the right place, at the right time. It challenges the common idea of “wrong timing,” questioning whether timing is truly the determining factor when a connection doesn’t work, or if it’s simply a matter of effort. Ultimately, the collection reflects on how both timing and the choices we make shape the course of our relationships, suggesting that what feels like chance is often the result of intention.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I focused on natural materials, particularly wool, for its high energetic frequency and emotional resonance, which aligned with the deeply personal nature of this work. I chose blue to symbolise trust in the process, and greys to reflect neutrality and the uncertainty of what comes next. Knotting, braiding, and shibari techniques symbolise the invisible energetic cords that bind us. Together, these choices express the belief that everything unfolds in its own time, whether through connection or separation.

What’s next?

I want to keep exploring the themes of connection and separation between people – how two individuals can be close, yet still apart. My past collections have also focused on this idea, and I’m excited to keep growing creatively by trying new materials, forms, and concepts. Moving forward, my aim is to create designs that visualise the emotional space between people in deeper and more meaningful ways, allowing garments to embody both presence and absence.

@evi_epp

Genevieve Zhuoran Li

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Un Professional Fabulous” explores implicit bias and the hidden rules of professionalism shaped by gender and dress codes. Inspired by the 1980s power suit, the collection reimagines office wear by merging masculine tailoring with feminine details. Original prints, created through experimental photography and narrative deconstruction, highlight how perceptions of identity and appropriateness are formed and challenged in professional spaces. The result is a collection that reframes what it means to be professional, turning conformity into a space for self-expression.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I combined classic wool suiting to reflect professional office wear with sheer silks and organza to introduce transparency and fluidity. These contrasts created layered dialogues between hard and soft, strength and vulnerability. The palette centres on black, white, and neutrals, disrupted by original prints developed from experimental photography. Techniques include tailoring, deconstruction, reconstruction, and digital textile design, all of which allow the garments to both reflect and subvert the expectations of office wear.

What’s next?

I plan to continue gaining industry experience while expanding the company I have already founded, which integrates design, pattern-making, and cross-border trade. My long-term vision is to grow this business into a platform that bridges creativity with production on a global scale, connecting technical expertise with innovative design. By building this infrastructure, I want to create space for designers to experiment while still engaging meaningfully with the realities of production.

@genevieve_li.official_

Jackie Schmidt

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Threaded Memories” draws from my family’s history of quilting and textile craft, and how these traditions carry stories across generations. I was interested in how memory is stitched into fabric – not just in heirlooms, but in the clothes we wear every day. The collection reinterprets quilting techniques and motifs through a contemporary lens, creating garments that hold both intimacy and strength. It reflects on the act of making as a form of remembering, and how the labour of craft can preserve and transform personal history.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked with deadstock cottons, linens, and wools, materials tied to both utility and comfort. Traditional patchwork and quilting methods became a starting point, but I layered them with modern manipulations: laser-cut details, experimental stitching, and unexpected combinations of scale and proportion. The palette is rooted in soft neutrals and faded tones that feel lived-in, punctuated by stronger accents of colour. Each piece was made slowly, with hand-finished details, honouring the time-intensive processes that connect past and present.

What’s next?

I want to continue exploring the intersection of craft and fashion, particularly how traditional textile practices can be reimagined for contemporary contexts. Collaborating with artisans and communities is central to this vision, allowing me to learn from techniques that have been honed over generations. At the same time, I hope to build my own studio practice where garments act as vessels of memory and storytelling. My goal is to keep experimenting with ways clothing can carry both personal and collective histories into the future.

@jackie.schmidt

Jinling Li

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Celestial Reverie” was inspired by the film Contact, particularly the spherical transport device and its three-dimensional structure. This became the foundation for the silhouettes and atmosphere of the series. I wanted to create designs that feel futuristic yet romantic, balancing structure with lightness. The collection reflects my interest in how cinematic imagery and abstract ideas can be translated into garments that carry both narrative and emotion.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

The palette draws from Ezekiel’s vision of the “wheel within a wheel,” combining my signature practical greys with beryl green. Materials include high-wool suiting, structured wool felt, metallic silk, and a self-developed black vinyl. Over two years, I explored subtraction cutting, embroidery, beading, 3D origami-inspired felt folding, and fabric-wrapped wire techniques. These experiments became integral to the collection’s sculptural silhouettes and its interplay of futuristic precision and romantic detail.

What’s next?

I plan to return to China to build my brand, developing clothing that balances practicality with strong design aesthetics. My goal is to translate my personal vision into wearable yet distinctive pieces – garments that carry a sense of imagination while remaining grounded in function. I want to establish a practice that reflects both my cultural background and my exploration of global design ideas.

@jinling.li_

Kiki Wanjing Zuo

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Precognitive” is inspired by my recurring precognitive dreams – visions of the future that have shaped me artistically in ways beyond explanation. This project seeks to materialise these elusive moments through fashion. By translating dreamlike imagery into garments, I explore the interplay of blurred outlines, ethereal textures, and fleeting movement. Utilising 3D printing, organza, and knitwear, I capture the hazy forms and luminous contrasts of my visions. The collection harmonises surreal aesthetics with commercial viability, bridging artistry and wearability.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I used 3D printing, knitwear, and organza to evoke the hazy, dreamlike quality of precognitive visions. Lightweight, translucent fabrics contrasted with structured elements to balance fragility and support. A palette of pale luminous tones against dark bases emphasised ethereal contrasts. Techniques such as fabric manipulation, layering, and silhouette distortion blurred body contours and suggested motion. The 3D printing created amorphous, cloud-like forms, while knitwear added stretch and fluidity, ensuring garments moved with the body. Together, these choices capture the fleeting, surreal atmosphere of dreams while maintaining artistry and wearability.

What’s next?

After graduation, my priority is to pursue a design role, ideally at a womenswear company that aligns with my aesthetic and values. If the opportunity is more general, I am open to working at any fashion company where I can grow as a designer. In the longer term, if the right opportunity or circumstances arise, I would also consider starting my own venture, continuing to translate dreamscapes into fashion.

@ki_ki__zuo

Lawson Park

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

I was inspired by the art, colours, and history of Portuguese tiles as well as my own upbringing in the American South. This collection is a visual love letter to home, heritage, and craft, blending Southern traditions with Portuguese-inspired artistry. My trip to Portugal brought this vision to life: I studied three-dimensional relief tiles, explored Manueline architecture, spent time with tile artists to understand their process, and visited antique workshops dedicated to azulejos. The colour palette was shaped by both Portugal and the vibrant home I grew up in, surrounded by two artist parents.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

The colour palette draws from hues found across Portugal: magenta facades, terracotta tiles, cobalt azulejos, faded seafoam doors, and deep olive greens. Each shade was taken directly from architectural details, doorways, and exteriors, as well as the traditional palettes artisans use on tiles. These colours came alive through Southern craft techniques including quilting, smocking, appliqué, beadwork, crochet, and laser cutwork. All embroidery and beadwork were executed by trained artisans, linking the skilled handwork of the American South with the craftsmanship behind Portuguese tiles.

What’s next?

I plan to continue building my brand and putting this collection into production, selling it through my line Brooks Avenue both wholesale and direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and pop-ups. My goal is to expand Brooks Avenue into a platform that celebrates heritage, handcraft, and cultural connection through fashion, while bringing the stories embedded in these techniques to a wider audience.

@lawsonbrookspark

Layla Dian Jin

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Pale Blue Dot” is inspired by Carl Sagan’s reflection on humanity’s fragility and interconnectedness within the cosmos. I translated themes of cosmic debris, space waste, and zero-gravity movement into sculptural silhouettes, merging futuristic imagination with sustainability. The collection is both a meditation on our place in the universe and a call to acknowledge the urgent responsibility we hold toward our planet, using fashion as a medium to hold those ideas in tension.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked with mohair hand-knotted onto knit bases, clay covered in gold foil to resemble cosmic debris, smocked silks, and wire-structured zero-gravity silhouettes. The palette moves from deep blacks and silvers to luminous golds, evoking stardust and planetary atmospheres. Techniques such as sculptural draping, modular construction, and textural layering bring both fragility and strength to the garments, echoing the balance of vulnerability and resilience that inspired the collection.

What’s next?

I am developing my own brand, exploring how avant-garde concepts can intersect with functionality. My next steps focus on balancing sculptural, futuristic aesthetics with wearability while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. I aim to expand into multi-product design and collaborations, continuing to merge art, technology, and environmental responsibility in ways that resonate beyond fashion.

@dianjinofficial

Luna Eunsol Kang

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Echoes of Innocence” is rooted in childhood memories of exploring my mother’s closet, a world where imagination and play blurred boundaries. Exaggerated silhouettes and proportions echo a child draped in garments too large, evoking nostalgia and fairy-tale wonder. Surrealism, particularly the works of René Magritte, shaped my vision, reflecting the blurred line between the strange and the familiar that defined my early imagination. These designs become a dreamscape, inviting wearers to reconnect with their inner child. Through memory, surreal influence, and poetic storytelling, the collection bridges innocence and fantasy, transforming garments into living echoes of imagination.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

The collection explores the poetic potential of white, using nuanced shades to evoke softness, innocence, and delicacy. Materials such as lace, silk, organza, and mohair form the foundation, chosen for their ethereal qualities and tactile richness. Techniques including quilting, boning, intricate beading, and innovative 3D printing expand the dialogue between craft and modernity. Hair braiding was also incorporated, transforming a familiar gesture into sculptural detail. Together, these elements construct silhouettes that blur reality and fantasy, weaving fairy-tale imagination into surreal forms.

What’s next?

I have spent seven years immersed in fashion design, from college to graduate school, and now I am taking my first step into the industry as a designer. After graduation, I will launch my own brand as a platform to tell stories through fashion – where emotion, storytelling, and design are reimagined. Beyond building a label, I am eager to explore new opportunities and collaborations that challenge me creatively, expand my perspective, and shape a unique voice that is both personal and resonant.

@soomoonnn

Mai Nou Her

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

The key inspirations behind “A Nou Nostalgia” come from my personal experiences with memory and the ways garments carry the past. I was fascinated by how sounds, scents, and textures can suddenly bring life vividly back. Three main sources shaped the collection: Roots and Rituals, rooted in my Hmong heritage and the “khiv tes” string-tying ritual; Midwest Best, revisiting my upbringing in Wisconsin and family dressing rituals; and Paperdoll Logic, recalling my earliest instinctive experiments with fabric scraps and dolls. Merging these beginnings with technical training, I created a collection that reimagines both heritage and history.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I gravitated toward nostalgic materials in touch and colour. Black cotton velvet referenced staple Hmong garments, while jersey and stretch velvet were reimagined into eveningwear silhouettes, recalling the comfortable clothes of my childhood. The palette centres on black, white, red, and blue, drawn from traditional Hmong clothing. A key technique was developing a fringe from white rattail cord, inspired by the Hmong string-tying ritual, half hand-tied and half machine-stitched to symbolise past and present. Paperdoll Logic informed drawing directly onto garments, cutting along those lines, and reassembling by hand-stitching. Hmong silver aluminium embellishments added both sound and memory.

What’s next?

I’m excited to begin my journey into the fashion industry, gaining hands-on experience and learning from the inside out. At the same time, I want to continue using clothing as a way to explore and express more of myself, my heritage, and the stories that matter to me. For me, this is just the beginning of a path where I can evolve both as a designer and a storyteller, carrying forward the memories and rituals that shaped me.

@minu.her

Matilda Tongying Liang

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Motherhood” is inspired by my relationship with my mother, who experienced trauma during her pregnancy in the early years of her marriage. The collection explores the concept of “Mother” beyond biological and societal norms, emphasising resilience, connection, and the profound emotional and scientific ties between generations of women. Research into the placenta, umbilical cord, maternal DNA, and fetal microchimerism deepened my understanding of intergenerational connections, shaping the silhouettes and textiles. Through this, I aimed to reflect the invisible yet powerful bonds that link women across time.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

Construction and textile manipulations were guided by these scientific and emotional inspirations. Skin-tone spandex and translucent colours symbolise the body and its fragility, while different types of boning – plastic sew-on and inserted metal – provide structural support to maintain shape. The tension between softness and strength runs throughout the collection, challenging stereotypes of women as fragile and reframing motherhood as an emblem of power and resilience.

What’s next?

My next step is to transform these sculptural silhouettes into more ready-to-wear forms, experimenting with techniques such as printing and knitting. I want to carry forward the emotional and scientific explorations of this collection into garments that can be lived in, not only conceptualised. Looking ahead, I would love to work with womenswear brands and designers, gaining experience while continuing to develop my own practice around resilience, connection, and the multiple meanings of motherhood.

@t_liang_t

Mina Khademi

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“The Fourth Dimension” is inspired by my personal experiences with loss and resilience. After losing my father as an infant and later my fiancé in a car accident, I witnessed how time both wounds and heals, shaping identity and strength. My mother’s endurance through years of mourning influenced the collection’s colour palette and its themes of empowerment. Each silhouette explores aspects of time – pressure, isolation, and expansion – expressing emotions of sorrow, joy, and hope, while reflecting on time’s fragility and transformative power.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

To represent time’s fluidity, continuity, and evolution, I combined both traditional and experimental techniques. Fabric manipulation, pleating, pintucks, heat moulding, brazing, paper moulding, clay baking, and wired-edge straps were used to create sculptural forms and shifting dimensions. The colour palette was shaped by resilience in mourning and rebirth, moving between deep, muted tones and brighter, hopeful shades. These elements together create garments that embody both the heaviness of grief and the lightness of renewal.

What’s next?

Building on the experimental techniques developed in The Fourth Dimension, I plan to translate these concepts into a commercial ready-to-wear collection. My goal is to adapt sculptural methods such as pleating, fabric manipulation, and moulding into wearable yet distinctive designs, bringing the artistry of conceptual fashion into an accessible line that balances innovation with market appeal.

@minakhademi.official

Peichen Zhou

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“HEARTstring” is inspired by the human body as a universal language, focusing on anatomical aesthetics as a metaphor for equality. I drew from historical references, medical illustration, and sculptural fashion forms to explore how clothing can embody care, vulnerability, and strength. The work balances softness with structure, inviting viewers to see anatomy not as a boundary of identity, but as a shared foundation across differences.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I combined natural fibres and technical fabrics to emphasise contrasts between fragility and resilience. The palette centres on deep reds and blacks, referencing the heart and blood. Techniques include draping, knitting, anatomical seaming, hand-stitched detailing, and textile manipulation inspired by medical sutures. Each piece merges sculptural silhouettes with intimate surface textures, blurring the line between body and garment.

What’s next?

I’m creating a new magazine called Trame.Zine. It’s not limited to fashion – it’s open to all forms of design and creative practice. The goal is to build a platform where students, independent artists, and people passionate about design can share their work. Trame.Zine is about breaking boundaries between disciplines and giving more voices a space to be seen.

@peichen_zhou

Peng Han (Beckham) Lin

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Bedtime Stories” is inspired by my father’s stories, especially the tale behind my Chinese name. It explores the mythical Roc (Peng – 鵬) as a symbol of transformation, the infinite dreamscape (Han – 瀚), and the family forest (Lin – 林) as home and heritage. These themes shape sculptural silhouettes, symbolic surfaces, and storytelling-driven construction. By merging personal memory with cultural mythology, I aim to translate oral traditions and dream states into garments that honour the past, embody the present, and imagine a future rooted in identity.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

The colour black forms the foundation of this collection, embodying night, depth, mystery, and the subconscious. Red accents appear as moments of vitality, tradition, and intergenerational protection. Sheer black silk chiffon is layered with wool twill and reflective bengaline to explore the tension between structure and fluidity. Pleated wing forms evoke flight, while digitally printed ombré catsuits and fringe blur the line between body and memory. Wire-sculpted corsets and blooming red beadwork reference roots and storytelling. Traditional techniques merge with innovations like 3D printing, balancing legacy and transformation.

What’s next?

For me, learning doesn’t stop after school – it’s a lifelong process. I’m eager to continue developing my voice and building something meaningful within the fashion industry. I plan to explore opportunities through internships, freelance work, or brand collaborations, while also growing my own label, ÆSIR.NYC, with my partners. Expanding the ways I share my work through digital platforms and social media is another step forward. Every challenge is a chance to evolve, and I look forward to gaining more experience and confidence in my craft.

@bkh

Runtan Desmond Du

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“Undefined Deity” is inspired by mythology from around the world – Greek, Hindu, Chinese, and even fictional ones like Cthulhu. I noticed that while these stories come from different places, they often ask the same big questions about life, death, and identity. That made me want to create a collection that imagines all these myths coming together into one new, shared world. Through this, I aimed to explore how clothing can embody the universality of myth and the ways we search for meaning.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked with natural fibres and materials that feel ancient and earthy, like wool, cotton, silk, and leather. The palette centres on muted browns, greys, and off-whites, with some prints created using plant-based dyes. Horn buttons and metal pieces evoke the feeling of old artefacts. Though grounded in myth, each garment is made with clean finishes, designed to feel timeless – as if preserved from another era.

What’s next?

I want to keep growing run tan du as a creative studio, not just in fashion but also in art, set design, and visual storytelling. I hope to work with other creatives, brands, or museums to build immersive worlds through clothing, exhibitions, or installations. My goal is to continue designing pieces that feel meaningful and help people see fashion as a way to tell deeper, enduring stories.

@dsmdmds

Sanyam Sharma

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

The collection began with journaling, where I found myself returning to the question: what is the essence of my being? From there, I became drawn to the idea of reflection – both as an inward search and as a mirrored, physical phenomenon. I wanted to explore how the inner world and outer world speak to one another, how identity is constantly shifting, handwritten and rewritten, sometimes even erased. That tension between fragility and power became my foundation, with symbolism of journaling and self-reflection guiding the narrative. The collection is a meditation on identity as a process, not a fixed state.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I worked through a dialogue of opposites: structured tailoring for the outer self and sheer silks for the inner one. On translucent organza, I embroidered fragments of my journals, making intimate thoughts visible through delicate layering. To literalise the language of reflection and writing, I 3D-printed oversized paperclips and binder clips as wearable sculptures. My palette remains restrained, anchored in whites and greys, so that fabric, texture, and detail carry the emotional weight of the story. Each technique, from precise tailoring to hand embroidery to 3D printing, translates reflection into tangible, poetic form.

What’s next?

Moving forward, I want to continue using journaling as both a practice and a guide, allowing philosophical questions to shape each stage of my process. I plan to deepen my experimentation with 3D printing and letter embroidery, exploring how text can transform into sculptural, wearable forms. I aspire to keep creating, reflecting, and drawing inspiration from everyday moments while building my career in the New York fashion industry. My goal is to grow as a designer whose work bridges thought and craft, transforming self-reflection into garments that carry intimacy, poetry, and quiet strength into the world.

@the.sanyamsharma

Yawen Chen

What are the key inspirations behind this collection?

“The Kiss of Time” originates from my mother’s experience after her mastectomy, when she lost one breast and felt her body was no longer complete. As she grew older, she became increasingly reluctant to reveal her skin, but I chose to break that silence. Inspired by Japanese photographer Miyako Ishiuchi, whose work shows how imperfection carries the traces of time, I transformed scars, wrinkles, and body asymmetry into elements of design. These marks are vessels of memory, embodying resilience and beauty, and they deserve to be seen.

What materials, colours and techniques did you utilise in the creation of this collection?

I used fabrics that resonate with the body, such as sheer organza and leather, alongside organic materials reflecting the texture of skin. Layered transparencies created depth, like memories accumulating over time. Techniques included mushroom pleating, laser cutting, and fractured asymmetric constructions. Colours centred on nude, earthy, and neutral tones, allowing the garments to echo the body and turn material and craft into a dialogue with time.

What’s next?

In today’s culture, many people pursue fashion through constant updates, but in doing so, it often loses meaning. I believe fashion can hold memory and emotion, preserved like a work of art. Looking ahead, I want to continue working in the field of special occasion design, where couture traditions and contemporary practices combine to create garments that leave lasting connections with their wearers.

@athena_yawenchen.studio