Simon Collins: Parsons Announces New Dean of Fashion

published May 3, 2008
Simon Collins Parsons Announces New Dean of Fashion
Parsons The New School for Design has announced the appointment of Simon Collins, a seasoned creative director with over 20 years of experience in all facets of the fashion industry, as the new dean of fashion at Parsons.

Collins will oversee all areas of fashion studies, including the BFA degree program in Fashion Design; AAS degree programs in Fashion Studies and Fashion Marketing; and the new MFA in Fashion Design and Society, which was initiated through a gift from Donna Karan and is expected to launch in 2010.

"Simon Collins is the ideal candidate to lead Parsons fashion design programs into the 21st century," said Parsons Dean Tim Marshall.

"With a truly international perspective, and a background that extends from design to business and from luxury to mass market, Simon brings a level of experience that will greatly benefit Parsons as we look to forge even greater connections across the disciplines taught at The New School."

Collins has worked with some of the world's leading brands, from Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren to Fila, Zegna, and Marks and Spencer.

As Creative Director for Nike's Asia Pacific division, he led a $900 million apparel business that included the launch of new collections created in collaboration with Junya Watanabe of Comme des Garcons and Naoki Takizawa of Issey Miyake, among others.