Student-created designs showcased as part of release of Rutgers-Newark's new Scarlet Raider mascot
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rutgers University-Newark yesterday unveiled its new mascot, a fox named Scarlet Raider–along with a line of Raider-branded apparel created by high schoolers from the Newark School of Fashion Design.
Students modeled the mascot-branded apparel, a line of athletic wear, featuring a lettermark inspired by the famous "Newark" marquee of the old Paramount Theatre on Market Street and designs incorporating Scarlet Raider's graphic identity. The items will be sold at an online store.
"Partnering with Newark School of Fashion & Design (NSFD) was a natural fit, allowing students to apply their skills in a real-world branding project while shaping the university's evolving identity,'' said Kimberlee Williams, Director of the Rutgers-Newark Office of Communications, who initiated and co-led the effort.
Newark students from Rutgers Business School were also involved in the project, developing promotional strategies, working with Marketing Professor Yla Eason.
She is the creator of Sun-Man, the first mass-market African American superhero action figure, now part of Mattel's Masters of the Universe collection.
Rutgers-Newark's collaboration with the Newark Public School district reflects its history of community partnerships that build upon the talent and ideas of city youth.
Newark Schools Superintendent León, "This collaboration is a shining example of what's possible when we invest in our students' creativity and talent. Our young designers had the opportunity to work on a real-world branding project, showcasing their skills and entrepreneurial spirit while contributing to the evolving identity of a major university. Their work is not just fashion—it's a statement of Newark pride, innovation, and excellence.''
"Our relationship with the Newark public schools goes beyond today's event. It includes our Newark Public School students being involved with Rutgers-Newark,'' said Rutgers-Newark Interim Chancellor Jeffrey Robinson. "Each year, the new incoming class to Rutgers University -Newark has approximately 13 percent of new students from the city of Newark. Overall, Newark residents make up nearly 8 percent of the total undergraduate population."
In addition to featuring the apparel line, Rutgers-Newark introduced the campus to its new mascot before Raider made its first public appearance at a Rutgers-Newark women's basketball game against Kean University.
The mascot's transformation began in 2017 when the student body voted for the new Scarlet Raider to be a fox, an animal associated with ingenuity, versatility, balance, and resilience. Teams of graphic design students from the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark, Arts, Culture, and Media department competed to create the winning rendition of Raider.
Their work served as the basis for Scarlet Raider's present identity, brought to life by Phoenix Designs, an agency that specializes in university mascot design. This was the basis for the apparel created by high school students from the Newark School of Fashion Design.
The high school students also designed costumes for Scarlet Raider that include a kilt, jersey, and zoot suit.
"The inclusive process to create the new identity ensures that the Scarlet Raider is more than just a mascot—it's a movement, a cultural icon, and a powerful connection point between RU-N and the broader Newark community,'' said Williams.
The high schoolers worked on every stage of designing the apparel line, from researching trends among their target audience to incorporating insights on graphics, branding, and merchandising.
"One of the most impactful things I learned during this project was how important the role of research plays in the creation of a fashion collection,'' said Maria Colodetti, a senior at the Newark School of Fashion & Design. "We were able to truly give a fresh new look to the Rutgers Newark Mascot, which is the driving point of what it means to be a Scarlet Raider."
One of the high school students' first steps was gathering feedback from Rutgers-Newark students, including insights on style preferences, school spirit, and what students look for in university-branded apparel.
The students also visited the Rutgers-Newark Barnes & Noble bookstore to analyze existing collegiate apparel and gain a better understanding of pricing, materials, and product display strategies.
Beyond campus, they explored local fashion trends by engaging with Halsey Street retailers, including Brown Mill and Marco Hall, to learn about design aesthetics, fabric choices, and consumer preferences in the Newark fashion scene.
Throughout the fall and spring semester of last year, students participated in brainstorming sessions, concept development, and prototype creation.
They learned about trademark guidelines, university logo usage, and the dos and don'ts of collegiate branding from Aaron Spiegeland, Associate Director of Trademarks and Licensing at Rutgers University.
They also received guidance on incorporating graphic design from Amy Skiles of Phoenix Design, the company that illustrated the new Scarlet Raider mascot and lettermarks. She walked students through a design process that transformed the mascot into its bold new identity and provided insight into how it could be applied across different mediums, including apparel.
Students participated in interactive workshops and feedback sessions, where they presented their concepts and received real-world branding critiques to refine their designs to align with Rutgers-Newark's official visual identity.
"Having our students work in tandem with Rutgers University-Newark to reimagine the new Scarlet Raider has been a game-changer, opening new doors of possibilities for future collaborations. I look forward to seeing how the new look of the apparel our students designed will amplify what the true meaning of community is here in this great City of Newark,'' said Sakina Pitts, principal of the Newark School of Fashion & Design.
Said Williams, "This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and what's possible when we create opportunities for students to lead. I was proud to bring together Newark School of Fashion & Design and Rutgers-Newark students. Their combined talent sets a new standard for student-driven innovation, proving that when we invest in the next generation, they rise to the challenge and redefine what's possible.''
Prices for items range from $31 for tees in the collegiate collection to $176 for a leather varsity jacket in the premium collection. The launch of the full collection will be available for a limited time.
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SOURCE Newark Board of Education
