By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Entertainment companies 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World Entertainment have announced a licensing partnership with FIT DTech for a children’s fashion collection.
Inspired by the animated Netflix series Karma’s World, FIT students and graduates have designed a 50-piece collection for licensing partners to incorporate across a range of consumer categories.
These categories will include jumpsuits, dresses, swimsuits, footwear, and more. The first product is set to launch later this year.
“This first-of-its-kind partnership with FIT has truly elevated the Karma’s World brand offering,” said Kyra Halperin, Co-VP of Consumer Products for 9 Story.
“The students’ talent, passion, and vision enabled them to imagine what else Karma might have in her closet, resulting in a highly creative collection that captures Karma’s unique style,” added Halperton.
“FIT’s mission to foster and celebrate youth, creativity, and individuality aligns perfectly with what Karma’s World stands for and 9 Story is thrilled to partner with an organization with the same commitment to inclusivity and representation.”
The television series, Karma’s World has a rapidly expanding consumer products program with 35 licensees secured to date. This includes global partnerships with Mattel, Scholastic, and Universal Music.
The design team for the licensed fashion collection includes both current students and 2021 graduates from FIT’s Fashion Design program. The designers include Juliana Bui, Brianna Castillo, Jacob Desvarieux, Desiree DiCarlo, Hawwaa Ibrahim, Carly McBride, Jake Valliere, and Jada Wilkerson.
The FIT DTech Lab is the college’s connection between academia and industry. Since 2017 they have undertaken more that 50 industry sponsored projects that have engaged 65 faculty members and over 200 students.
“Experiential learning and innovative partnerships are pillars of the FIT mission, and nothing illustrates that better than our partnership with 9 Story Media,” said FIT president Dr. Joyce F. Brown. “Our students were offered an extraordinary opportunity to apply their creative talent to a real-world project — one with demanding needs and deadlines — within the context of our own innovative DTech Lab. Karma’s World itself was an inspiration, radiating FIT’s own values of inclusivity and community.”
“I am proud of all our students accomplished and proud to partner with such a visionary organization,” Brown added.
FIT’s Fashion and Design Professors have teamed up with FIT graduate Brandice Daniel, founder of Harlem’s Fashion Row — an organization that supports emerging talent and provides a platform for designers of color — as an advisor to the students. Daniel also performed the role of series fashion consultant.
This unique partnership between industry and FIT shows a shared focus on social equity within the creative industries for the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community. This was also the impetus for the recent launch of the Social Justice Center at FIT, for which Daniel is an advisory council member.
Karma’s World Entertainment was founded by well-known rapper and producer Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. It is an entertainment media company dedicated to helping kids develop self-esteem, creativity, and leadership skills through music and educational programs.
The 9 Story Media Group is a leading creator, producer, and distributor of children and family-focused intellectual property. Its award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, is recognized around the world for its brands.