Tag Archives: FIT Professor

Instructor Spotlight: Kathlin Argiro

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Kathlin Argiro

Passionate about sharing her experience as a fashion designer and entrepreneur,
Kathlin is an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of
Technology. A mentor to countless students, Kathlin has been selected to lead high
profile projects for First Lady Michelle Obama and for the Charles James exhibition at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute. She also was included in an elite
group of professors to develop special fashion programs for ZSTU, a prestigious fashion University in China.

A frequent speaker on fashion entrepreneurship, Kathlin has been a panelist at NYU,
Fordham University – Gabelli School of Business, Mount Holyoke, Fashion 2.0,
Womensphere, Ladies Who Launch, and The Washington Fashion Group. She is also a
mentor at XRC Labs, an accelerator for the next generations of disruptors in retail and
consumer goods at Parsons School of Design and DENYC’s mini MBA program for
fashion entrepreneurs at F.I.T.

After graduating with honors from Parsons School of Design, Kathlin honed her
knowledge of couture dressmaking techniques while working for top eveningwear
designers Arnold Scaasi and Carmen Marc Valvo. She currently consults with start up
fashion brands providing design, sourcing, production, and operations support.
Kathlin Argiro Collection dresses have been featured on the TODAY SHOW, THE VIEW
and What Not to Wear. In addition, they have been featured regularly in top national
magazines including VOGUE, IN STYLE, WOMENS WEAR DAILY, THE WASHINGTON POST, ELEGANT BRIDE, IN STYLE WEDDINGS, and MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS.

The Kathlin Argiro Collection is a favorite amongst celebrities including style guru Stacy
London of What Not to Wear, the Today Show’s Katie Couric and Meredith Viera, and
Melissa Rivers for E Entertainment’s Red Carpet Oscars Show.

Website: www.KathlinArgiro.com

Instructor Spotlight: Janice Giardina

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Janice Giardina is a designer with experience in eveningwear, activewear, knitwear, and career and casual sportswear for branded and private label manufacturers. She is a graduate of the FIT Fashion Design program. Janice embarked on her career in Fashion Design while still in high school in the late 1980’s in FIT’s precollege Saturday Live program and was later accepted to the university. She is now an adjunct assistant professor at FIT. Her designs have sold to major department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Talbots.

 

Prof. Giardina teaches the following FIT Precollege Classes:
JSX 011 Fashion Art: Silhouettes
JSX 012 Fashion Art: Rendering Fabrics

On Precollege Programs:
I started out in the Precollege program myself in the late 1980s! Since most art universities require you to know your major when applying, I think it’s great to explore this early. Taking Precollege classes is a great way to help you find out where your passion lies, and you’ll have fun and make friends while doing so!

Teaching Philosophy:
You will excel when you’re passionate about what you’re doing and enjoying yourself. I tell my students to have fun while they’re working. Find something that inspires you and bring that into your work. You cannot be creative without inspiration.

Artwork by Prof. Giardina: