Global Fashion Management

NYSED: 28922 CIP: 52.1101

The 45-credit, full-time Global Fashion Management program is offered in collaboration with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, and Centro in Mexico City. The program’s purpose is to prepare emerging fashion executives for top managerial and leadership positions in the international fashion industry. Classes are held three evenings per week, allowing industry professionals to work while earning this advanced degree. The curriculum includes courses in production management and supply chain, global marketing and fashion brand management, culture and international business, corporate finance, politics and world trade, business policy, global retail management, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Four intensive seminars are taught at the participating institutions. The course of study is completed in a four-semester period. Graduating students are prepared for advancement within their sectors of the fashion industry. Curriculum is for the entering class of fall 2026.

AARON DUNCAN, Chair
aaron_duncan@fitnyc.edu
fitnyc.edu/gfm

Course of Study

Semester 1
GF 502	Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Creativity	3
GF 503	Capstone I: Concept Development	2
GF 581	New York Seminar: The Business of American Fashion	3
GF 631	Special Topics in Global Fashion Management	3
Semester 2
GF 504	Capstone II: Risk & Legal Strategy	2
GF 551	Global Supply Chain and Sourcing	3
GF 561	Global Marketing Strategy	3
GF 584	Paris Seminar: The Business of Luxury	3
Semester 3
GF 585	Hong Kong Seminar: Production, Supply Chain & China Market	3
GF 612	Financial Management	3
GF 621	Politics and World Trade Today	3
GF 640	Capstone III: Communication and Presentation Skills for Executives	2
Semester 4
GF 552	Strategic Management	3
GF 586	Seminar: Current Topics in Retail	3
GF 600	Organizational Leadership	2
GF 601	Global Seminar: Commerce and Culture	3
GF 603	Capstone IV: Presentation Design and Final Pitch	1
Total Credits		45

COMMON REQUIREMENTS

All degree programs require that students maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 every semester while enrolled in the program. A student is placed on probation if his or her semester GPA is below 3.0. A student is not subject to academic dismissal at the end of his or her first semester in a degree program. A student will be dismissed from the college after two consecutive semesters with a GPA below 3.0. A final GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

ADVANCEMENT TO DEGREE CANDIDACY

Eligibility to Attend Commencement Exercises

Candidates for the master’s degree at FIT must have advanced to candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.

Degree Requirements

General

For admittance to degree candidacy, students must have satisfied all prerequisites, completed a minimum of 45 approved course credits, achieved a final grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0, and successfully completed the capstone seminar. Students must have advanced to degree candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.

Capstone Seminar

Emphasis is placed upon global business concerns, including merchandising, sourcing, marketing, financial management, leadership, sustainability, and digital commerce, among other disciplines. Students collaborate on the capstone project with third-year law students from Cardozo School of Law, who act as consultants to GFM’s client, offering legal advice based on copyright, trademark, privacy, counterfeit, and other legal issues. Individuals and teams are graded on their ability to analyze issues from the perspective of corporate or consumer environments, the collection and understanding of data, conducting effective surveys, utilizing concepts learned in the program, and professional presentations. A jury of industry professionals judges the final projects for entry into the final capstone event held in June for an audience of family, faculty, and industry executives.

Time Requirement for Degree Completion

See Scholastic Standing.

Travel

Please note: Students in the Global Fashion Management program should budget for the mandatory trips to Europe, Asia, and Mexico, as these expenses are not covered by tuition.

For planning purposes seminars run Sunday through Saturday. Students should plan to arrive the Saturday before and depart the Sunday after to ensure full participation. Always confirm exact dates with your professor before making travel arrangements. Students are expected to attend each day. Flight schedules must not conflict with other courses before or after the international seminar.

Courses

GF 501 — Seminar: New York

0 credits

GF 502 — Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Creativity

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

This course provides a survey of theories, research, and best practices across the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. Students explore the entire entrepreneurial process—from idea generation to product launch to owner exit—and considers the unique aspects of social entrepreneurship, high-tech startups, and family business.

GF 503 — Capstone I: Concept Development

2 credits; 2 lecture hours

In this innovation practicum, students launch their two-year capstone projects. Focusing on idea generation, research-based concept development, and project management skills, students begin to address a critical issue in global apparel, accessories, or a related lifestyle industry. Outputs include a project or business model canvas and a capstone project roadmap.
Corequisite(s): GF 502.

GF 504 — Capstone II: Risk & Legal Strategy

2 credits; 2 lecture hours

In this capstone project course, students assess legal, regulatory, and business risks using lean startup tools. In collaboration with students from a NYC law school, such as Cardozo Law, they develop a risk-aware product prototype–integrating legal strategy into real-world innovation, from market fit to compliance and entrepreneurial decision-making.
Prerequisite(s): GF 503.

GF 551 — Global Supply Chain and Sourcing

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

This course explores the fundamentals and best practices of managing global supply chain and sourcing activities, and current and serious challenges for businesses. Discussion includes designing for circularity, procuring materials, digitizing production, data-driven demand planning, near shoring and global production portfolios, as well as the impact of trade policy on supply chains. Students will learn how a fashion business supply chain is essential to delivering to customers the product(s) and services they expect, and how and when they can expect it.

GF 552 — Strategic Management

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Through readings, case studies, and a technology-based simulation, students engage with the complexity of why some organizations perform better than others. This course emphasizes the application of multifaceted frameworks to both analyze critical issues impacting organizational outcomes and practice data-driven, strategic and tactical decision-making.

GF 561 — Global Marketing Strategy

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Explores global fashion marketing through digital transformation, market research, positioning, branding, and expansion. Students analyze case studies across international markets and tiers–from mass to luxury–then develop omnichannel strategies integrating data, channel tactics, and cultural insight to optimize opportunities, engage diverse global consumers, and lead in an innovation-driven landscape.

GF 581 — New York Seminar: The Business of American Fashion

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

A week-long seminar in New York City bringing together thought leaders from the U.S. fashion industry to explore leadership, innovation, and market dynamics across finance, marketing, technology and retail innovation. Through executive sessions, site visits, and a case study, participants examine challenges and opportunities shaping the future of American fashion.

GF 583 — Culture and International Business

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Explores the relationship of international business practices to various national cultures. Applies concepts borrowed from cultural anthropology and sociology to specific problems and situations encountered in international business. Using case studies, team projects, and simulation exercises, to highlight common dilemmas encountered in marketing, negotiations, human resources, business communications, organizational structure and management.

GF 584 — Paris Seminar: The Business of Luxury

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

A week-long seminar that brings together leaders from the French and EU luxury fashion industries to explore brand heritage, creativity, and strategy. The program examines the evolution of the luxury sector, shifting consumer behavior across the EU, and current trends defining the French market as a global center of fashion and innovation.

GF 585 — Hong Kong Seminar: Production, Supply Chain & China Market

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

A week-long seminar examining production, sourcing, and retail across Hong Kong and Mainland China. Through executive sessions, factory visits, and cultural experiences, participants explore innovation, technology, and sustainability shaping global supply chains, while gaining insight into China’s consumer market and Hong Kong’s role as a strategic fashion hub.

GF 586 — Seminar: Current Topics in Retail

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Through the lens of highly experienced retail leaders and within an interactive class environment, a series of speakers will discuss their expertise in creating, managing, analyzing, growing and investing in modern retail businesses. Students will focus on a different business case and theme each week, and topics and guests will change and evolve based on current issues and the business environment.
Prerequisite(s): GF 581.

GF 600 — Organizational Leadership

2 credits; 2 lecture hours

This course offers a survey of organizational leadership theory and a hands-on approach to leadership practice. Students create personal development plans, apply empirically-validated leadership behaviors, and provide peer-to-peer feedback. Emphasis is placed on “positive leadership” research and methodology. Topics include networking, negotiations, motivation, reputation, ethics, purpose, and the crisis-opportunity relationship.

GF 601 — Global Seminar: Commerce and Culture

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

A week-long seminar examining the intersection of commerce and culture in an emerging fashion market. Through executive sessions, company visits, and a real-world case study, students explore cultural heritage, creative economies, retail landscapes, and market entry strategies. International travel is required.

GF 602 — Capstone III: Applied Research

2 credits; 2 lecture hours

In this applied research practicum, students design and implement scaled-down, high impact qualitative and quantitative primary research studies to test assumptions about customers, the product, and the market embedded in their evolving project concepts.
Prerequisite(s): GF 503 and GF 504.

GF 603 — Capstone IV: Presentation Design and Final Pitch

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

This course focuses on the advanced refinement and professional execution of the Capstone presentation. Building on prior presentation coursework, students optimize strategic messaging, data-driven visuals, KPI articulation, and cohesive visual systems to achieve executive-level clarity, precision, and polish for academic and industry audiences.
Prerequisite(s): GF 503 and GF 504 and GF 602.

GF 612 — Financial Management

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Costing, funding, financial analysis, and financial planning for the general manager. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis are employed with an emphasis on using Excel. Applications include case studies, current events, and student capstone projects.

GF 621 — Politics and World Trade Today

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

Explores the influence of politics on contemporary world trade. The political agendas that come into play when countries are formulating multilateral and bilateral agreements to establish trade rules are examined. Organizations such as the World Trade Organization are studied for their influence on worldwide trade practices. The risks and benefits of conducting global business is emphasized.

GF 631 — Special Topics in Global Fashion Management

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

GF 631A — Special Topics: Sustainability Science and Innovative Technologies

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

This course aims to provide students with a scientific grounding in sustainability and enhance students' comprehension of emerging technologies. Introducing foundational principles of environmental science, circularity, and AI, students will learn about technology to streamline fashion management processes, minimize material consumption, and elevate consumer engagement in the fashion industry. Students will explore a global perspective of the fashion industry to understand the challenges faced and the opportunities that sustainable development is bringing. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will gain experience with various 2D and 3D technologies to develop digital prototypes, oversee product lifecycles, and create VR experiences.

GF 631B — Special Topics: Merchandising Strategy & Retail Management

3 credits; 3 lecture hours

This course builds advanced strategic and managerial capabilities across two functions: Merchandising Strategy, integrating assortment planning, pricing, profitability, and AI tools; and Retail Management, leading teams, operations, and store performance. Through case studies and applied projects, students synthesize merchandising and retail strategies to enhance profitability, customer experience, and organizational effectiveness.

GF 640 — Capstone III: Communication and Presentation Skills for Executives

2 credits; 2 lecture hours

This course builds advanced public speaking, visual storytelling, and persuasion skills through students’ Capstone projects. Emphasis is placed on articulating vision and influencing decision-makers across varied settings—including boardroom discussions, crisis communications, and investor pitches—translating research and strategy into compelling narratives for executive audiences.
Prerequisite(s): GF 503 and GF 504.