Items including apparel, jewelry, home goods, wall art, souvenirs, and more will be available for purchase in Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park Saturdays and Sundays in April

In recognition of the 10-year anniversary of the opening of Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, a team of fashion design and fashion merchandising students at Marist College have partnered with the Friends of the Walkway to design, create, and sell a limited edition capsule collection of merchandise on the Walkway. The special Marist-led pop-up shop will be open to all park visitors from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in April.

More than 20 unique, never-before-seen items will be for sale including apparel, jewelry, home goods, wall art, souvenirs, and note cards.  Each piece in the collection is designed to connect to one or more of the following themes: The beauty of Walkway Over the Hudson, its history as a railroad bridge, the glory of the Hudson River, the importance of environmental sustainability, and the strong connection between the Walkway and Marist’s Poughkeepsie campus. Everything is available in strictly limited quantities while supplies last.

In addition to the merchandise, Marist students in the School of Communication and the Arts are producing a documentary short film about the program, are responsible for crafting social media and marketing plans to promote the collection, and are creating unique pieces of visual art inspired by the bridge and Hudson River Valley to be included in raffles and silent auctions at Walkway events.

Marist is donating the cost of all materials, production, and profits to support the Friends of the Walkway Over the Hudson and its mission to bring programs and amenities including an electric tram to the park, undertake capital projects like installing lighting on the bridge, and provide a friendly and welcoming experience for more than 600,000 annual visitors.

“We’re so grateful for the amazing team of Marist students that have chosen to undertake this project in support of the Walkway,” said Elizabeth Waldstein, Executive Director, Friends of Walkway Over the Hudson. “The student’s creativity and passion is apparent in every piece of work they have created, and we’re excited for everyone in the Hudson Valley to love the collection as much as we do.”

“I have been so impressed by the members of the Marist community that have been part of this collaboration,” said Jennifer Finn, Department Chair, Marist Fashion Program.  “From our students enrolled in fashion courses to faculty members and volunteers who wanted to contribute, the energy has been tremendous.  Each member of this partnership has been amazing to work with, and it is really exciting to see this pop-up come to life.”

The Fashion Program at Marist successfully prepares its students to enter the world of fashion. Students gain skills, knowledge, and internship experience within an encouraging academic environment to help them flourish in the fashion industry. Featuring a comprehensive curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree for Fashion Merchandising or a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree for Fashion Design, Marist is top ranked among fashion programs globally by the industry publication, Business of Fashion.

This capsule collection of merchandise is the latest in a long line of key partnerships between Marist and the Walkway. When Walkway Over the Hudson opened in 2009, the college designed and hosted its first website.  Marist also provided vital assistance in translating Walkway’s audio tours known as Talkways into Spanish, Mandarin, and Italian, among many other projects.