Honorees Marco Bizzarri, Solange Knowles, and José Neves
The 70th Annual Parsons Benefit honored Marco Bizzarri, CEO and President of Gucci, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter and visual artist Solange Knowles, and José Neves, Founder and CEO of Farfetch, for embodying the university’s dedication to creativity and innovation as well as their exceptional commitment to educational and charitable initiatives.
The 70th Annual Parsons Benefit
Julie Gilhart, Benefit Chair, with Executive Dean of Parsons Joel Towers, and Benefit Co-Chair Susan Rockefeller.
Loftin 1
Students from the MFA Lighting Design program created an installation that guests could walk through on their way to cocktails. Photo by Myles Loftin.
Hilary Rhoda
Model Hilary Rhoda was the host for the evening. Photo by Myles Loftin.
Arta Jekabsone
School of Jazz and Contemporary Music student Arta Jekabsone performed during the evening with her quintet. Photo by InDigital Media.
The 70th Annual Parsons Benefit
A design by Sydney Loew, who won the Future Textiles award for her collection that "questions how tactile therapy and textiles have the power to create a safe, soothing, and stress free environment, while creating a retreat full of softness, stimulation, and connectedness." Photo by Andrew Toth for Getty Images
Loftin 2
A design by Gloria Mejia. Photo by Myles Loftin.
Gal 1
A look from designer Gal Yakobovitch, who won the Fashion + Technology award. Photo by Myles Loftin.
LaLa Anthony
Actress and producer La La Anthony spoke during the Parsons Benefit. Photo by Myles Loftin.
Solange Onstage
Solange accepted her award from Vince Staples while wearing a design by MFA Fashion Design and Society alum Shanel Campbell. Photo by Myles Loftin.
The 70th Annual Parsons Benefit
Models wearing designs by Ziyang Yan on the runway. Photo by Andrew Toth for Getty Images.
The 70th Annual Parsons Benefit
A runway look from designer Xintong Tian. Photo by Brian Ach for Getty Images.
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This year's fashion show featured dancers on two different stages. Photo by Brian Ach for Getty Images.
William Stautberg
A runway look from designer William Stautberg, who won the Creative Systems award, and also received the Pitti Tutorship Reward prize. Photo by Myles Loftin.
Deshon Ryan Starks
A design by Deshon Ryan Starks on the runway. Photo by Myles Loftin.
The New School Showcases Creativity, Honors Solange, Gucci, and Farfetch at Parsons Benefit
Outstanding graduates of the BFA Fashion Design program introduced themselves to the fashion and design industry recently, showcasing their thesis collections at a fashion show at the 70th annual Parsons Benefit.
Held at Pier 60, the fundraising event for student scholarships attracted industry leaders and influencers including singer Solange Knowles, who was honored alongside Marco Bizzarri, president and CEO of Gucci, and José Neves, CEO and founder of Farfetch. The honorees were recognized for embodying the leading art and design school’s dedication to creativity and innovation as well as their exceptional commitment to educational and charitable initiatives.
This year, attendees experienced a new and expanded version of the benefit. Students in the MFA Lighting Design program showcased a unique installation, and BFA Fashion students not exhibiting their work in the runway show displayed collections that highlighted the four pathways in the program: Collection, Materiality, Fashion Product, and Systems & Society.
In addition, Arta Jekabsone, a student from the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School’s College of Performing Arts, performed with her quintet, reflecting the university’s interdisciplinary and collaborative approach.
Accepting her award from her friend and fellow musician Vince Staples, Solange expressed her gratitude to Parsons and The New School.
“I can’t put into words how overwhelmingly awesome this is and how humbled and honored I am,” said Solange, who was wearing a design by Shanel Campbell, MFA Fashion Design and Society ’17 and current Parsons faculty member. “What a beautiful night. I’m eternally grateful!”
Recent honorees at the Parsons Benefit include Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, LVMH, and Eileen Fisher, who were recognized for their various contributions to fashion, education, philanthropy, and the arts.
“It was an honor to celebrate Solange, Marco, and José, who are all leaders in their fields and have empowered young designers and artists through their incredible work,” said Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons.
This year’s benefit raised $2.26 million in scholarships. Gucci and Farfetch also announced scholarship funds for students at the event.