Fashion Institute of Technology students design window displays for Macy’s

Students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) have designed window displays for Macy’s Herald Square in honour of Black History Month.

The following students from areas including exhibition design, fashion design, graphic design and visual presentation were selected to design a window display: Dontay Grant, D’visqua Daniel, Hillary Bell, Jordan Rush and Keanu Williams.

The students had ten days to create their display using the theme ‘Black Brilliance’ as their inspiration, the students were mentored by associate professor of visual presentation and exhibition design Anne Kong.

Additionally, students collaborated with Macy’s visual window manager Andi Woung virtually so that Woung could assist in producing their window display.

The windows will be displayed through 1 March.

View the window displays below:

Designer and photo credit: Hillary Bell, Bill Waldorf, Waldorf Photography

Bell said in a statement: “For my window, I showed a figure (representing myself) emerging out of the ground with others following behind it. This represents the future of Black designers (that look just like me!) that will continue to make their mark on this industry.”

Designer and photo credit: D’visqua Daniel, Bill Waldorf, Waldorf Photography

Daniel added: “My inspiration for the display window was influenced by the colours of the St. Kitts national flag. The colours symbolize what our ancestors fought for, which made it possible for Blacks to celebrate Black History Month. Green signifies our fertile soil, while red represents the blood our forefathers shed for their freedom.

“Additionally, yellow is for our year-round sunshine, black represents our African heritage and white epitomizes hope and liberty. The significance of these colours led me to portray them in my window display to bring awareness and to acknowledge my Kittitian roots.”

Designer and photo credit: Dontay Grant, Bill Waldorf, Waldorf Photography

Grant explained: “I wanted to capture a sense of Black history by incorporating African folk art. I utilised the colourful and vibrant styles on the centrepiece of my three looks, which features a quilted puffer jacket showcasing a self-portrait. I figured the best way to highlight representation would be to represent myself, so that’s what I did. The other two looks represent my signature design styles, with an aim to complement the centerpiece.”

Designer and photo credit: Jordan Rush, Bill Waldorf, Waldorf Photography

Rush discussed: “My immediate thought for the window designs was to communicate an emergence of colour from white space. For my window, I focused on the words, ‘Take Risk, Create Change,’ because that is something that drives me to create and is a statement that I keep in mind when I don’t feel motivated. All of the design elements from the fashion to the lighting, to the graphics, created a radiant space that really does show our brilliance.”

Designer and photo credit: Keanu Williams, Bill Waldorf, Waldorf Photography

Williams commented: “I wanted to show the viewers exactly who I am and what I represent. I was inspired to create looks that conveyed feelings of strength, beauty, and energy. I also took inspiration from the ’80s with the colour palette, because this era was full of energy, structure, and power. These pieces were made to empower the wearer to be bold, loud, crazy, glamorous, and always their most extra self.”

Photo credit: Kent Miller, Kent Miller Photography