From Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15, 2026, Dominican University students will spend five immersive days inside the stores, showrooms, and studios that shape the global fashion and creative industries. From Fifth Avenue and the Garment District to SoHo, the Financial District, and The MET, this trip takes students behind the curtain of New York’s most iconic creative institutions.
Monday, May 11 — Arrival & Medusa’s Heirlooms
The week begins with a visit to Medusa’s Heirlooms, a fine jewelry showroom recently relocated to a new space on Fifth Avenue. Hosted by founders Kathy and Katie, students will get an inside look at the world of heirloom-quality jewelry design.
🕓 4:00 PM 📍 Medusa’s Heirlooms — 390 5th Avenue, Suite 713, New York, NY 10018 (Entrance on W 36th Street, just around the corner from 5th Avenue)
Afterward: Free afternoon to explore the neighborhood, including Macy’s Herald Square and the historic Ladies’ Mile — once the heart of Gilded Age retail in New York City.
Tuesday, May 12 — Inside the Garment District
A full day in the engine room of American fashion.
🕙 10:00 AM — Welcome & Presentation 📍 WeWork, 135 Madison Avenue, 5C, New York, NY 10016
The day opens with WindowsWear leading a welcome session and company overview, followed by a presentation on the origins of New York City’s fashion industry and the legacy of the Garment District.
🕛 11:45 AM — Lunch Break (1 hour)
Afternoon: Curated Industry Visits
🕐 1:00 PM — M.S. Schmalberg Custom fabric flowers, a Garment District institution since 1916. With fourth-generation co-owner Adam Brand and team.
🕝 2:30 PM — Diana Fabrics A go-to source for designer-quality fabrics and trims for 30 years. With Diana Mahrach, owner and fashion designer.
🕓 4:00 PM — Seventh House PR/Showroom Seven A global showroom connecting designers to press, buyers, and the world. With Mandie Erickson, Director and Partner.
Afterward: Free time to explore the Garment District — a few blocks of Manhattan packed with showrooms, button shops, trim suppliers, and the working backbone of the fashion industry.
Wednesday, May 13 — The Ultimate Fifth Avenue Experience
🕙 10:00 AM — Presentation & Creative Session 📍 WeWork, 135 Madison Avenue, 5C, New York, NY 10016
The day opens with a presentation on the present and future of New York City’s fashion industry and Fifth Avenue, followed by a session with Raul Tovar, creative director and fashion photographer, focused on social media strategy and digital content creation in today’s fashion landscape.
🕧 12:30 PM — Lunch Break (1 hour)
Afternoon: Curated Industry Visits on Fifth Avenue
🕑 2:00 PM — Pardgroup A global agency designing and producing retail experiences for the world’s leading luxury brands. With Stefano Pieri (Managing Director) and Anat Gilad (Business Development Manager).
🕞 3:30 PM — Fifth Avenue Walking Tour A guided tour of Fifth Avenue’s most iconic windows and storefronts — including Saks Fifth Avenue, Victoria’s Secret, Skims, Coach, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman, and more. Led by Denise Foley, a visual merchandising expert with 25+ years of experience leading creative work for Burberry, Moncler, Celine, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
🕕 6:00 PM — Evening Event at Eden Gallery to celebrate the launch of Dorit Levinstein’s new sculptures on Park Avenue.
Thursday, May 14 — Liberty & Luxury, with a French Flair
🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM — Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty Tour A morning at two of the most powerful monuments in American history.
At Ellis Island, students will explore the same path so many immigrants traveled — from arrival in New York Harbor to working the clothing factories that became American fashion.
Afternoon: Curated Industry Visits
🕝 2:30 PM — Printemps (Financial District) The iconic French department store’s New York debut. With Michael Cimino, Business Partnerships Advisor.
🕓 4:00 PM — Longchamp (SoHo) Parisian craftsmanship since 1948. With Ambika Makin, Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Brand Partnerships, and Influencer Relations, and Ryan Neller, Senior Marketing Manager.
Afterward: Free time to explore SoHo — cobblestones, cast-iron architecture, and some of the most influential boutiques and flagship stores in the world.
Friday, May 15 — The Met & Departure
🕙 10:00 AM — The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The trip closes at The Met. Whether students are drawn to the Costume Institute, European paintings, the American Wing, or the rooftop view, Friday is a chance to soak in one of the greatest museums in the world before heading home.
A Week to Remember
Five days. One city. A look inside the stores, showrooms, studios that define global fashion and culture. We can’t wait to see what the Dominican University students take home from New York City.