The fashion and beauty industry is always evolving, but what truly sets it apart is the impact it creates. On March 30th, the Social Impact Fund (SIF) and the FIT Foundation partnered up together for the Social Impact Summit in NYC. The event brought together industry leaders, creatives, executives, designers, FIT students/alumni, advocates, and philanthropists to celebrate the intersection of fashion, beauty, and social impact while creating important conversations and calling for action.
The Social Impact Fund was founded in 2013 to help foster philanthropy and create meaningful change through partnerships with visionary culture makers from the entertainment to creative industries. That’s what makes the Fashion Institute of Technology a perfect partner and place to host the Social Impact Summit, being part of the State University of New York, championing education in art, design, business, and technology, paving a path for a new generation of change makers.
Craig Cichy Building the Architecture of Impact at FIT
Executive director of the Social Impact Fund, Craig Cichy, opened the event by speaking from the heart on the bigger picture of this summit, which is more than just an event, it’s a movement that inspires a next generation to create change. Cichy states, “As I look out across this beautiful space, I don’t just see executives, designers, and advocates. I see architects. We are gathered here at the Fashion Institute of Technology — a place where for generations, the world has come to learn the craft of beauty and the business of style. But today, we are here to master a different kind of craft: the architecture of impact.”
Cichy further conveys that, “I’ve always said that philanthropy always starts with something personal, and I’ve never found this not to be true. Today, you will hear from the legends and the leaders who prove it. Standing here at FIT is deeply intentional; this summit represents a bridge: On one side, we have icons that we are honoring today — Kenneth Cole and Selena Gomez. Their collective impact is the gold standard that so many of us strive to reach. On the other side, we have the FIT students joining us today — students who are inheriting an industry that is no longer satisfied with simply ‘giving back.’ To the students: you are the ones who will ensure that ‘Style never exists without Substance.’”
Kenneth Cole Redefining Social Impact as a Business Model
Designer and founder of The Mental Health Coalition, Kenneth Cole was awarded the Excellence in Fashion Philanthropy for paving the path for mental health awareness, presented by the executive director of Social Impact Fund, Craig Cichy, and Philip McCarthy, executive director of the FIT Foundation.
Cole expresses that “we believe we’re going to make a beautiful effect. More people get their healthcare from the workplace than they do from Medicare or Obamacare put together – we can make a big difference. Social impact isn’t only what we do, but what we are. It’s a business model and it’s not being celebrated as much. I think it’s the most sustainable business model that exists today. We built the Mental Health Coalition with the goal of changing the dialogue, changing culture, and giving people the tools to be vulnerable and empathetic. We want to show them how to be the best versions of themselves and to show up for each other.”
In a conversation led by the editor-in-chief of WWD, Michael Atmore, a FIT student, Lia Coello, Advertising, Marketing, & Communications major, and a FIT Baker Scholar had the opportunity to ask Kenneth Cole, “how can brands ensure their efforts around social issues feel truly authentic rather than performative?” To which Cole responded saying, “brands have to be real. So often, social impact is not a social practice done in a corner office. It’s very hard to make it real unless it’s embedded into the business. It has to be resourced – with human resources and financial resources.”
Selena Gomez Redefining Ownership, Purpose, and Mental Health for a New Generation
Selena Gomez was bestowed with the Excellence in Beauty Philanthropy Award. Gomez is a mental health advocate, actress, producer, singer, and philanthropist. Most notably, known to be the founder of Rare Beauty/Rare Impact Fund, raising more than $30 million to create reach in mental health services for young people globally. Though Gomez could not be there to receive her award, the chief impact officer at Rare Beauty and president of the Rare Impact Fund, Elyse Cohen, accepted the award on her behalf, which was presented by FIT President Jason S. Schupbach and Craig Cichy.
Even though Gomez could not be there, audiences could see and feel the devotion she carries for making a difference in the lives of young people, connecting them with mental health resources. In a fireside chat led by Jenny B. Fine, editor in chief of Beauty Inc., FIT students and twin sisters, Rebecca and Valentina Messner, co-hosts and executive producers of FIT’s students run Blush Podcast and Advertising, Marketing & Communications majors were given the opportunity to ask Selena a question, “…you’ve mentioned in the past that people have to own their life and make a way for themselves.’ As Gen Z is navigating a lot of uncertainty and is redefining what success looks like, what does that sense of ownership actually look like in practice today and what would you encourage young creatives to prioritize early on?” Elyse Cohen shared Selena’s response:
“Owning your life doesn’t mean having it all figured out. I definitely didn’t and honestly, I still don’t some days. For me, it meant getting really honest about what I actually wanted versus what I thought I was supposed to want – which is a lot harder than it sounds.”
“For Gen Z, I think the pressure is so different from what any generation has faced before. You’re building your identity in public, in real time, with a comment section. That’s a lot.”
“I think sometimes ‘owning your life’ can get twisted into this idea that you need to be hustling constantly, building a brand, and monetizing everything. That’s not ownership – it’s just a different kind of pressure.”
“Real ownership looks like knowing your why. Why do you create? Why does this matter to you? Because when things get hard, that’s the only thing that keeps you going – not followers and not external validation.”
“For young creatives, I’d say protect your joy early. It sounds soft, but it’s actually the most strategic thing you can do. And take your mental health seriously – before you think you need to.”
“You don’t have to be everything at once. Build slow if you need to. The right things will stay.”
Industry Leaders Drive Dialogue on Creativity, Representation, and Purpose
The summit consisted of multiple panels, including Trailblazer in Fashion and Beauty Philanthropy led by icon Fern Mallis, president/creator of NYFW and FIT Foundation board member with panelists Nicola Formichetti, Taryn Bird, and Sam Di Scipio. Other panels included Showing Up and Showing Out: The Importance of Diverse Creative Connections moderated by Merle Ginsberg, American fashion editor and journalist with panelists from Corey Smith, Randy Cousin, and Jillian Mercado. The final panel included The Impact Mandate: From Niche Trend to Consumer Expectation, directed by Cindi Leive, CEO of The Meteor with panelists Nancy Mahon, Rohit Burman, and Tracy Reese.
Nicola Formichetti Brings Impact to MAC Cosmetics
I had the opportunity to speak with Global Creative Director of MAC Cosmetics, Nicola Formichetti in an interview exploring his creative vision for MAC Cosmetics, how his editorial background continues to shape his work, and how he approaches inclusivity, social impact, and the future of the beauty industry. You can listen to the conversation below:
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Centering Leadership and Empathy as the Future of the Industry
The President of FIT, Jason S. Schupbach, noted, “Thank you, Selena, for being such a powerful example for our students…I simply want to reiterate how vital this work is to our academic mission. Our students are the future of this industry, and today they have seen that leadership and empathy are the most important tools in their kit.”
“Selena Gomez has been such an incredible role model for students and the beauty industry at large; I truly believe that. Her talents as an artist and a creator are truly unmatched only by her incredible generosity. She sets the bar so exceptionally high for how success should be done.”
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