At the FIT Annual Gala on April 14, Gap Inc. President & CEO Richard Dickson (NYSE: GAP) announced the launch of The Doris Fisher Creators Program, a new mentorship initiative developed in partnership with Gap Inc. and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Named in honor of Gap Inc. co-founder Doris Fisher, the program reflects her legacy of creativity, curiosity, and belief in people. It also builds on Gap Inc.’s commitment to helping bridge the opportunity gap by creating stronger connections between education and careers in the fashion industry.

Gap Inc., led by Richard Dickson, has launched The Doris Fisher Creators Program with the Fashion Institute of Technology to mentor students in fashion careers.
Starting Fall 2026, the programme will offer structured mentorship, industry exposure, and networking for select students, honouring Doris Fisher and strengthening pathways from education to careers.

“Gap Inc. is a house of iconic American brands guided by our purpose — to bridge gaps to create a better world. That includes bridging the opportunity gap. FIT embodies that same spirit, bringing education and industry together to unlock talent and expand what’s possible. We’re committed to opening doors, investing in emerging creatives, and building meaningful pathways into this industry for the next generation,” said Dickson.  

The Doris Fisher Creators Program will connect FIT students with Gap Inc. leaders and creatives through a structured mentorship experience designed to provide exposure to the business of fashion, industry insights, and meaningful professional connection. 

The program will launch in Fall 2026 and run through the academic year, and the inaugural cohort will include students from select disciplines, including Fashion Design, Graphic Design (Apparel), and Fabric Styling.

“Supporting emerging talent is a core expression of Gap Inc.’s purpose in action. Through initiatives such as The Doris Fisher Creators Program — alongside This Way ONward, the Rotational Management Program, and our broader internship and mentorship efforts — the company continues to bridge the opportunity gap for young people looking to start meaningful careers in fashion and retail,” added Amy Thompson, Chief People Officer at Gap Inc.   

“We are incredibly proud to be the first public college to partner with Gap Inc. on this groundbreaking mentorship program. This remarkable opportunity with one of the world’s most iconic brands will support 30 talented FIT students over the next year, placing them at the intersection of innovation and impact,” said Jason S. Schupbach, president of FIT.

A benefit for the FIT Foundation, this year’s FIT Annual Gala honored Gap Inc. President & CEO Richard Dickson and was attended by distinguished guests and alumni including Ciara, Aloe Blacc, Zac Posen, Bob Fisher and others. 

The FIT Foundation provided scholarships totaling more than $3 million in 2025.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)

Italy’s consumer price inflation accelerated in March 2026, with the national index (NIC) rising 0.5 per cent month on month (MoM) and 1.7 per cent year on year (YoY), up from 1.5 per cent in February, according to a flash estimate by Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat).

The increase was driven largely by energy prices, as declines in regulated and non-regulated energy products eased significantly. In contrast, inflation in services slowed, Istat said in a press release.

Italy’s inflation rose to 1.7 per cent year on year in March 2026, driven by higher energy, according to Istat. Monthly inflation stood at 0.5 per cent.
Core inflation eased to 1.9 per cent, while services inflation slowed.
The HICP increased 1.6 per cent annually, with lower-income households experiencing relatively smaller price rises than higher-spending groups.

Core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, moderated to 1.9 per cent from 2.4 per cent, while inflation excluding energy eased to 2.1 per cent.

On a yearly basis, goods prices rose 0.8 per cent compared with a slight decline in the previous month, while services inflation slowed to 2.8 per cent from 3.6 per cent. This narrowed the inflation gap between services and goods.

On a monthly basis, the rise in the index was mainly led by increases in regulated energy prices, up 8.5 per cent, and non-regulated energy prices, up 5 per cent, along with gains transport services.

The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) rose 1.7 per cent MoM and 1.6 per cent YoY, slightly above the earlier estimate. In the first quarter, inflation remained lower for households with weaker spending capacity compared with higher-spending households.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Burkina Faso recently announced the full nationalisation of Burkinabe Company of Textile Fibres (Sofitex), the country’s leading cotton company, citing rising debt, declining production and inefficiencies.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the council of ministers that was chaired by the Transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traore.

Burkina Faso has announced the full nationalisation of Burkinabe Company of Textile Fibres (Sofitex), citing rising debt, declining production and inefficiencies.
Sofitex was a mixed-ownership firm, in which the state held a majority stake.
Full state ownership is expected to lead to tighter financial discipline, improved governance and a restructuring of operations to boost efficiency.

Sofitex was a mixed-ownership cotton company, in which the state held a controlling majority stake and private investors owned a minority share valued at about 75 billion CFA francs.

A 2025 valuation cited by the government places Sofitex’s total worth at 338.14 billion CFA francs (~$607 million), with the private stake valued at just over 75 billion CFA francs for 976,400 shares.

The company’s cotton production fell by 24-26 per cent to under 300,000 metric tonnes in the 2024-2025 season.

Full state ownership is expected to lead to tighter financial discipline, improved governance and a restructuring of operations to boost efficiency, according to a domestic media outlet.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)