Winners of PPR x Parsons x The Fancy "Empowering Imagination" Competition

Please join us in congratulating Parsons Alumni, Jin Kay and Melanie Seligman, winners of the Parsons x PPR x The Fancy Summer 2012 Empowering Imagination Competition.

In July, five 2012 Parsons graduates had their work showcased on The Fancy, an innovative online platform at the intersection of blog, magazine, and image-based social media. Visitors to The Fancy voted on their favorites, and now the winning designs—one ready-to-wear and one accessories collection—are in: Jin Kay in the ready-to-wear category, and Melanie Seligman for accessories.

Kay and Seligman will have their work showcased during New York Fashion Week this September at the iconic Barneys New York on Madison Avenue, as well as earn an internship with one of PPR’s 16 luxury and sport & lifestyle brands. The collections will be showcased at the Barneys New York 8th Floor Co-op from September 3rd through 16th.

Jin Kay’s womenswear collection explores the contrasting definitions of beauty in the East and West—that which is hidden, quiet and mysterious compared to that which is exposed and revealed. Lightweight fabrics such as organza and chiffon are contrasted with heavy fabrics such as wool, polyester and synthetic leather for an interesting play of light and shadow. Watch a video of Jin Kay’s work here:  In Praise of Shadows 2012.

Melanie Seligman produced a collection inspired by orthopedic prosthetics used to rebuild damaged bone and cartilage, which are primarily made from chrome colbalt, one of the hardest metals in the world. Her intent was to take something used inside the body, and showcase it as piece of fashion. These pieces, which also are fabricated of leather and Plexiglas, are still used for support, but in a very different way than originally intended. Watch Melanie Seligman’s thesis video here: Empowering Imagination.

The competition, based on PPR’s defining theme, “Empowering Imagination,” engaged 2012 graduates of the Parsons BFA Fashion Design program. Parsons selected twenty candidates, who last month presented their graduating thesis collections to a panel of fashion industry insiders, which chose five finalists showcased on The Fancy.

For more information on the winning collections, you can view the winners’ profiles here: Jin Kay and Melanie Seligman.

And you can view the other finalists’ profiles here: Amy Layton, and Christy Lee.