If you've ever thought of Travis Scott's design aspirations as "Well, he just drops a lot of merch," jokes on you. Scott is among the creatives set to be honored at the 72nd annual Parsons Benefit hosted by The New School in New York.
Each year Parsons honors individuals within the fashion world for their numerous contributions to design, retail, entrepreneurship, the arts, sustainability, and social justice, as well as their efforts to help future generations of designers and artists.
For Scott, who's not only a well-known style icon but also has proven his chops designing in the sneaker and streetwear space, the honor is especially significant now. Last fall, the rapper launched his Cactus Jack Foundation to provide creative and educational resources for future generations.
The charitable fashion program includes the HBCU Waymon Webster Scholarship – named after his grandfather – as well as a multi-year partnership with his hometown Houston's education department.
In a statement, Scott said, “I’m very excited to be receiving this honor from The New School and grateful to be a part of this group of innovators. I’ve always tried to fuse fashion, technology, and the arts into everything I do. These are all linked and a natural extension of my work. It has never been about specific brands or labels for me. It’s about the vision. It’s about making your own things, seeing what’s out there, and never compromising.”
In addition to Scott, this year's other honorees include Macy’s Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Gennette, former senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc. and former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, designers Gabriela Hearst, and Kerby Jean-Raymond. By receiving this honor Travis Scott joins past honorees from the music world like Rihanna and Pharrell Williams.
Rachel Schreiber, executive dean of The New School’s Parsons School of Design, said in a statement to WWD: “Parsons was founded upon the idea that design can change the world, and these exceptional honorees are reimagining the creative and commercial landscape in a way that will positively impact a range of disciplines for years to come.”
The hybrid event will be held both in-person and virtually on June 15 at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in the Seaport District in New York City.
