Alumni Highlight: Michael Toccin '03

10/20/2025

Michael Toccin ‘03 recently shared his career journey and entrepreneurial insights with current RE students during the inaugural Explorer Lunch & Learn program, coordinated by faculty member and fellow alum Jenny Gragg Carson ‘03, who is RE's new Externship Coordinator. Michael emphasized that experiences and building a foundation are crucial to future professional success. He detailed his unexpected switch from a criminal justice major to the fashion industry, beginning with internships at fashion houses like Giorgio Armani and Tod's, which ultimately led him to launch his own successful apparel brand, TOCCIN, with his wife, Alex Toccin. Michael’s advice centers on utilizing resources, networking, being open to different experiences, having a strong work ethic, and knowing how to pivot within a changing market.

Name: Michael Toccin

What year did you graduate from Ransom Everglades? 2003

What were your extracurricular activities when at Ransom Everglades? I played tennis and water polo.

Where did you attend college? I went to George Washington University.

What was your major? I was a criminal justice major, and I thought I was going to be a lawyer.

Who were some memorable faculty or staff during your time at Ransom Everglades and why? Katrina Patchett from the bookstore because I probably spent more time shopping in there than anyone else in my class. I also have fond memories of math class with Ms. Miller because I wasn’t particularly great at math, but I use it so much now in running my business. I am very grateful for the foundation she and RE provided me.

What is one of your favorite quotes? At one point in my career I was styling the actress and singer from Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, and I asked her what makes success? She said, “You’ve got to be thinking three years out, and you have to be thinking about what’s next.” I have never forgotten that. All the lessons that people around you share, take them seriously.

What were your first few jobs in fashion? My grandmother was actually the one who told me that fashion was what I needed to do. She told me, “You know Michael, you’re really good at fashion,” and I thought, “What’s that?” I didn’t even know that was a thing. So I decided to chase it by going after an internship, and my first internship was at Giorgio Armani, where I worked in the PR department.

The next place I interned was for another fashion brand called Tod’s. I then felt like I wanted to try something else, so I worked in the movie industry for a bit before going back into fashion to work for a company called Kaufman Franco.

At Kaufman Franco, I interned in the production department, which is where you pick the fabrics, trims and source materials. I was carrying huge rolls of fabric through the subways, walking the streets and schlepping materials around. But all those difficult experiences lead to positive things — you really need to go through each and every step to get to where you want to go.

What would you say is your biggest setback? That’s a great question. Honestly, I think there’s a setback every day, so you have to have thick skin. We are always dealing with obstacles. We are constantly adapting, asking ourselves how to find a win even in a setback. With business, you’re always going to have this type of negotiation. Life is all about negotiation and give and take.

What's your favorite part of your job? I get to wake up to something new every day. I love that I get to have an amazing team, filled with smart people, who I give suggestions to and then let them run with it. I love learning from them and then using those insights to see what will drive success for my company.

How did you go about achieving the type of demographic you wanted to dress? When we talk about our demographic at TOCCIN, our goal is to create something for everybody. That was very important to me, and I wanted our brand to be available for all different types of people. That's part of my personal core values because I came from places that were for one type of person, whether it's a price point or an aesthetic. That's what I think is so cool about TOCCIN: we are all about the building blocks. There’s something for everybody in our brand, and if there’s not, I’d like to know because then we will make sure we can deliver it for the customer within the core values of who we are.

Can you go more in-depth into the process of making each collection while maintaining your core, but also making each one unique and interesting? We are always developing new collections. What keeps the consistency is the DNA of the brand. In the design process, I return to our core values (Comfortable, Confident and Stylish) while creating new color palettes and new fabrications.

We have two divisions for each collection: essentials, which is our core, and then our fashion, where we take the essential item and place it within the color of the season. We always have basics while also offering something new. I always emphasize keeping our core. You cannot confuse the customer. Never confuse the customer. Know what they come to you for.

I also want things to be at an accessible price point. In our world of fashion, TOCCIN sits in the contemporary zone, which is not the designer price point. So when we look at accessibility, I always want to have an item that’s approachable within my collection that can bring someone into the brand.

How long did it take you to make all those connections to get to the top?

I don’t look at anything as making it to the top. I think each benchmark is hitting the top, so there’s really no ultimate top, and we all may define the top differently. During my time working for other people, that felt like the top for me because I was living the experience of getting to go to Paris Fashion Week and getting to sell collections. I also got to work with interesting countries, for example, in the Middle East. Each experience is key.

Is there anything else you’d like to include or say to current students?

Ransom Everglades was definitely the foundation for my future. I was in your shoes, too. I want you to know that your experiences in real life are paramount and build the foundation for your future. What was so amazing when I attended Ransom Everglades is that I never knew that fashion was an opportunity, but I want you all to leave today knowing that opportunity is everywhere, and it can mean many different things.

I grew up in Miami just like all of you. We had a different type of access to resources, and the world has changed since 2003. Utilize your resources to discover your passions. I am so grateful for what Ransom Everglades gave me. This school really provides the building blocks for your future – wherever you decide to go and wherever life takes you.

Company name: TOCCIN

Website: toccin.com

Instagram: @toccin.official and @alexandmichaeltoccin

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RE founder Paul Ransom, circa 1903

Alumni Highlight: Michael Toccin '03

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