Anna Sui receives honorary degree from Parsons

By

Emily Jensen

Published
May 26, 2017

The designer was awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts by the Parsons School of Design at the school’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday. Over 40 years ago, Sui dropped out of Parsons at the age of 21 after getting a job in fashion.

 
The honorary degree is just another achievement in what has been a banner year for the American designer. Sui is also the subject of a retrospective, titled “The World of Anna Sui,” which opens today at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum. Sui is the first living American designer to receive a retrospective in the U.K.
 
Sui has also added to her extensive list of collaborations with an upcoming collection for Macy’s and a line of home decor and furniture for PBteen.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants dropped out of Parsons after receiving a job at fashion label Charlie’s Girls. She then went on to start her own eponymous line in 1991, which has been know for holding some of fashion’s biggest runway shows that frequently feature supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington. In 2009 she earned a lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
 
Sui says her mother has always nagged her about not receiving a college degree. Now, four decades after dropping out, she finally has her diploma.