Boehringer Ingelheim, Fashion Institute of Technology announce new partnership to support awareness of rare skin disease

Ridgefield, Conn., February 28, 2023–Boehringer Ingelheim today announced a new partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York to extend The Unwearable Collection™, a four-piece art collection that illustrates the physical and emotional burden of a rare skin disease, generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Over the course of the partnership, working in the FIT DTech Lab, FIT students will be invited to create a fifth design which, upon its reveal in late June, will become a permanent addition to the Collection.

GPP is a rare and potentially life-threatening neutrophilic skin disease characterized by flares of widespread eruptions of painful, sterile pustules across the body. GPP has a substantial quality of life impact on those who are affected by the disease and distinct from plaque psoriasis, the journey to diagnosis can be long and challenging, as GPP often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for many years.

“Unless you or a loved one is living with GPP, it can be difficult to truly understand what a profound physical and emotional toll this disease can take,” said Claudia Beqaj, Executive Director, Dermatology, Sales and Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim. “As we recognize Rare Disease Day, we are thrilled to announce this partnership with FIT and look forward to working with the talented team of faculty and students to elevate the profile of GPP through The Unwearable Collection and empower those affected by the disease.”

Originally created by internationally renowned designer Bart Hess in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, The Unwearable Collection™ uses raw materials like shards of glass, paper, knives and razor blades to convey the physical and emotional pain of life with GPP, as patients living with the disease authentically revealed to Hess and in turn, sparked the creative direction of the Collection. Hess will serve as a mentor to FIT students as they work to create a fifth look, inspired by global patient insights, that complements the original four designs.

“The FIT DTech Lab is organized around a vision to lead the creative industries worldwide with socially conscious solutions that have a positive impact on the world. Under the guidance of FIT’s faculty and Bart Hess, this partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim offers our students the unique opportunity to use their skills and experience to deliver a fifth design that brings to life what it means to live with this rare disease,” said Michael Ferraro, Executive Director, FIT Design and Technology Lab.

About generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)

GPP is a rare, heterogenous and potentially life-threatening neutrophilic skin disease, which is clinically distinct from plaque psoriasis. GPP is caused by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) accumulating in the skin, resulting in painful, sterile pustules all over the body. The clinical course varies, with some patients having a relapsing disease with recurrent flares, and others having a persistent disease with intermittent flares. While the severity of GPP flares can vary, if left untreated they can be life-threatening due to complications such as sepsis and multisystem organ failure. This chronic, systemic disease has a substantial quality of life impact for patients and increased healthcare burden. GPP has a varied prevalence across different geographical regions and more women are affected than men.

GPP flares can lead to hospitalization with serious complications, including heart failure, renal failure and sepsis, and the unpredictability and severity of these flares greatly affect a person’s quality of life.

About The Unwearable Collection™

Boehringer Ingelheim partnered with world-renowned artist, Bart Hess, to bring to life the physical and emotional burden that patients living with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) may experience through a four-piece art collection, named The Unwearable Collection™. Bart created four art pieces, each of which represent one aspect of the disease – physical pain, flare intensity, emotional burden, and life – threatening. Because of his creative perspective and ability to bridge the relationship between materials and the body, Boehringer Ingelheim chose to partner with Bart to uniquely bring to life how severe GPP can be – using a medium, like art, that many can relate to. 

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

About FIT

A part of the State University of New York, FIT has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology throughout its history. Providing almost 9,000 students with an uncommon blend of hands-on, practical experience, theory, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, the college offers a wide range of affordable programs that foster innovation and collaboration. Its distinctive curriculum is geared to today's rapidly growing creative economy, including fields such as computer animation, toy design, production management, film and media, and cosmetics and fragrance marketing. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy. Among notable alumni in fashion are Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Norma Kamali, Reem Acra, Brian Atwood, Stephen Burrows, Dennis Basso, Francisco Costa, Nanette Lepore, Bibhu Mohapatra, Ralph Rucci, John Bartlett, Peter Do, and Michelle Smith. Other prominent graduates include Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals; international restaurant designer Tony Chi; and Nina Garcia, editor in chief, Elle. Visit fitnyc.edu.

MPR-US-102460