Best in Class

They’re just getting started, but these young designers at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology prove that being green is a good thing.

model wearing a design
(Image credit: Tyler Joe)

Maybe you’re skeptical. You’re not buying the whole idea that sustainable fashion is a priority for designers—or worse, even a possibility. Which, fair. There are only a few established players who are really moving the needle forward in a landscape where greenwashing is prevalent, fundamental change has been slow, and landfills are burdened with billions of discarded garments each year.

Enter: Seven fashion design students focusing on sustainability at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology. The academic institution is helping change the industry by offering sustainable fashion programs and advanced learning opportunities that align with circular values.

Earlier this year, Marie Claire and Kering convened for the “Fashion Our Future” conference in downtown New York, where they showcased their innovative designs and hope for a new era of fashion. One where the use of gentle dyes and natural materials, upcycling—and even some computer programming—are proving that responsibility and creativity can go hand-in-hand. Here, they show you what sustainable fashion can look like. 


model wearing custom design

Monbouquette earrings and rings.

(Image credit: Tyler Joe)

"The original intention of the material selection was to reuse the mesh left over from previous designs. I found that this fabric undergoes self-adhesive properties when exposed to heat, so I used 3D shaping to create a new texture. I also restored second-hand clothing and combined recycled shirts with innovative fabrics [like mesh and polymers] to create new garments."


model wearing custom design

Lafayette 148 New York shoes.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

"For this design, I used 100-percent cotton and natural dyes alongside pink hibiscus—often used to make agua de jamaica, a hibiscus iced team from Mexico, where I'm from. I used birch leaves for the green."


model wearing custom design

Kotn top, By Pariah earrings, Azlee necklace.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

"I strived to use sustainable materials and practices in every aspect of this design. The fabrics I selected—cotton, silk, and linen—were carefully chosen for their natural fibers and have a lower environmental impact than synthetic materials. I incorporated eco-dyeing as an integral part of the collection's DNA, experimenting with different mordants like rust water and alum [a pickling spice] to achieve a range of colors and patterns.”


model wearing custom design

Wolford top, HUE tights, By Pariah earrings.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

"3D printing could open doors to a new world of sustainable materials that we may not have considered before. I've always enjoyed coding, programming, and science. I have a background in architecture. My goal is to merge technology and fashion using unconventional materials and software.” 


model wearing custom design

HUE tights, By Pariah earrings, Jia Jia necklaces, Azlee necklace.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

“I believe that we can reshape fashion into a more conscious and compassionate industry through sustainable practices. To create my design, I implemented a zero-waste pattern-cutting technique. All my patterns are rectangular pieces to ensure minimal fabric waste. The goal of my design was to open up people's eyes to the potential for technological advancements to drive innovation and positive change in the industry."


model wearing custom design

HUE tights, Camper shoes.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

"My entire garment is created using my dad's old shirts. I only purchased the thread and some cotton webbing ribbon for the hat as I wanted to minimize using new materials. My aim is to highlight the potential for transforming discarded items into something new."


model wearing custom design

Kotn dress, Hereu shoes, By Pariah earrings, Completedworks rings.

(Image credit: Tyler Jor)

"This project entailed applying an adhesive structure to multi-axis stretch materials to create a buoyant interpretation of ancient drapery. Parametrically coded curves are the source for—not only the decoration—but the construction and fit of the silhouettes. I had seen a similar construction technique by a designer at the MIT Media Lab about a decade ago and wanted to see how the concept could apply to clothing. I used computer software to modify design components in ways that were fast and nearly cost-free."

Shot on location at the Fashion Institute of Technology New York City Campus.


Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director for Marie Claire, where she's worked alongside the publication for eight years in various roles, ensuring the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation about fashion's ever-evolving landscape. With a degree from the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is responsible for overseeing a diverse fashion content mix, from emerging and legacy designer profiles to reported features on the influence of social media on style and seasonal and micro trends across the world's fashion epicenters in New York, Milan, and Paris. Before joining Marie Claire, Sara held fashion roles at Conde Nast's Lucky Magazine and Self Magazine and was a style and travel contributor to Equinox's Furthermore website. Over her decade of experience in the fashion industry, Sara has helped guide each brand's style point of view, working alongside veteran photographers and stylists to bring editorial and celebrity photo shoots to fruition from start to finish. Sara currently lives in New York City. When she's not penning about fashion or travel, she’s at the farmer’s market, on a run, working to perfect her roasted chicken recipe, or spending time with her husband, dog, and cat. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork