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Art and design students experience life in New York as part of their international exchange semester

Our students shared with us what life was like in the “Big Apple” and what they got up to during their time at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York.

    Brooklyn Bridge
    Students at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Image by Sophie Watson.

    Seven of our Year Two students from BA (Hons) Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion, and BA (Hons) Fashion Management recently returned from a semester abroad at FIT with newfound inspiration and confidence.

    Based in trendy downtown Manhattan, FIT focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. In its third annual Global Fashion School rankings, the Business of Fashion placed FIT second in the United States and seventh in the world for undergraduate fashion programmes.

    Taksh in New York
    Students exploring New York. Image by Taksh.

    International BA (Hons) Fashion Management student Taksh Dedhia, studied Fashion Business Management during his time at FIT. He told us: “I got numerous opportunities to work in the industry, such as New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and NYC Sample Sale. I made many connections with people from the industry who came as guest lecturers, speakers at panel talks, and I met many creative people.”

    BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion student Katie Sayer, spent the semester studying Advertising Marketing Communications, which closely reflected her course at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

    She remarked: “Every day was different and there was an endless list of things to do in New York! We visited Coney Island, watched films in central park in the summer, walked along the Brooklyn Bridge and promenade, saw the Statue of Liberty, went to a shopping outlet in New Jersey, watched basketball, and much more.

    “The highlight of my time in New York was getting to volunteer for Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2018 at NYFW. Working for such a renowned name was really cool. We got to see the ins and outs of how a fashion show is put together. It was a really intense day and went really fast, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

    Katie and Annabelle in NYC
    Annabelle (left) and Katie (right) in New York.

    Sophie Watson, who studies fashion design at NTU added: “I think I learnt that I should have more faith in myself. I never thought I would get very far when I applied for the trip, let alone be chosen to go. You really learn a lot about yourself when you’re outside your comfort zone, and this trip has definitely made me want to venture outside of mine a lot more.

    “I would highly recommend this exchange trip and in fact any exchange trip. It doesn’t particularly matter where you’re going, just experiencing and immersing yourself in another culture for several months is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

    Taksh shared a piece of advice to future students going on exchange: “Talk to people. Socialise. Don’t be afraid of starting a conversation with people you don’t know. You never know, you could become great friends.”

    According to the Gone International: Mobility Works 2017 report, which analyses data from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, graduates who were mobile during their degree were less likely to be unemployed (3.7% compared to 4.9%), and more likely to earn 5% more than their non-mobile peers.

    Published on 26 March 2018
    • Subject area: Art and design
    • Category: NTU Arts; School of Art & Design