Burak Cakmak

As Dean of fashion at Parsons School of Design, Burak Cakmak’s agenda includes educating the next generation of fashion creatives about the importance of social responsibility, not just relating to the environment, but to wider political and social issues including feminism and inclusivity. His 15-year-strong background in sustainability informed his initiative to make the topic a key focus at the prestigious institution.

His career in the fashion industry began in 2000, serving as Gap Inc.’s senior manager of social responsibility. After eight years, he relocated to London and was hired by Kering to lead sustainability strategies for the luxury group’s brands — including Gucci, Stella McCartney and Bottega Veneta — as its first director of corporate sustainability.

In 2012 he was tapped by the Swarovski Group as the company’s first vice president of corporate responsibility, charged with implementing best practice industry standards across the business.

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