Parsons and LVMH put on The Art of Craftmanship Revisited

Fashiona's alma mater Parsons is in the news...not just for the newest season of  Project Runway but for a joint project that the school has with LVMH: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, INC.


In a nutshell the project's goal to both promote teamwork across different disciplines AND to help the students develop a greater appreciation of  craftsmanship... a start to finish approach rather than a mass production approach where you only get to touch a small portion of the finished product.


The example that was given in the January 28th WWD article was a fashion designer, video maker and an editor in a team.  The contest started with 23 teams and the finalists will showcase their finery on February 17 at Milk Studios. 


A VIP panel...no names disclosed (what a tease) will choose the top three panels that will be honored in June.




Fashiona wishes all the teams good luck.

Alain Mikli: Natural Business Man and Creative Genius

Fashiona, while a Virgo by sign, has a Gemini-like dual work personality. She loves making money...who doesn't and she loves being creative. Her two alma maters: Florida A & M University honed the business side and Parsons rounded out her creative side.

This is part of the reason she is fascinated by Alain Mikli: an optician by trade and a self-taught eyewear designer. Alain who is of Armenian and Lebanese heritage and raised in France was one of the first designers to bridge the gap between functional eyewear and fashionable accessories.

Alain's new line is called "Glam" and it channels Jackie O and modern bling.

Yes dearies, those are indeed Swarovski crystals on the frame. Snag your pair at www.mikli.com.


Thankfully it is supposed to be sunny this weekend so Fashiona can don one of her many pairs of sunglasses.

Fashiona

Fashiona on Parsons School of Design

Fashiona thinks of her alma mater, Parsons School of Design once a month...when she pays her massive student loans. The school is a private art school within the New School University and located in Manhattan so it is a rather pricey place of learning. But as significant as the bills are, so were her many life changing experiences. As a student, Fashiona met Topaz (who wants to remind everyone that she is really a diamond girl but topaz is her birthstone) and Day, the sometimes photographer, who insisted that Fashiona "adopt" as her other little sister.

After Fashiona graduated she met and hired Raeana, class of 2010, for her first internship. Years later Raeana, just back from Parsons Paris is on her way to Denmark as part of the Saga Fur Convention this summer; read about her experiences in her blog the StyleCon.


Raeana is on the left and Fashiona on right.

Fashion voyeurs at large, know Parsons as the school attached to the hit show and sometimes train wreck Project Runway but current students and alumni have a much more personal attachment to the institution. So it was only natural that Fashiona beamed with pride when she saw in Womens Wear Daily, that Parsons Associate in Applied Science Department gave out their first ever AAS icon award. The ever colorful Betsy Johnson presented the award to Fern Mallis, vice president of IMG Fashion.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo/WWD

From left to right Fern Mallis, Betsey Johnson
and Jen Kao(who received the Stacey Nipps Alumni Award)


Now, Miss Raeana will most certainly compete in the next year's FIT/Parsons design competition...FIT better bring it on because the StyleCon and Parsons certainly will.


Fashiona