[Newark, NJ – October 5, 2021] Newark School of Fashion and Design powered by Parsons School of Design (NSFD) officially opened its doors during a ribbon cutting ceremony held on September 30, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey, marking the last of the three new schools the district has opened in the 2021-22 school year.

The new school will start the year with an inaugural freshmen class and will grow one grade level every year, launching a groundbreaking model of collaboration between institutions of higher education and public school districts. NSFD has developed a number of partnerships such as: The Misa Hylton Fashion Academy, Dirty Soles, the world-renowned fashion label Gucci, and is powered by the highly esteemed Parsons School of Design; which is bringing its interdisciplinary curriculum to the students in communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in these creative disciplines. These incredible partnerships represent the driving force to increase students’ access to world-class design education and prepare them for careers in design and fashion.

"Today at NSFD, we up the anti - that it is about academic excellence, that it is about innovation, that we tap into the genius of our students and allow their greatness to shine like diamonds" stated Superintendent León. "We are great in the city of Newark, we look great in the city of Newark, and we have style because we are Newark," he added.

Newark Public Schools is committed to making investments in creating high school career pathways for their students. One way they are doing this is through the new high school’s curriculum, which aims to help its students unlock the power of fashion and design to spark systemic societal change.

“NSFD represents a unique opportunity to bring the best of the best in design education to Newark Public Schools high school students and to introduce them to an exceptional quality of training and resources,” said Sakina Pitts, Principal of NSFD. “We are thrilled to afford our students unmatched opportunities to imagine, problem solve, and collaborate in preparation for successful futures in the fashion and design worlds.”

“Inspired by the transformative potential of design education for over a century, Parsons is dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of designers truly reflects our society,” said Rachel Schreiber, Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design. “At NSFD, tomorrow’s creative leaders will engage in real-world learning. They will develop as critical thinkers and change-makers capable of addressing the most urgent issues of our time, and prepared to contribute to the world of fashion deeply informed by equity, inclusion, and social justice.”

Board Member Flohisha Johnson spoke at the ceremony, remembering how the community has been a major foundation in presenting the opportunities that students will be afforded at NSFD, she said "This first class will go on to do such great things, I can feel it in my spirit - to have the foundation set from the very beginning tells me this."

NSFD partner, Misa Hylton of the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy echoed in similar sentiments "I've had the pleasure of working with this inaugural class and it goes without saying, they are gifted. They walk with so much potential" she concluded. "You are the future of fashion."

Joining Superintendent León and Principal Pitts were Mayor Baraka, Senator Ruiz, Board Vice-President Johnson, Board Members Anderson, Council and Gonzalez, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ortiz, Chief of Staff Nazario, Misa Hylton and team, members of Dirty Soles, Gucci, Parsons School of Design, and many, many more.