BFA Fashion Design and BBA Strategic Design and Management students recently partnered for the first time with Cerruti 1881 and The Woolmark Company on the development of a genderless capsule collection and an accompanying marketing plan. The pedagogical project simulated real working conditions of a fashion house, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration, responding to social challenges that face the industry today, and creating robust organizational structures and strategies.

Relying on the design-focused problem-solving skills instilled by Parsons curriculum, students worked under the close guidance of Cerruti 1881’s creative officer Jason Basmaian at the celebrated fashion house’s Paris headquarter. There they reimagined the traditional capsule collection by exploring gender fluidity in current design and marketing practices. The Woolmark Company—a global nonprofit that conducts research, development, and marketing to promote the highest-quality, sustainable wool supply chain—generously donated luxury fine fabrics for prototypes and final pieces. Students met regularly with managers and designers at both companies to enhance research and create a merchandising plan based on real data.

Further marketing education was provided by international model, influencer, and stylist Amalie Gassmann who helped students strategize the brand positioning and digital dissemination of their projects. Gassmann supported students’ photography, filming, and prop styling to make thought-provoking social content as a means of engaging a robust audience on any platform. Students revealed their final projects to a jury of industry professionals at the Cerruti 1881 studio.  BBA Strategic Design and Management student Ashley Lee, a member of the winning team, described the project as one of the most rewarding experiences she has had through Parsons, specifically because of Cerruti 1881’s involvement: “For the management students, Cerruti’s head of production was extremely supportive and informative throughout the entire project in teaching us about the business side of the fashion industry. Overall, it was an incredible learning experience that has taught me so much, and I will continue to use what I’ve learned from this project in my future endeavors.”