The New School's Parsons School of Design, Complex, and Yellowbrick Launch Online Streetwear Educational Program

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The School of Fashion at The New School's Parsons School of Design, in collaboration with global lifestyle & leading youth culture brand Complex and Yellowbrick, today announced Streetwear Essentials, a unique non-credit course that will help prepare learners for careers in the booming Streetwear market; recently estimated by Bain & Company to reach $429 billion globally by 2025. The program will take learners through the vibrant history of Streetwear, along with design processes, retail and marketing, and more. Instructors include Complex editors, Parsons faculty members, and industry experts such as Jeff Staple of Staple Pigeon, Don C of Just Don, Heron Preston of Heron Preston, Michael Cherman of Chinatown Market, Nick Diamond of Diamond Supply Co., Leah McSweeney of Married to the Mob, Rob Cristofaro of Alife, Shanel Campbell of Shanel, April Walker of Walker Wear, Maurice Malone of Maurice Malone, James Whitner of The Whitaker Group and more.

Yellowbrick, a New York-based education platform company, created the program in collaboration with Parsons' acclaimed faculty, Complex editorial staff, and leaders from across the Streetwear industry. Through Streetwear Essentials, learners will earn a non-credit Completion Certificate from Parsons while acquiring important practical knowledge from leading academic and industry experts. All course materials and instruction will be provided online, which means students can complete lessons at their own pace and fit the course into their daily lives.

"Parsons' unique educational approach has trained generations of leading designers and fashion industry professionals," said Burak Cakmak, Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design. "We are excited to partner with Yellowbrick and Complex for Streetwear Essentials and offer an immersive, one-of-a-kind learning experience focused on this expanding segment."

With more than 15 hours of instruction and project time offered across six modules, the course will cover topics that are vital to success and brand-building in the industry. Topics include Defining Streetwear: Origins; Designing Streetwear; Marketing, Branding and Visual Communication; The Future Of Streetwear Retail and Distribution; and Business and Entrepreneurship. The program culminates with the capstone project, "What Streetwear Means To Me," in which learners are tasked with researching, designing, and developing a range of products and creating a pitch for their proposed business.

"As the leading youth culture brand in the U.S. and off the heels of our successful Sneaker Essentials program, we're excited to have found education as a way to impact the next generation in our shared passion points," said Christian Baesler, President of Complex Networks. "Our respect for and love of streetwear is in the DNA of Complex. We're honored to provide our audience with a program that will educate them on its history from some of the biggest names in the business; empower their ideas and creativity, and help jumpstart a future they might not have thought was within their reach."

Streetwear Essentials is the latest career-discovery program powered by Yellowbrick in conjunction with top-tier universities and major brand partners. Other courses focus on competitive, dynamic industries such as Sneaker Design & Trade, which was also co-created with Complex, the popular "Certificate in Fashion Industry Essentials" co-created with Parsons and Teen Vogue, as well as Music, Beauty, Hospitality, and Sports Business, in collaboration with other leading partners.

"Our mission is to help learners discover career paths that align perfectly with the things they're most passionate about," said Rob Kingyens, President and CEO of Yellowbrick. "Streetwear is a movement that has inspired millions across Fashion, Music, Art, Dance, and modern culture. We're excited to help bring the inner workings of this exciting industry to life for the next generation of creators and tastemakers."

Beginning today, visitors to http://www.yellowbrick.co/streetwear can sign up for an exclusive preview of the program. The first group of students will be admitted to Streetwear Essentials in December.

About Parsons School of Design
Parsons School of Design is one of the leading institutions for art and design education in the world. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of art and design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, please visit http://www.newschool.edu/parsons.

About Complex Networks
Complex Networks, formed from the acquisition of Complex Media Inc. through a joint venture by Verizon and Hearst, is a global lifestyle brand and media company and one of the most influential voices in popular culture today. Complex Networks' digital channels, which include Complex, First We Feast, Pigeons & Planes, Sole Collector and more, is a Top 10 publisher in the U.S. for social engagement on channels like Facebook and YouTube. A diversified and profitable media business with premium distribution partners such as Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV, Roku, and iFlix, Complex Networks' original content exemplifies convergence culture, exploring topics that span across popular culture from music to movies, sports to video games, fashion to food.

Complex Networks develops and distributes original programming for its channels and through output deals with premium distributors. The company cultivates content that spans across popular culture from music to movies, sports to video games, fashion to food, reaching the coveted 18-24-year-old male audience. In 2016, the company launched ComplexCon in Long Beach, California, to bring the "Internet to life." The annual event attracts over 200 culture-shifting brands and over 60,000 digitally savvy attendees to the two-day cultural festival.

About Yellowbrick
Yellowbrick's platform empowers motivated learners to explore their passions. We've partnered with the best brands in media, culture, and education, to develop online courses that demystify industries like Music, Fashion, Sneakers, Sports, and Hospitality. Together, we're helping a new generation of talent discover career paths that are aligned with the things they love. Find out more at http://www.yellowbrick.co.

SOURCE Parsons School of Design