The Met Gala and the Metropolitan Museum’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition opening week inspired many, including college students. Newly graduated from Baruch College, Joel Ramirez has officially released his first collaboration, titled “The Baruch & 49archive Knitted Collection.” The merchandise, created by Joel Ramirez and Milton Gordon, has been available since May 8, 2025.
“This wasn’t just merch, this was storytelling, community, and identity stitched into every thread,” he shared. The collaboration with his alma mater, Baruch College, revealed to Ramirez the amount of people who connected with his pieces. “People resonated with what I was making, and the support kept me going,” said Ramirez, who majored in Digital Communication with a minor in Black and Latino Studies. His co-creator, Gordon, majors in Graphic Design and minors in New Media Arts.
According to the GUESS (Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey) 2023 Global Report, 25.7% of students are in the process of starting a new venture linked to entrepreneurship. Ramirez not only had an entrepreneurship mindset, but he also understood the importance of collaboration.
“This was the first time I had designed collaboratively, and I am thankful for the experience,” said co-creator Milton Gordon. “It strengthened my trust in what can be accomplished through the creative process.” Ramirez echoed similar sentiments about working with Gordon, which was also his first collaborative project. The recent graduate described their partnership as very creative and a beneficial way of bringing out the best in each other.
“Working with Milton was like iron sharpening iron — if I didn’t catch something, he did, and vice versa,” said Ramirez. Creative spaces happen to be ideal for Ramirez to connect with people he trusts for business endeavors.
Ramirez met Laisha De Leon at a mutual friend’s birthday photoshoot before he transferred to Baruch College. “I remember his flashy hoodie with tons of hearts on the sleeves and just wondered, ‘That is such a nice hoodie, where did he get it from?’” said De Leon. She expressed that Ramirez’s talent caught her off guard when he revealed he designed the hoodie himself. “From that moment on, I knew that Joel had great things in store for his brand,” said De Leon.
Brenika Banks photos
Joel Ramirez and Sasha Perez posing in their Baruch & 49archive merchandise. 
Pic 4 – [in the very center from left to right] Laisha De Leon, Milton Gordon and Joel Ramirez with friends and other students wearing their Baruch & 49archive merchandise at the 2025 Black and Latino graduation ceremony. Credit: Brenika Banks photo 
[in the very center from left to right] Laisha De Leon, Milton Gordon and Joel Ramirez with friends and other students wearing their Baruch & 49archive merchandise at the 2025 Black and Latino graduation ceremony. 
[From left to right] a family member, Joel Ramirez and Laisha De Leon wearing their Baruch & 49archive merchandise at the 2025 Black and Latino graduation ceremony. 
Joel Ramirez speaking with a man who stopped him to admire his sweater on the subway platform at 42nd Street. 
“The Baruch & 49archive Knitted Collection” specially made with Joel Ramirez’s unique 49 logo. 
A Baruch College student posing with his Baruch & 49archive sweater at the school.
49archive was conceived on Ramirez’s birthday, July 7, in 2022. “I looked in my closet and realized nothing in there truly reflected who I was,” said Ramirez. “So, I started designing clothes that felt like me.” Becoming a student at Baruch College, where he met De Leon again, was timely. “This collaboration came directly through Baruch Student Government,” said Ramirez. “Laisha, who serves as President of Student Affairs, reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in creating merch for Baruch.”
As an Afro-Latina student leader at Baruch, De Leon appreciated the eye-opening course she took called BLS 1003: The Evolutions and Expressions of Racism. “I left this experience with more knowledge, awareness, and inspiration to make a difference for students who may feel underrepresented at Baruch.” She was excited to not only lead as [Undergraduate Student Government] USG’s Vice President of Student Affairs, but initiate contact with Ramirez about a potential collaboration.
De Leon, Ramirez, and Gordon’s first meeting went from first drafts to a successful collaboration with USG. De Leon was eager to support 49archive at Baruch College. And during finals week of Spring semester 2025, all three received much love from fellow students, friends and staff at the college. “It was extremely rewarding to see all the smiles and positive comments all across campus,” said De Leon.
“It was incredible watching people wear our stuff [on campus],” said Gordon. He anticipates owning his own brand one day and views this experience as an essential sign of him pursuing that dream. “I am passionate about fashion and the arts in general,” said Gordon.
Ramirez had pop-up shops where he gave out sweaters during the last week of school. Many students wore them around campus, as well, those who stopped Ramirez while he moved around campus for merchandise. De Leon, Gordon and his other friends wore the brand during the Black and Latino graduation ceremony. Ramirez was even stopped by a man because of his sweater while exiting the 6 train at 42nd Street after leaving the graduation ceremony. Ramirez and the man spoke for a few minutes on the platform about fashion and clothing.
De Leon appreciates people’s support of “The Baruch & 49archive Knitted Collection.” She is also happy that Ramirez personalized it with his unique logo. Ramirez described his time at Baruch College as fun while learning how powerful communication can be. “Baruch showed me that I’m capable of much more than I thought,” said Ramirez. He doesn’t plan on limiting himself to only clothing and anticipates releasing another collection during the summer. He expects to stay busy and authentic with his brand. “Be yourself, stay grateful, and never stop learning.”