Fashion Institute of Technology represent US at World Retail Congress student competition

Students will

unveil their vision of tomorrow’s retailing landscape at the Retail Futures Challenge in London, September 19-21, 2012

The team of four students that will represent the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) at the annual World Retail Congress’ Retail Futures Challenge has been chosen by a panel of executives from Warnaco Group, Inc. Warnaco has sponsored the FIT team since this global student challenge was created four years ago.

As a result of being selected over other teams from within FIT, Sojourner Edmonson-Sealy (International Trade major), Newresa Joseph (Fashion Merchandising Management major), Megan Kothari (International Trade major), and Carmela Sison (Fashion Merchandising Management major) will in September travel to London, the venue for the 2012 World Retail Congress, to compete against teams from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, London and Mumbai.

Each team will present their concept and business plan for a completely new retail business that meets the demands of today’s shoppers, who expect to be able to make purchases via all channels available to them: the physical store, catalogues, online, mobile, and social media. They will present to over 1,000 retail executives and a panel of judges. The faculty mentor for the FIT team is Robin Sackin, chair of FIT’s Fashion Merchandising Management program.

Commenting on the FIT team, Warnaco president and chief executive officer Helen McCluskey said, “Warnaco is delighted to again be supporting FIT at the Retail Futures Challenge. I was very impressed with this year’s team and their ideas for a new retail concept. I look forward to introducing them to the World Retail Congress in London this September.”

Ian McGarrigle, chairman of the World Retail Congress, said, “We are very pleased that FIT is going to be represented again at the Retail Futures Challenge. The competition has grown to become one of the high points of the World Retail Congress, and it is fantastic to see these future leaders of retailing setting out their ideas in front of an audience of retail professionals. I wish them all the very best of luck at the final on 20th September. ”