Isaac Mizrahi, Fashion Design ’82
Isaac Mizrahi ’82 Takes Creativity to New Heights as Fashion Designer, Talk Show Host, Author, and Director.
At the age of 15, Isaac Mizrahi, Fashion Design ’82, started his Parsons education, taking evening classes and learning the intricacies of producing women’s clothing. As a full-time college student, he worked part-time for designer Perry Ellis and continued there until after graduation. After working at major fashion label like Jeffrey Banks and Calvin Klein, he decided to start his own business.
In 1987, Mizrahi presented his first collection at a trunk show held by Bergdorf Goodman, where several top retailers placed orders. His striking mastery of color and ability to make garments both youthful and elevated prompted his career to take off quickly, winning the praise of editors and fashion insiders.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recognized him with the Perry Ellis Award, now called the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award, in 1988 and the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in 1989. In 1992, Chanel bought a stake in the company and Mizrahi had financial backing to create more lines.
Having had an interest in drama and acting in high school, Mizrahi shifted gears in 1995 when he was featured in a documentary. The film offered a behind-the-scenes look at the development and production of his 1994 fall fashion line. The film won the 1995 Sundance Audience Award for Docuseries. Two years later Mizrahi published a series of comic books. In 2000 he produced a successful one-man off-Broadway show and later started designing costumes for high-profile plays. This path led him to winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design.
In 2002, Mizrahi partnered with Target to create a womenswear and home goods line which was well received by the public. Mizrahi also designs for his line on QVC and is a regular TV figure in all things fashion media. Mizrahi has appeared on TV countless times, either acting, hosting, guest starring, judging, directing or writing among others. Most notably, being a regular judge on shows like Project Runway, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Top Chef, Iron Chef as well as many others.
In February of 2019, Mizrahi published his memoir I.M.: A Memoir.
