Alum builds clothing brand and gives back to undergraduates

Beckett Fine ’24 wants collegiate apparel to get a style boost. The fashion design alumnus is building his own brand, the Archival Department.

Fine’s affection for the style dates to his time as an undergrad — some of his favorite wardrobe pieces were vintage Cornell hoodies and sweaters. He began making and selling hoodies with a similar vintage feel. When they started selling out, he decided to form his brand. His senior design collection reimagined Cornell athletic uniforms by blending history with streetwear and performance apparel.

“Collegiate apparel feels like it has become pretty standardized,” said Fine. “I saw room for more individuality. Partnering with a university should look more like a creative collaboration than a logo-licensing transaction.”

This spring, his brand debuted its first collaborative capsule collection with the Cornellian yearbook at a pop-up event featuring hats, hoodies and tote bags. Fine is working with student groups like the Cornellian as he negotiates licensing agreements with several universities.

Fashion image of 4 students wearing Cornellian hoodies

The event took place on Ho Plaza on May 2 and 3. Within the first two days, 75% of the merchandise sold out. After two weeks, everything had been sold.

Fine designed, patterned and embroidered all items. His designs draw inspiration from 1980s cuts and styles to align with current fashion trends. Garment processing techniques included spray washing to create a vintage effect reminiscent of the era.

He sourced graphics from the 1876-1877 “Cornellian,” which aligns with the Archival Department brand – not just referencing archives but working directly from them. Fine felt the 19th-century graphics complemented the ’80s style of the garments.

“Collegiate apparel is an emotionally loaded category, and it could be treated with more design intention,” said Fine. “Every school has decades of visual history sitting in yearbooks, old athletic programs and university archives. I see this as a design opportunity.”

For Fine, the collaboration’s success wasn't measured solely in sales. He also saw the pop-up as an opportunity to help current Cornell students gain practical experience and showcase their talents.

Undergraduate contributors build their portfolios

Fine offered students majoring in design and environmental analysis or architecture a chance to design and build the pop-up store. He also recruited student photographers to photograph models for marketing materials.

“When I was in school, I jumped at any opportunity to gain experience and improve my resume,” he said.

Kate Kim ’28, a design and environmental analysis major and aspiring interior designer, won the design challenge. The strength of her 3D models and carefully planned budget set her apart from other applicants.

During an intensive 16-day period, while also completing coursework, Kim designed and built the pop-up with the help of two friends and fellow DEA majors, Estelle Azurin ’28 and Kunuga Hosoe ’28, as well as support from Charles Beach and Jaden Demarest in the Digital Design and Fabrication Studio.

This project made me realize how much I enjoy doing spatial design work,” said Kim. “I loved bringing something from concept to physical fruition.”

As project manager, Kim planned the budget, selected and sourced materials, operated fabrication machinery, and led modular and on-site assembly.

The completed pop-up store was a modular five-piece structure featuring a floor base, an L-shaped counter, a roof, a load-bearing structural wall and a side wall. The 8-square-foot structure weighed more than 600 pounds.

The project brought together alumni and students from across disciplines — an outcome that was just as important to Fine as the collection itself.

“This was an incredible experience,” said Fine. “I’m grateful to the Cornellian team and to all of the Cornell students who helped make this possible.”

Kate Kim holds up wood as she puts together a pop up story while wearing one of the red Cornellian branded sweatshirts

Finished Cornellian pop-up store, a red and white wooden structure

Cornellian Archive pop-up store on Ho Plaza, May 2 and 3, 2026. Designed and built by Kate Kim ’28. Photo by Kate Kim.

Pop-up design details by Kate Kim ’28.

Decorative image: Beckett fine on runway with 4 models wearing red and black Cornell sports uniforms.

Beckett Fine ’24 leads models down the runway at the finale of the 2024 Cornell Fashion Collective spring runway show. His senior design collection reimagined Cornell athletic uniforms by blending history with streetwear and performance apparel. Photo by Cornell University Photography.

3 students wearing red Cornellian hoodies with cows in the background

Promotional photograph for Cornellian collection taken at Dead End Farm, Candor, NY. Photo by Vivian Ye. Promotional photograph (above left sidebar) of students in an office by Sam Su.