Program Overview
17
Days
16
Academic Engagement
25
Students on Program
In April 2025, students with the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management Master of Professional Studies program traveled to India, Finland, and Sweden to learn more about the global fragrance and cosmetics industries. Professor Stephan Kanlian specifically chose these destinations because, as he puts it, “to be able to market beauty products in different countries around the world, you have to understand culture. Whether it’s finance, marketing, or product development, we are always teaching our students about the beauty industry in the context of a global marketplace.”
The group began in Mumbai, India’s vibrant cultural epicenter, where they met with local business leaders, toured active marketplaces, and learned more about regional marketing strategies from the experts at L’Oréal and Nykaa.
In Jaipur, students browsed through the iconic Gem Palace marketplace and learned about the Bagru textile manufacturing process, from preparing the unprocessed cloth to creating traditional patterns and motifs. This was a special highlight of the trip for student Bari Blitzer, who appreciated the ability to see "the process and the heritage and community that goes into building such fabrics and textiles. It’s very important to have that connection between the brand heritage and the consumer.”
Students participated in immersive sessions with executives from large brands including House of Beauty, Boddess, and 121 Ouest, gathering critical insights into the world’s fourth largest beauty market, the rising impact of digital marketing, and the importance of brand positioning. The group also enjoyed an engaging introduction to Ayurveda at the Kairali Ayurvedic Centre. “This kind of global knowledge is critical for our students,” said Professor Kanlian.
FIT students gather critical insights into the world’s fourth largest beauty market.
In Helsinki, students learned about cutting-edge technological innovation in urban energy at Helen, one of Europe’s most advanced platforms. The group learned about Helsinki’s transition to carbon neutrality, supported by Helen’s work with artificial intelligence and resilient infrastructure to support urban sustainability, climate resilience, and citizen-focused design.
Finally, in Stockholm, students conducted retail field studies, met with executives from local beauty and technology companies, and, continuing the trend of techno-wellness collaboration, visited The Gang, a cutting-edge company that works with global brands to build immersive campaigns inside digital platforms like Roblox and Fortnite as a means of engaging Gen-Z and Gen Alpha consumers. They also met with local civic leaders passionate about cultivating ecologically minded attitudes in business, learning more about eco-municipalities and holistic approaches to wellness and commerce.
Over the years, I’ve worked with 4 different [study abroad providers]. WorldStrides is absolutely the best at risk management assessment, logistics/planning, and...they excel the most at in-country management [because they have] staff on the ground in each major market.
Stephan Kanlian
Professor & Associate Chair | Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management