Fashion future starts now

New York City -- After thousands of stitches and yards of fabric Niloufoar Mozafari and Dylan Taverner win the prestigious title of Parsons' Designers of the Year. Each year Parsons names their top designers for menswear, women's wear and kids wear. Past winners have included Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, and Tom Ford.

The designers spent all year taking bolts of cloth and spools of thread to craft their collections from the ground up. Mozafari's collection was for women and included sleek black silhouettes, chunky fringe knits, and unique jewelry that has the ability to be paired with anything in the closet. Taverner designed for the men and featured mainly white, gray, and black oversized tops and one of a kind patterns.

"It is really nice after four years of hard work and effort, to have that at the finish."  Says Mozafari about her take on the new title. "To know all the sacrifice is worth it."


For Traverner being named top designer was really just ‘icing on the cake'. He noted that there were plenty of amazing designers in his graduating class and that, "it was nice to win, but it was not recognized as the ultimate goal."


These two designers had fresh ideas and created timeless pieces that will transpire into the ages. They're pieces are creative, different, yet comfortable and versatile.

Fiona Dieffenbacher, Instructor of Fashion Design said the award was given to these two because, "In both cases they exhibited distinct visions and their identity across the board. We could tell they weren't one hit wonders, they had the ability to sustain the creativity throughout their careers." The instructors not only looked at their Senior Show collection, but their sketch books and work throughout the years.


Taverner spent a whole year creating his integrated looks, "Fall semester was just concept and development. Winter was gathering, and spring was making." Putting himself on a strict schedule as to not overdue himself he said, "In my first couple years at Parson's I'd pull all-nighters constantly. This year I set a strict schedule for myself, getting up at 8 a.m. and going to bed at 1 a.m." And by the end of the year, he insisted this was the first year he did not finish feeling ‘tired.'

Mozafari is a bit different in terms of her sleep schedules, "After four years of Parson's I have pulled too many all nighters, at this point I'm just used to it." Mozafari started working on her thesis proposals and meeting with her advisors in the summer. Come fall and spring, she worked on sketching, measuring, knitting, sewing and creating.

To Traverner the ultimate goal was to create a collection that he was proud of when he turned it in. For him, mission accomplished. The collection consists of jackets, pants, shirts, jewelry and a bag that as Traverner puts it, "has a really long shelf life, that immediately sets it apart." The pieces are meant to be broken in by the wearer, and can be easily integrated into the buyers' life.


The inspiration for Traveners' line comes from when he was growing up in Connecticut, collecting ‘cool' patterns and tailoring the suits to his long lanky body. With his new line, he's doing the ‘same thing in a more correct and formal way.'

Mozafari's line is very driven by concept she says, "My designs are very much about the perception, I design in a very holistic matter." He collection has sentiments and really thrives on, "self preservation," according to the designer.


Soon Travener will be headed to Paris for men's fall fashion week where he hopes to engage some of his idols, such as Rick Owens. He hopes to work for someone's line to learn more about the business. "Then in five to ten years, I hope to start my own line." said Traverner.


Like Travener, Mozafari hopes to study under a house or brand, "There is a lot of hype for designers right out of school to start their own line." Mozafari still feels like she has lots to learn and gain about the industry. She wants to work with someone whose skills and mindset are different than hers.

"This collection was a great starting point." Said Traverner about his recent work. So we'll all have to wait for those five to ten years to see what Travener brings us next, and we can only hope that Mozafari will be close behind.