Parsons School of Fashion and PROJECT Announce "Next in Class"

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Jul 13, 2016, 10:34 ET

NEW YORK, July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The New School's Parsons School of Fashion and PROJECT New York have partnered to debut "Next in Class," an unprecedented new section at the menswear trade show offering the school's recent graduates an opportunity to expand and grow their emerging businesses.

"This is something PROJECT has been interested in doing for some time now as education is a huge driving force in what we do. The Parsons partnership came naturally and we are excited to help aid in the process of fostering these talented young designers and the future of menswear," states Erik Ulin, President of PROJECT and Men's Fashion at UBM.

Five hand-picked emerging designers, including the winner of the Parsons 2016 Menswear Designer of the Year Award, will exhibit their SS'17 collections to luxury retailers, buyers, and e-commerce vendors, gaining exposure and insight into the wholesale marketplace.

"Our recent graduates are innovative and talented designers at the forefront of men's fashion design," said Burak Cakmak, dean of Parsons School of Fashion. "I'm thrilled that our partnership with PROJECT will help the designers showcase their collections to a wider audience and engage with the wholesale community."

Categories ranging from directional to contemporary menswear will be showcased adjacent to PROJECT's designer section, The TENTS and recent UBM addition, MRket Tradeshow.

"Next in Class" will include:

Private Policy, founded by designers Haoran Li and Siying Qui, explores the horrors of modern slavery in the Southeast Asian fishing industry through artistic interpretations of imprisonment, restriction, and pain, calling for freedom for all. Private Policy was shown during NYFW: Men’s Week on July 11th.
2016 Parsons Menswear Designer of the Year, Ming Peng, was born and raised in China. His collection is meant to exhibit the pressure and anxiety of living in a city, and a conscious choice to embrace and challenge those emotions. He thinks about fashion as not only clothes, but also as a way to transfer a unique energy to the person who wears them.
Adi Mucktar-Barnes is a New York native whose interest in fashion began in the 90s as he observed pedestrians on the streets of SoHo. His aesthetic can be traced back to his downtown roots, public school upbringing, and three older brothers' urban style.
Kering x Parsons 2016 Finalist Ace Kim was educated in three different countries and has an interest in creative storytelling through his fashion. His works are inspired by stories that are environmental, sociopolitical, ethical, and convey serious messages through a sense of humor.
Raymond Natale once worked as a landscaper throughout Canada, prior to his fashion education and career as a New York-based designer. He focuses on color, form, function, and construction to create pieces that reflect the art of design and the truth of nature.

PROJECT New York runs from Sunday, July 17th until Tuesday, July 19th at the Jacob Javits Center.

About PROJECT | PROJECT is the premier contemporary fashion event, exhibiting men's and women's advanced contemporary, premium denim and designer collections. Under the direction of President of Men’s Fashion at UBM, PROJECT presents a series of lifestyle destinations in a single location, each merchandised to create an environment of exploration and commerce. For more information, please visit www.projectshow.com.

About Parsons School of Fashion | Parsons School of Fashion is a global leader in design education, with programs that span the disciplines of design and the fine arts. With the launch of its fashion design program in 1906, Parsons is credited with the rise of Seventh Avenue, the epicenter of American fashion. Parsons offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design, Associate degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing, and a Master of Fine Arts Program in Fashion Design and Society initiated through the support of Parsons alumna Donna Karan. Parsons has educated generations of leading American fashion designers including Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Narciso Rodriguez, Anna Sui, Prabal Gurung, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Vena Cava, Alexander Wang and Jason Wu. For more information, visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.