Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) students will now have a shot at a $20,000 prize and a Roc Nation collection inspired by their very own concept.
Friday, Roc Nation and FIT announced a partnership under which a new generation of design talent can vie to have their ideas turned into a limited-edition collection set to be developed next year. Students enrolled at FIT must submit their designs by Oct. 13, at which point the judging process will begin.
Per Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, the initiative at the heart of the newly announced partnership “is designed to identify and invest in FIT’s brightest minds” with an eye toward fashion’s future.
“Our hope is to provide students with real-world industry experience while equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to bring their creative concepts to life and build sustainable businesses around their ideas,” Perez said in a statement shared with Complex.
After the first round, the top five students will be chosen to create designs featuring one of each of the following: a hoodie, a sweatshirt, pants, a hat, and an accessory. Money will be provided by Roc Nation for the production process, which will be supervised by FIT Assistant Professor Zoran Dobric. From there, these finalists will be challenged to present concepts to a Roc Nation judging committee this December. A final winner, plus second and third place runner-ups, will be announced at the top of next year.
Dr. Joyce F. Brown, FIT president, says the Roc Nation collaboration marks “an example of how talent can span boundaries,” including those between fashion spaces and music, to “inspire creativity” worldwide.
“We look forward to extraordinary results from our students as they think boldly, connect with new audiences, and embark on their creative journeys,” Dr. Brown added.
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