Gala inspires students to find their fit in fashion industry

A festive black-tie gala brought together fashion industry star power, networking opportunities and Cornell fashion students wearing shimmering gowns and fashion-forward tuxedos.

Designer Prabal Gurung and former executives at Givenchy and Vera Wang headlined the Fashion Speaks Gala on Nov. 15, in the Statler Hotel ballroom. The event is the biggest of the year for the host, the Cornell Fashion Industry Network (CFIN), a student-run organization linking students to the global fashion industry and housed in the College of Human Ecology's (CHE) Department of Human Centered Design.

Guests enjoyed inspiring interviews and networking opportunities with Gurung, the creative director of his namesake label; Keith Lissner, former executive vice president of design at Vera Wang; and Valerie Leon, former president of the Americas at Givenchy.

"I learned that when creating your own brand, success requires risk," said Kate Stiens '27. "Keith also helped me realize the power of marketing your portfolio by wearing your own work." Stiens, a fashion design major with a passion for sustainability, wore a gown she designed herself and constructed from an upcycled lace curtain.

All three speakers emphasized the need for grit in the fashion industry and praised the fashion world for being an inclusive space. "My job is 95% hard work and 5% glamour," said Gurung, adding that the creative reward makes the effort worthwhile.

Gurung, who was raised in Nepal and India before completing his fashion education at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, shared how his identities have shaped his creative vision. He encouraged students to embrace their sense of "unbelonging" as a source of strength. Gurung also spoke about his book, "Walk Like a Girl: A Memoire," and each guest received a signed copy.

And he discussed his advocacy work. He established the Shikshya Foundation Nepal to support education for children in Nepal and has advanced the visibility of Asians in the diaspora including prominent collaborations with actress Michelle Yeoh and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Both Gurung and Lissner were candid about their experiences being young and queer and finding a community in the fashion world. Lissner noted that his competitive edge came from thinking in unconventional ways and creating the unexpected, noting that as a designer, "you want to give people what they don't know they want."

Most attendees were students in the CHE's fashion design, fiber scienceand fashion design managementmajors. The gala also attracted students interested in business and entrepreneurship.

Siya Kottamasu '28 and Margaret Watkins '27, who are CFIN co-presidents, began identifying potential speakers in July, compiling a list of 150 leaders across different sectors of the fashion industry.

"We really tried to make sure that we connected every interest in CFIN with at least one speaker," Watkins said. "We were thrilled to have a designer from a big company, a designer who runs his own fashion house and a president with a strong merchandising background."

Linking Cornell students to the fashion industry

CFIN aims to build relationships between students and fashion-industry alumni while teaching students tangible networking and professional skills. Professional development is central to CFIN's programming, and the gala includes ample time for networking.

"CFIN's greatest strength is bridging students to the fashion industry. They focus not just on design but all aspects of the industry," said Jaleesa Reed, CFIN adviser and assistant professor of human centered design.

In the fall, CFIN's professional development begins with peer-to-peer resumé reviews, mock interviews and informational Zoom sessions with Cornell alumni and fashion brand representatives. As students strengthen their networking skills, they join a mentoring program through which upper-level students guide first-year students.

"We tried to match students based on their interests: design, buying, planning, marketing and public relations," Watkins said. "A lot of people were happy to make connections within the Department of Human Centered Design."

Peer mentors are especially helpful for fashion design management majors, which is one of the larger majors in the Department of Human Centered Design, Kottamasu said. "Last year, when I was a first-year student, my mentor was a senior who was president of the Cornell Fashion Collective and already had her job with the financial consulting firm PwC. Her mentorship was so valuable."

CFIN members share internship experiences and contacts with the general CFIN membership. In the spring, students are paired with alumni mentors, complete an entrepreneurship project, and run and promote the Kay Obendorf Lecture, which brings a fashion industry expert to campus each year to share their insights.

Maria Fernanda Serra Almeida Leite '25 credits CFIN with helping her secure her current role as an assistant designer at Michael Kors. Through CFIN, she met Robert Rizzolo, M.B.A. '20, global president at Alexander Wang, when he spoke at the 2024 CFIN gala. She attended a CFIN Zoom session in spring 2024 with Jonah Klein '90, head of human resources at Max Mara Fashion Group. Follow-up meetings with both leaders helped prepare her for the job market, she said.

"CFIN opened the door for me to showcase all the blood, sweat and tears I had poured into my portfolio," Fernanda Serra Almeida Leite said. "It gave me the chance to form relationships with people in the industry."

Opportunities like those provided by CFIN are among Cornell's greatest strengths, she said, and she urged students to take advantage of them.

"If the job search taught me anything, it's that persistence is everything," Fernanda Serra Almeida Leite said. "CFIN is a resource that gives space for students to listen, interact and build relationships with individuals who have a huge impact in your life."

Marisa LaFalce is a communications assistant for the College of Human Ecology.