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NEW YORK, NY(SMI-GLOBAL-FASHION-MAY 21-26, 2024)-The annual Parsons Benefit gala celebrated its 75th edition last Tuesday's evening May 21, honoring Libby Wadle (CEO of J. Crew Group), Thom Browne (Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Thom Browne) and Bethann Hardison (Fashion Advocate) with "The Parsons Table Award" for their extraordinary contributions to the fashion industry @ renowned Cipriani's Wall Street in the financial district NYC.
The 75th Parsons benefit, also honored the graduating class of 2024, showcasing the work of their brightest students on a professional runway show during an elegant dinner attended by fashion industry leaders, Parsons alumni and global business supporters of the design, arts and fashion.
The 75th Parsons benefit gala was hosted by actor/producer Nicole Ari Parker and all proceeds of the benefit raised will be used to support student scholarships in art, design, liberal arts, music, technology, and social innovation.
The 2024-75th Parsons Benefit gala honorees:
: CEO, J. Crew Group
Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Thom Browne
Fashion Advocate & Luxury Brand Consultant
Article and Photos by Marcello Cutti II/Women Starlight/Starlight Illustrated
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About Bethann Hardison:
Advocate, documentarian, model, muse—with a career spanning over five decades, Bethann Hardison has gone from working in NYC’s Garment District; to becoming one of the first Black models favored by European and New York designers; to creative director and producer; to founding her namesake agency where she guided the careers of some of the most prominent models.
In 1988, she founded the Black Girls Coalition, and in 2013, she spearheaded the launch of the Diversity Coalition sparking an industry-wide movement for diversity and inclusion. In recognition of her decades of advocacy work, Bethann has received numerous awards, including the CFDA’s Founder’s Award. In 2018, with the support of the CFDA, she founded The Designers Hub to guide and empower Black designers, and in 2019 became an inaugural member of Gucci’s Changemakers Council. 2023 marked her directorial debut when Invisible Beauty, which she co-directed with Frédéric Tcheng, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary has since been featured worldwide in over two dozen film festivals, winning several awards, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary Film, and is now available on Hulu and all digital platforms after an eight-week nationwide theatrical release via Magnolia Pictures.
Currently, Bethann serves on the CFDA's Board of Directors and as Gucci's Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Cultural Engagement.
