New Beginnings at FIT New York: Our Students Step Into a Bigger World

A new chapter has begun for our community in New York City. This fall, Arjun Singh and Vatsala Shankar have officially started their BFA journey at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for 2025–2029, while Rayya Chaddha, Anusha Gupta, and Deeva Bidasaria have arrived for an Associate Degree at FIT through the one-year dual-degree exchange program with NIFT Delhi. Their first week has been a whirlwind of studio orientations, lab tours, and settling into life in Manhattan—equal parts intense and inspiring.

Anusha , Rayya and Deeva at FIT NY

Foundation year, firm footing

FIT’s foundation year is designed to sharpen fundamentals—drawing, form, materials, research, and visual thinking—so students can thrive regardless of their eventual specialization. Arjun and Vatsala have thrown themselves into portfolio critiques and skill labs, embracing the discipline that turns curiosity into craft. Rayya, Anusha, and Deeva, joining via the NIFT Delhi exchange, bring a distinctly Indian design lens to their cohorts—rooted in culture, comfort with constraint, and a love for bold storytelling.

ANUSHA , RAYYA , DEEVA

VATSALA SHANKAR

ARJUN SINGH

Glimpses from the ground: college, labs, and hotel life

We’re also sharing a behind-the-scenes look from their first days—

• College & studios: sunlit drawing bays, material libraries, and the hum of sewing machines and 3D printers.

• Labs: printmaking tables stacked with swatches, dye tests pinned like color constellations, prototypes emerging from laser cutters and dress forms.

• Hotel & first-week basecamp: late-night sketching, timetables on the wall, coffee cups next to cutting mats—proof that a new city quickly becomes a creative workspace.

Our second-years leading the way

A special cheer for our alumni stepping into Year 2 at FIT—Anoushka Amar, Smera Sood, Natasha Sawhney, and Yukti Poddar. Their progress sets a clear path for the new cohort: manage time like a pro, take feedback seriously, and make the most of every visiting lecture and open studio. You’ll see their photos in this piece as well—faces that say, “We were here last year, and you’ve got this.”

A campus visit to remember

Earlier in 2025, Sumit Sir and Ankita Kochhar Ma’am visited FIT New York. Guided by our students, they walked the campus, peeked into ongoing critiques, and met faculty who emphasized exactly what we believe in: strong foundations, honest critique, and industry-ready practice. That visit affirmed our shared goal—helping students bridge classroom rigor with real-world design.

What this milestone really means

For our learners, FIT is more than a prestigious address—it’s a proving ground. The city itself becomes part of the curriculum: galleries for research, subways for people-watching and sketching, streets as mood boards. The long days ahead will be defined by iteration—draw, test, fail, fix, learn, repeat. And with peers from around the world, every conversation becomes a masterclass in perspective.

Looking ahead

Over the coming months, we’ll continue to spotlight projects and process—from the first perfectly not-perfect sketchbook pages to final prototypes that make it to critique walls. To the parents, mentors, and friends cheering from afar: thank you. And to our students in New York—lean into the hard days, celebrate the small wins, and remember why you began.