Déshon Varnado (r) with Alessandro Marcer at Safilo's NY Design Studio Showroom.
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NEW YORK—Safilo Group and The New School’s Parsons School of Design announced the winner of the second installment of the Safilo x Parsons Design Thesis Competition at the 70th Parsons Benefit Gala on Monday, May 21 which took place at Pier 60. Déshon Varnado, whose thesis was titled Visions of Intersectionality, was announced as the winner of the Safilo x Parsons Design Thesis Competition. Varnado was congratulated by Parsons’ Dean of Fashion, Burak Cakmak, and by Alessandro Marcer, VP, creative director and head of Safilo Group’s global design studio in New York, who coached the students for the second year in a row. Varnado will also receive a cash prize from Safilo.

Varnado’s eyewear design prototype closed the student runway show, which also included the other five student eyewear creations that were part of this year’s Safilo x Parsons Design Thesis Competition. Some important names in fashion, art and culture were in attendance, including Solange Knowles who was one of the evening’s honorees.


Varnado's winning design on a model.
“Created as a celebration of up-and-coming designers of the next generation, the competition echoes Safilo Group’s purpose as a design inspired and brand led eyewear manufacturer. The program equips young designers with an in-depth study of the eyewear process and underscores eyewear product excellence,” the company said.

Additionally, all six student eyewear prototypes were on display at the school last week during the Parsons Festival, an annual series of art and design events. The Parsons Festival is part of NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s annual celebration of design.

The six student finalists chosen for this year’s program, among more than 50 senior candidates included: Che An Lin, Danchen Sun, Déshon Varnado, Ruree Lee, Yang Qiu and Mengzhu Li. The students’ completed projects are available to view online at www.galleriasafilo.com.