FIT Grad Update: Adina Klein on Quality over Quantity & the Alumni Network
For many students, college coursework is the first step toward building a career in their chosen field. Exemplifying this, a number of graduates from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s denim class have gone on to work in the industry. Carved in Blue is catching up with students from the course to see where their post-graduate lives have taken them.
Adina Klein graduated from FIT in spring 2016, and has gone on to work in fashion as a designer in apparel and accessories. She spoke with Carved in Blue about her most recent career move and the benefit of tough teachers.
Carved in Blue: What attracted you most to a career in denim and textiles?
Adina: The choice in textile determines the quality of the product, any product. When I first started at FIT, all I cared about was what would make something pretty. After a few textile classes at FIT, now I know that you can’t have a good product without good textiles as your base.
Carved in Blue: Since graduating from FIT, what has been your career path?
Adina: I recently became a senior accessories designer at Steve Madden, which is a huge milestone in my career. I’m very proud of reaching this level in my career, and did not expect to reach this point in my career at this age.
Carved in Blue: Reflecting on your time at FIT, what has been the most useful lesson (from in or outside the classroom) that you’ve been able to apply to your work?
Adina: The professors are tough because the industry is tough. Some of them will push you because they want you to succeed, just like some supervisors will push you to reach your full potential. The classrooms teach you how to take critique and grow from it.
Carved in Blue: If you could give your collegiate self one piece of advice, what would it be? What do you wish you knew when you were a student?
Adina: Your classmates are your network. A lot of them will not have the endurance to stay in this industry, but the ones that do will be your best resources not only for finding work, but also to learn how the industry is changing and how to stay relevant.
Carved in Blue: What would you like to see more (or less) of in the denim/textile industry?
Adina: I would like to see more quality and less product. I’d like to see smarter designs that you can tell were really well thought out, and less filler products designed just to fill retail space.