FIT alumni came together to send off the institution’s longest-running president, Dr. Joyce F. Brown.
On Tuesday, April 1, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted a gala celebrating Dr. Brown at The Glasshouse in New York City. Dr. Brown has held the position for 27 years and was also FIT’s first African American president.
Hosted by Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, both FIT alumni, the event was attended by 500 guests and opened with a video tribute from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. It also included a special salute from students and star-studded tributes celebrating Dr. Brown’s extraordinary achievements across three pillars: Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Impact.
Garcia, who serves as editor-in-chief of Elle and a judge on Project Runway, spoke to PEOPLE about Dr. Brown’s legacy during the gala.
“Tonight is bittersweet for me because Dr. Brown is a very special lady, a powerhouse,” she reflected. ” … I am so proud to be an alumnus and she has always supported, championed the students. Her vision and her legacy really will leave a mark in fashion, in the creative industries and beyond.”
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The evening’s presenters included Tommy Hilfiger, Deborah Roberts and FIT alumnus and designer Francisco Costa, who presented the sustainability tribute on behalf of Amber Valletta, supermodel and FIT Sustainability Ambassador.
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In her speech addressing guests, Dr. Brown spoke to to the “transformative power of education.”
“Without my own education, there’s really limited likelihood that many of you in this room would ever have met me,” she shared. “It was my ticket to a better life.”
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She also reflected on the impact FIT has had on the fashion industry.
“I have long admired the history of this institution,” said Dr. Brown. “It was born in the needle trades in the heart of New York City. The industry leaders at that time who envisioned the school to train workers for their industry, they recognized that they needed to infuse traditional work with new skill sets and technology in order to invigorate the businesses from the inside and to attract new talent. I don’t have to remind you that it worked, the new era for fashion was created.”
Combined, the gala and the newly established Dr. Joyce F. Brown Legacy Fund raised over $2.4 million. Per a press release, “These funds will go toward nurturing the next generation of FIT students by facilitating groundbreaking programs that push the boundaries of creativity, developing new initiatives, and providing scholarships.”
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