Economic and Financial Dynamics in Luxury Fashion

Qadar Naeem, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major Economics and Finance, and minor in Business Data Analytics

My capstone project combined my fascination for both fashion and finance. I explored the luxury fashion industry, which has a global market valued at $1.6 trillion.
The project’s purpose was to understand the economic and financial structure of the industry, how companies navigate economic challenges and optimize their financial performance during recessions, and adapt to changing consumer behaviors. Moreover, how strategies like a merger or an acquisition (M&A) help firms adapt to downturns and enhance performance.
My methodology involved analyzing financial data such as the stock market, economic indicators, and corporate reports to understand the trends within the industry, while also examining recent mergers and acquisitions activity in the sector to assess their impact on the company's performance. My main focus was to identify trends or patterns in major conglomerates such as LVMH, Kering, and Richemont, and analyze the array of brands that fall under these companies.
When researching these corporations, it was really interesting to discover a steady linear growth pattern in their financial data, which demonstrates their stability and adaptability. Despite the volatile nature of economic markets, these companies have shown an extraordinary propensity for long-term success.
Companies within the industry with a beta less than 1 demonstrate low market risk, as a beta value of 1 implies that the stock moves in line with the market. When it's below 1, it means the stock tends to be less volatile than the overall market, indicating lower risk since it's not as affected by market fluctuations. This has been proven by their response to the COVID-19 recession and the Great Recession. The way they have managed to withstand downturns and emerge stronger demonstrates their strategic competence.
It was intriguing to learn how closely these luxury brands are linked, and how most of them are owned by the same parent companies. When we see names like Loro Piana, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Celine, and Fendi, they appear to be completely unrelated. However, they are all owned by the same parent company, LVMH. This usually happens when subsidiaries are split off by a merger or an acquisition, such as Tiffany and Co. being acquired by LVMH in 2021 and Bulgari in 2011.
My journey into research in the luxury fashion industry has been filled with profound discoveries and insight. Through comprehensive research and monitoring of financial data, I gained a greater understanding of the industry's corporate functions, and structural complexities while also observing extraordinary resilience and adaptability.

Lessons Learned in Time Management When Conducting a Capstone

Rebecca Andes, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in General Biology

The past year has taught me a lot about the crucial lesson of the importance of time. Four years of college have flown by, and the idea of a capstone project that had once seemed so far away since freshman year, soon became a reality. I often told myself there was plenty of time, but eventually, time caught up with me.

Selecting a topic for my capstone it was not an easy task. There were so many different ideas and interests available, making it a challenge to focus on just one area. Thankfully, with the guidance of my mentor, Professor Antonella Guadagnino, I decided on my topic, "Reviewing the Role of Carbon Dioxide for Seizure Intervention in Humans and African Naked Mole-Rats."

Completing my capstone project had many different challenges, but as I overcame these challenges, I learned valuable lessons. At first, the whole project felt daunting, but with perseverance and patience, I discovered my ability to push through. The importance of communication was another lesson that I learned during my research. By learning how to communicate more and to ask for help, it made it easier for me to organize my thoughts and gain more knowledge about my topic.

Lastly, time management was one of the biggest lessons that I had to learn, due to it not being my strongest skill. Through careful organization and planning, I improved significantly in managing my time.

Throughout this journey, I not only improved academically but also grew personally from the many lessons I have learned. Each challenge and success helped me learn more about myself.

Creating a Crochet Stitch Counter

Danielle Aurilia, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Electrical Engineering and minor in Mathematics  

My capstone project involved creating a device that could count your stitches while you crocheted. As an avid crocheter, this project was important as it solved a real-life issue I have encountered.

When crocheting, if you miscount your rows and stitches you may end up with a hole in your project, a misshapen project, or some lack of structural integrity. By having a device count for you, the risk would be eliminated, thus ensuring a smooth crocheting experience. There are currently no crochet machines in existence. Any crocheted item that is sold in a store, has been created by hand. The completion of this project could be a step towards the development of a crochet machine.

This project was substantial in allowing me to learn more about the many facets of engineering. Engineering often involves many systems working together to create a cohesive project. Although different components may be studied in different engineering courses, this project was the culmination of all of these components working together.

Working on this project as a group allowed for further insight about what an engineering career may look like in the future. Engineers often work in teams in the field and will very rarely work independently. Working as a team allowed me to learn more about bouncing ideas off of others and delegating tasks.

This project allowed me to learn more about different facets of engineering as my partner could explain ideas that I did not understand as clearly, and vice versa. Lastly, the project further emphasizes the idea that progress is not linear. Many components may need tweaks and edits or overall changes for a successful project. One’s first notion of a project will almost certainly not be the end result.