The Tamesis
On an unusually warm spring evening, guests headed uptown to gather at the historic Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights for the annual Fashion Institute of Technology Gala. Although the setting is more than 120 years old, this year’s Lines of Influence theme feels like a new era for the university, thanks in part to new president Jason Schupbach.
Schupbach is well aware of the caliber of design talent FIT has produced: Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Daniel Roseberry—the list is extraordinary, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. “We’re in an incredibly transformative time in the industry right now, but that’s exciting to me,” Schupbach said Fashion. “We need to align with industry, we need to work with industry; understand how to develop the next generation of talent,” he continued.
Schubach’s vision for the future was not only made clear in his words, it was also emphasized by the evening’s hosts. Ciara was a good fit, and not just because of her love of fashion and self-expression. As co-founders of the Why Not You nonprofit, she and her husband, Russell, have proven their commitment to advancing education. The multi-Grammy Award-winning performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist walked the red carpet in an all-white gown designed by Gap Studio to honor the evening’s guest of honor, Gap Inc. President and CEO Richard Dickson.
“There’s nothing better than making an impact on someone’s life and journey, especially their path to success,” Ciara told us Fashion. “Because of what happened tonight, FIT will continue to support students, advance creativity and help shape the future of the industry,” she said onstage. (This captivating event benefits the FIT Foundation; an organization dedicated to educating the next generation of students.)
Dixon enthusiastically told a room full of people who shared a belief in developing young talent, raising nearly $1.9 million. “When FIT announced me as this year’s winner, I was extremely humbled and agreed on one condition: that we do more than just raise money,” he said. Dixon went on to announce the Doris Fisher Creators Program, a mentorship program where FIT students will have the opportunity to pair with Gap Inc. leaders to gain hands-on, career-boosting experience.
Since taking over Gap in 2023, Dixon has been tasked with rescuing the storied brand and restoring its pop culture relevance. Not only did he reinvigorate the brand, but he also helped bring it back to the forefront of conversation with the help of creative director Zac Posen. “Having a partner like Richard and the trust to move forward, to take risks, to innovate, to truly transform, and to have that conversation makes a lot of sense,” Posen said on the carpet.
Guests also learned first-hand what Posen and Dixon mean by “cultural relevance.” At the venue, five Gap Studio custom red carpet looks recently worn by celebrities (Anne Hathaway, Laura Harrier and Claire Danes) were on display for all to see. Taking a circuit of the venue, you’ll also catch glimpses of industry veterans such as Calvin and Kelly Klein, Iman, Karlie Kloss, Steven Kolb and Fern Mallis. But there’s also a new wave of talent arriving, such as Cult Gaia’s Jasmin Larian (herself a FIT alum), Luar’s Raul Lopez, LaQuan Smith and Christopher John Rogers (whose collaboration with another Gap Inc. brand, Old Navy, just launched this week).
“In many ways, we are just getting started, and I am eager to use my platform to help ensure that the next generation has access to opportunity,” Dixon said. The Doris Fisher Creators Program will launch in August 2026 and will pair 30 FIT students with Gap Inc. leaders for 10 months. This will be the first collaboration between Gap Inc. and a public university, underscoring their focus on emerging creativity.
Singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc culminated the evening with a performance of his 2013 hit single wake me up.
