Simon Collins:
How Saying 'No' Transformed Parsons Into A Global Brand

Simon Collins, Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons The New School for Design, spoke to the audience about how he is turning the school into a global brand. Simon told the audience that things can be done on a global scale if you stick to the values: ‘make it beautiful, make it brilliant,’ and if you refuse to accept the limitations of what has been done before. He leads Parsons with the principle that passion and dedication to good design will lead to innovation and experimentation; this strict adherence to quality has led the school to become a leader within the fashion industry, with brands like Christian Louboutin and Stella McCartney asking to work with students for challenge and inspiration. Simon also talks of the importance of selectivity in growing a brand, of learning to say no to opportunities that will not further the brand’s mission.