tory burch and parsons school of design Announce empowering future fashion leaders partnership

New York, October 20, 2021 - Tory Burch and the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design today announced a five-year multi-disciplinary partnership that will promote and celebrate creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship across various degree programs at Parsons, one of the world’s leading art and design schools. American designer and entrepreneur Tory Burch also announced the creation of the Tory Burch Empowering Future Fashion Leaders Endowed Scholarship Fund at Parsons with a gift that will be matched to establish a $1,000,000 fund that will provide ongoing financial aid to students every year.

Tory Burch, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC, said: “I am thrilled to be partnering with Parsons to help provide the next generation of creative talent with the resources, guidance and opportunities they need to grow and thrive in an industry that I am passionate about. We are honored to work with these students—their energy, determination, and innovative spirit are incredibly inspiring.”

The Empowering Future Fashion Leaders collaboration will span academic disciplines in the School of Fashion at Parsons, where students in the BFA Fashion Design, MFA Textiles, and AAS Marketing and Communications programs will engage with the Tory Burch brand to explore innovative solutions to design, product development and marketing challenges facing the fashion industry.

“Parsons is very proud to partner with Tory Burch to offer greater access to fashion education and industry-focused curricular experiences,” said Ben Barry, Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons. “Tory’s purpose-driven approach to fashion business has created a new model for the industry and her designs, driven by deep research, have become iconic in narratives of American fashion. Tory is an inspiration to our students, and I am so eager for them to learn from her and her team.”

Throughout the multi-year partnership, students will have the opportunity to visit the Tory Burch ateliers, receive mentorship from the Tory Burch team, partner on special projects with the brand, and more. The scholarship fund will also help reduce the financial burden for students attending Parsons, and play a vital role in supporting educational access and fostering a more diverse industry.

Parsons and Tory Burch share many of the ideals and principles underpinning the partnership—a shared passion for and commitment to advancing fashion through creativity and innovation, as well as a dedication to mentoring the next generation of business leaders and designers. Both organizations are aligned in their support of women and marginalized communities through increased educational opportunities, scholarships, and real-world learning experiences. The Tory Burch Foundation, founded in 2009, advances women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in the United States by providing access to capital, education, and digital resources.

Tory Burch and members of her brand will also share their expertise and advice with students during in-class speaking engagements, public lectures and real-life work experiences. Students will learn about a wide range of topics including design, creative campaigns, entrepreneurship and innovation.