PPR + The Fancy.com “Empowering Imagination” x Parsons – Meet the Finalist: Jin Kay

Parsons The New School for Design, PPR, and The Fancy have teamed up for “Empowering Imagination”, a contest providing Parsons students with a unique opportunity to win an internship within one of PPR’s 16 luxury and sport & lifestyle brands.

Out of twenty top candidates from the graduating class of the BFA Fashion Design program at Parsons, five finalists were chosen by a panel of fashion industry insiders based on the quality and conceptual vision of their graduating collections. The designers who best exemplified PPR’s defining theme, “Empowering Imagination” are now featured on The Fancy, where its one million users will help decide which two designers will win by “fancying” these looks. One ready-to-wear and one accessory designer will be awarded an expense-paid internship with a PPR brand and have their work showcased on the 8th floor Co-op at the iconic Barneys New York on Madison Avenue during September New York Fashion Week.

Jin Kay (Jin Woo Kim)

“I was born in South Korea and I moved to the US without my family at a very young age. During my time at Parsons I interrupted my education and went back to Korea for the mandatory military service for almost 3 years. After this long journey I came back to New York to pursue my career as a fashion designer. Since I was young I was removed from my comfort zone and had to face challenges everyday and found inspiration in different environments.

This collection is the culmination of the journey that has empowered my imagination. Taking the ephemeral beauty of light, silence and shadows, I show my ability to expand a poetic concept and turn it into a ready-to-wear collection. I believe in attention to detail, the beauty of masculinity in women, and a conceptual approach to classic fashion elements.”

Check Jin Kay out on The Fancy here. Stay tuned for our other finalist profiles!

Since his admittance into Parsons in 2005, Jin Kay has been nominated and recognizedfor his work. In 2007, he received the AFT International Fashion Award and International Scholarship from Parsons The New School for Design for excelling in Design. In 2010, SAGA FURS selected him as one of the top five finalists for an accessory line, and in 2011 the CFDA selected him as an honorable mention in its scholarship programs. Most recently, he was the recipient of the D2 North America Award and he has been distinguished as 2012 Parsons School of Fashion Designer of the Year in Women’s Wear.

Jin Kay also has held professional internships at prominent fashion design labels such as Derek Lam, TOD’S, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Cota, and Basic House. His work and his career have been featured in several international publications including VOGUE-GIRL, ANAN, The Korea Times, V Magazine and L’Officiel Hommes.

Jin is currently living and working in New York City. www.jinkay.com

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You can view more 2012 Parsons student work here.