PROJECT TO DEBUT “NEXT IN CLASS” AT JULY TRADE SHOW

by Brian Lipton Jul 13, 2016

project nyThe 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, which will run July 17-19 at the Jacob Javits Center.

The section will feature five of the school’s recent graduates, affording them the opportunity to expand and grow their emerging businesses by exhibiting their spring/summer 2017 collections to luxury retailers, buyers, and e-commerce vendors, gaining exposure and insight into the wholesale marketplace.

The hand-picked designers include Private Policy, which was founded by designers Haoran Li and Siying Qui, and which explores the horrors of modern slavery in the Southeast Asian fishing industry through artistic interpretations of imprisonment, restriction and pain; 2016 Parsons Menswear Designer of the Year, Ming Peng, whose collection is meant to exhibit the pressure and anxiety of living in a city, and a conscious choice to embrace and challenge those emotions; New York native Adi Mucktar-Barnes, whose interest in fashion began in the 1990s as he observed pedestrians on the streets of SoHo; Kering x Parsons 2016 Finalist Ace Kim, whose works are inspired by stories that are environmental, sociopolitical, ethical, and that convey serious messages through a sense of humor; and Raymond Natale, a former landscape designer who focuses on color, form, function and construction to create pieces that reflect the art of design and the truth of nature.

Private Policy next in class
Looks from Private Policy’s NYMD presentation

“This is something PROJECT has been interested in doing for some time now as education is a huge driving force in what we do,” states Erik Ulin, President of PROJECT and Men’s Fashion at UBM. “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.”

“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.”

Editor’s Note: For the first time ever renowned trade shows MRket and PROJECT will join forces to give retailers unprecedented access to the best brands in menswear. Read more here.