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If you were to draw a straight line from New York City to Kigali, Rwanda, the distance would stretch more than 7,000 miles, across an ocean and two continents. And while the landscapes and skylines of these two cities may look vastly different, a common thread connects them: �Ը������� University.  

This summer, �Ը�������’s School of Fashion celebrated a milestone two decades in the making in New York while also preparing for a new venture in Kigali – offering a chance to reflect on 20 years of achievements for fashion students in the United States and to envision the new opportunities taking shape for students in Africa. 

The New York City Fashion Program at 20

Ranked among the top 25 fashion programs in the world and the No. 1 university-based fashion program in the United States, �Ը�������’s School of Fashion provides students with immersive, real-world experiences that place them right in the heart of the fashion industry.  

For two decades, the university’s New York City Fashion program has led the way with these experiences for �Ը������� fashion students. Starting with an inaugural cohort of just 26 students in 2006, �Ը�������’s NYC Fashion program today provides approximately 150 students per year with a real-world fashion education alongside working industry professionals.

“The NYC site serves as a strategic bridge between �Ը������� and the fashion industry, offering students immersive experiences that extend beyond the classroom,” said Ann Mariko Walter, Ed.D. ’24, M.Ed. ’19, BA ’96, director of �Ը�������’s NYC Fashion. “Our faculty, many of whom are active industry professionals, use New York City as a living classroom, providing students with real-world insights, insider access and professional connections. We collaborate closely with industry partners through internships, guest lectures, critiques, site visits and coursework. These experiences equip students with practical skills, valuable exposure and enhanced readiness for competitive careers in fashion.”

Students who participate in the program can take courses from New York City-based faculty, volunteer at New York Fashion Week, complete prestigious internships and build their professional networks. Graduates of �Ը�������’s School of Fashion have a 93% job placement rate, and the program boasts more than 6,200 alumni.  

To commemorate the anniversary milestone, the university hosted events on June 11-12 in New York City, bringing together university leadership, alumni, donors, industry partners and current students. The two-day celebration included a portfolio showcase and reception, featuring portfolios from recent �Ը������� fashion design and fashion merchandising graduates alongside the work of emerging alumni designers. The event was held at The Joyce Public House, an iconic Garment District venue just steps away from where �Ը������� fashion students have studied for two decades. The celebration continued with an exclusive philanthropic dinner held at Queensyard in Hudson Yards. Proceeds from the dinner benefited the NYC Fashion Housing Fund, which helps offset housing costs for students during their semester away.  

Cut From the Same Cloth

While the events in New York City marked two decades of success for the NYC Fashion program, across the globe, the university now seeks to extend this vision of meaningful, immersive educational experiences for fashion students to the robust and growing fashion industry in Africa.

With 60% of Africa’s population under age 25, the demand for education that connects to real industry and real employment has never been greater. In light of this, �Ը������� has announced the proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda in Kigali. The move is well timed as the Rwandan government’s Creative Economy Policy has identified the fashion and creative industries as strategic priorities. Africa’s creative economy is valued at more than $58 billion and is projected to grow to more than $200 billion by 2030, according to recent research from the Brookings Institution.

In June, a fashion symposium, co-hosted by �Ը�������, the Republic of Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and its Ministry of Education, was held in Kigali to unveil the proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda. The event was attended by national government leaders, fashion designers, educators and curious members of the Kigali community.

“We have ambitious plans,” said Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., dean and vice president for �Ը�������’s College of Honors and Global Education, who traveled to Kigali to represent the university alongside a �Ը������� delegation. “With this fashion school, we hope to make Rwanda even further a hub and a destination for international students for a much broader region in the sub-Saharan region of this continent.” 

Expanding Opportunities for �Ը������� in Africa

�Ը������� began building its academic partnership in Rwanda in 2002. In addition to the proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda, other academic collaborations have been established within peace and conflict studies and aerospace engineering, along with training initiatives with RwandAir and the Rwanda National Police.

Since the symposium in June, plans have progressed for the proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda. According to Maximilien Kolbe U. Hategekimana, program manager of �Ը������� University Rwanda, the project has secured a lease for its facility in Kigali, and preparations have begun for renovation. Procurement planning is underway for the design studios/sewing laboratories, computer lab and other specialized fashion-learning facilities. A facility manager has been appointed, and additional academic and administrative positions are being developed.

“The project remains focused on establishing Kigali as a Pan-African hub for fashion education, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry development while creating opportunities for students to connect with �Ը�������’s broader global fashion network,” he said. “We are continuing to build relationships with Rwandan and African fashion designers, industry stakeholders, government institutions and development partners to ensure the school is strongly connected to the regional fashion ecosystem.”

Subject to accreditation and regulatory approval, the proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda will offer a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising. All programs will follow �Ը�������’s curriculum, ensuring that degrees awarded in Rwanda are fully equivalent to those earned in the United States. The proposed �Ը������� University Rwanda will connect design, business and technology to support the growth of Africa’s creative industries, drawing on the expertise of �Ը�������’s School of Fashion in the United States.