Narciso Rodriguez is a New York City-based fashion designer known for redefining American style during the past two decades. Born in New Jersey of Cuban-American parents, Rodriguez received his formal education at the prestigious Parson’s School of Design in New York. He plays a singular role in the modern global fashion world and has been the recipient of many honors, including the 2014 Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, and twice winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Women’s Wear Designer of the Year. Rodriguez has been named one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America” by Time Magazine and won the Fashion Icon Award from the Pratt Institute, among many other honors.
While he specializes in women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, Rodriguez is also a fragrance designer and has won numerous awards for his innovative fragrances. On election night 2008, Rodriguez became part of American history when First Lady Michelle Obama chose to wear a dress from the designer’s Spring 2009 collection to celebrate President Barack Obama’s triumphant victory. His passion for the arts has resulted in numerous film and television collaborations, and his work has been featured in several museum exhibitions including MoCA’s “Skin and Bones” in Los Angeles and Cooper Hewitt’s Design Triennial Exhibition.