ABOUT SIMON COLLINS

Simon Collins is a creative seditionary, design thinker, speaker, writer, designer and advisor. Following a career as a fashion designer then creative director for some of the world’s leading brands including Nike, Polo and Zegna, he most recently spent 7 years as Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design where he successfully turned the quiet design school into a global mega-brand that partnered with luxury conglomerates like Kering and LVMH.

During his Parsons tenure, Collins was named one of the essential voices of global fashion by The Business of Fashion and as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company Magazine. His Chinese CCTV6 show "Creative Sky," enjoyed a regular audience of 5 million though its five seasons.

In 2014, he published his first book “The School of Fashion,” which detailed the history of 30 notable Parsons alumna, from Donna Karan to Alexander Wang. He also established an onstage Conversation Series where he interviewed guests such as Victoria Beckham, Francois-Henri Pinault and Giancarlo Giammetti.

In 2015, he stepped down from the role of dean at Parsons and joined the school's Board of Governors. Now, in addition to sitting on corporate and non-profit Boards, he has established the consulting agency, The House of Collins, to advise brands, institutions, fashion weeks and governments around the world.

Collins writes for publications like the Wall Street Journal, The Impression and At Large magazine, and he frequently comments on design in the media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR. Collins also speaks at major global conferences including the Cannes Lions and the YPO Conference NYC.

In 2016, Collins launched the first Fashion Culture Design Unconference in New York, the first major global platform for actual creative discussion, ideas and problem-solving. FCD was highly successful and is now moving around the world.

Simon Collins has spent his career creating beautiful solutions. He is passionate about great design and he travels the world speaking about his adventures.

FASHION CULTURE DESIGN

Fashion Culture and Design affect each other and everything we make, see, and feel. To better understand this and help us all to Do Things Better we created the Fashion Culture Design Unconference. Brilliant minds addressing difficult problems without corporate agendas or products to sell. Actual conversations moderated by smart individuals who know how to get people talking.

FCD addresses the questions that we’re struggling with but aren’t in the public arena, questions like what does beauty look like now? Or when will someone invent wearable tech that we actually need? Multiple panels of experts challenge conventional thinking and inspire the audience and each other with ideas they can do something with. There are no simple answers so FCD is the start of the conversation.

CREATIVE ADVISOR

Collins advises companies, brands and governments on all aspects of their business and branding. From his unique international vantage point combining business, creative and academic and through working in Europe, the US and Asia his background at the top of global brands like Nike and Parsons School of Design gives him a perspective that informs his own work and translates directly to his clients. Through his career, Collins has worked with brands such as Ford, Coach, Kering, Fila, Marks + Spencers, Ralph Lauren, Milk Studios, MADE Fashion Week, Allen Edmonds, New York Times, Cesare Paciotti, LVMH, Amazon Fashion, Concept Korea, and more. 

GLOBAL SPEAKER

Collins has given keynote speeches on subjects ranging from 'Design Thinking' to 'Why I love Bad Design' and most recently 'How To Design The Future: A Manifesto'. Always a lively performer he has given major speeches in Dubai, Madrid, Bilbao, Paris, Tokyo, London, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok and at the Cannes Lions festival. His series of intimate conversations on stage with leading creative thinkers has included Francois-Henri Pinault, Victoria Beckham, Ermenegildo Zegna, Giancarlo Giammetti, Proenza Schouler and many more. He hosts major events worldwide including the annual sustainability report for H&M in Europe and Collins' own Fashion Culture Design Unconferences in New York and coming to China in 2017

THE ESSENTIAL KIT

Simon Collins began as a Tailor and Fashion Designer in London before moving to New York as a Creative Director. From New York his design path took him to Hong Kong and across Asia. Later back in New York he became dean of fashion at Parsons School of Design. 

A seven year academic stretch gave him the passion and insight to advise companies, brands and governments around the world. To spread his message globally in 2016 he launched the unique Fashion Culture Design Unconference. As a response to the rigors of a life in pursuit of great design he created The House of Collins Essential Kit, quality apparel for the modern gentleman in search of travel and adventure.