rue21 Sponsors the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Senior Capstone Course for Fashion Business Management Majors

WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 26, 2016 -- rue21, inc., a leading teen specialty apparel retailer and one of the top 100 brands for millennials, today announced its Spring 2016 partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which is ranked the third most influential fashion school in the world by the Business of Fashion. rue21 is the Spring 2016 sponsor of Merchandising Strategies, the capstone course for B.S. degree students majoring in Fashion Business Management. This course is designed to hone critical thinking skills by applying a hands-on approach to fashion-related concepts. This year’s focus on rue21 will benefit both the students and the retailer.  

FIT students will work in teams to research rue21’s financial, merchandising, and competitive data. They also will visit rue21 stores and rue21.com to conduct research. After their research is completed, each team will develop a final presentation providing insights and suggestions regarding rue21’s business strategies. The team with the best final presentation will be invited to present to rue21’s senior management team at the company’s support center in Warrendale, PA.   

“This new sponsorship is exciting. FIT’s students are savvy thinkers when it comes to fashion and also represent one of rue21’s key target demographics – millennials and gen Z,” said Bob Fisch, President and Chief Executive Officer of rue21. “The FIT students’ perspectives align with those of our core customer, and we’re thrilled to hear what they have to say.”

“This partnership is a great opportunity for our students,” said Steven Frumkin, dean, the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. “It gives them real life industry experience in key areas, as well as the chance to work with professionals in a challenging environment.”

In addition to the sponsorship at FIT, rue21 is launching a student social ambassador program. Since Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social networks, the retailer is looking to tap into students with a passion for fashion and social media to promote rue21 on their Instagram accounts throughout 2016. In return, rue21 will cross promote the students’ and schools’ accounts.

About rue21
rue21, a leading teen specialty retailer, believes that fashion plays an important role in the journey to self-discovery. Choose a style, make it your own. You’re an individual, and you need fresh, feel-good pieces that let you totally own it. That’s why the retailer works to make the latest trends affordable and available to anyone. Its mission is to make fashion everyone’s playground. Headquartered just north of Pittsburgh, PA, rue21 currently operates 1,187 stores in 48 states in shopping malls, outlets and strip centers, and on its website. For more information, visit www.rue21.com. The freedom to be you is rue!

About Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, a college of the State University of New York, has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology for more than 70 years. With a curriculum that provides a singular blend of hands-on, practical experience, classroom study, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, FIT offers a wide range of outstanding programs that are affordable and relevant to today’s rapidly changing industries. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the global marketplace. Visit fitnyc.edu.

Contact:
rue21
Deanna Tomaselli
[email protected]
724-776-9780 ext. 6146 

FIT
Cheri Fein
[email protected]
212-217-4718