X-Rite Pantone, a global leader in color standards and color science, has announced a strategic partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York (SUNY), to strengthen digital color education and innovation in the apparel, footwear, textile, and soft goods industries.

As part of the collaboration, X-Rite Pantone will donate its professional color measurement, quality control, and visual evaluation technologies to FIT’s Textile Development and Marketing (TDM) department, expanding the department’s hands-on learning resources within the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology.

Using the same technologies employed by leading global brands, students in FIT’s Textile Development and Marketing department will gain practical experience managing color from the design stage to the finished product. They will also learn how digital color workflows improve communication across supply chains, strengthen quality control, support both nearshoring and global sourcing strategies, and help brands respond more quickly to changing consumer demands.

As part of the collaboration, X-Rite Pantone and FIT will also conduct industry research to develop more efficient, sustainable, and connected color management processes. The research will focus on increasing digital adoption, improving collaboration between suppliers and brands, enhancing color accuracy and consistency, and identifying best practices for building more resilient textile supply chains.