Mazdack Rassi

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Mazdack Rassi
Born1970 (age 52–53) [1]
Tehran, Iran
Known forCo-Founder of Milk Studios

Mazdack Rassi is an Iranian-American real estate and creative entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder of Milk Studios with partners Erez Shternlicht and Moishe Mana, [2] as a co-founder of Milk Makeup [3] [4] and Camp David in Brooklyn, New York. [5]

Contents

Early life

Rassi was born in Tehran, Iran. His family left the country because of the Iranian Revolution and moved to rural Champaign, Illinois at the age of nine. Rassi's father, a Cornell graduate and former Iranian diplomat, went from being an educator in Iran to a professor at the University of Illinois. [2] His mother found work in the costume department. [6]

In 1994, Rassi dropped out of community college, borrowed $500 from his mother, and moved to New York City. He began working "two or three jobs," from splitting falafel to working at the Gap. [2]

Milk Studios

After earning his real estate license, Rassi rented an apartment to his two future partners, then unbeknownst to him, Erez Shternlicht and Moisha Mana. He later convinced the duo to open a photography studio in the Meatpacking District with him and to let him run it. [2] This became Milk Studios, a media conglomerate that now is a hub for fashion, [7] [8] [9] photography, [10] [11] casting, [7] videography, [7] media publishing, [12] and cosmetics [13] [14]

Industry visibility

Mazdack Rassi was instrumental in helping launch the careers of young fashion creators Alexander Wang, Joseph Altuzarra, Hood By Air, Cushnie et Ochs, via MADE Fashion Week, a program he started at Milk Studios with co-founders Jenné Lombardo and Keith Baptista. [15] Tattoo artist Scott Campbell partnered with Rassi and MILK Studios to host the "Whole Glory" show. [16] [17] Rassi is a regular VIP at widely covered fashion events and music concerts. [18] [19] [20]

Personal life

Rassi is married to Zanna Roberts Rassi, senior fashion editor at Marie Claire and correspondent on E!. [21] They live in Chelsea with two daughters - Rumi and Juno. [22]

Charity and Honors

Rassi serves on the Parsons Board of Governors, [23] New York City Ballet Board of Directors and the Board of Burton Snowboards. He was the honoree of Make-A-Wish's 2016 Power of a Wish Gala. [24] He also co-hosted the first annual Autism Tomorrow benefit. [25] Rassi is also a long-standing advocate and advisor for the Global Poverty Project and the Global Citizen Festival. He has been devoted to the betterment of New York City for years and has demonstrated his commitment to improving commerce and the existing fashion ecosystem with his work for NYC 2020, the Meatpacking BID Steering Committee and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

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References

  1. ↑ "156 Minutes with Mazdack Rassi, Founder and Creative Director of Milk Studios". 30 August 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Detrick, Ben (8 August 2012). "A Rebel's Cause: Fortifying the Fashion Flock". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Heinzinger, Kristen (22 December 2015). "Milk Studios Launches Makeup Line with Zanna Roberts Rassi". Fashion Week Daily. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Noble, Audrey (23 March 2016). "Got Milk? Makeup Essentials for the Cool Girl on the Go". Fashion Week Daily. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Schneier, Matthew (17 May 2017). "They Made the Meatpacking District Fashionable. Is Sunset Park Next?". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Dailey, Jessica. "Mazdack Rassi". Curbed. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Clott, Sharon (30 August 2009). "156 Minutes With Mazdack Rassi, Founder and Creative Director of Milk Studios". NY Mag. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Jenné Lombardo, Mazdack Rassi & Keith Baptista". Business of Fashion.
  9. ↑ Weiss, Zachary (13 February 2016). "The Fashion World's Illuminati Convened Last Night at The Beatrice Inn". Observer. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  10. ↑ Cruz, Josephine. "Get to Know Milk Studios' Mazdack Rassi, the Man Kanye West Calls a "Visionary"". Complex. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Bender, Jeremy. "These searing pictures capture the tragic consequences of the war in Iraq". Business Insider. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Milk.xyz: This #WebsiteWednesday will add a cultural kick to your morning coffee". Gen.xyz. Gen.xyz Blog. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Wischhove, Cheryl (8 February 2016). "MILK LAUNCHES A MAKEUP LINE FOR COOL GIRLS WHO ARE TIME-CRUNCHED". Fashionista. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  14. ↑ Blakely, Lindsay (28 June 2016). "Meet the Entrepreneur Behind Fashion's Biggest Insurgent Brand". Inc.
  15. ↑ Mulshine, Molly (9 October 2014). "Downtown Fashion Kingmakers at MADE Add Music to Their Repertoire". Observer.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Kristin (13 June 2016). "Would You Get a Mystery Tattoo? A Vogue Writer Takes the Plunge With Scott Campbell and Shinola". Vogue.
  17. ↑ Symonds, Alexandria (16 November 2015). "I Got a Mystery Tattoo From Scott Campbell". New York Times.
  18. ↑ Heyman, Marshall (23 May 2016). "Bringing Out the Fashion Set". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  19. ↑ Heij, Patrick (13 July 2016). "Partying with Common, Kellan Lutz and Others at Men's Fashion Week". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  20. ↑ Plummer, Todd (25 May 2016). "Guide to the 2016 Hamptons Party Social Circuit". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  21. ↑ Ramshaw, Emily. "ZANNA ROBERTS RASSI & MAZDACK RASSI". The Coveteur.
  22. ↑ Silver, Denna (9 September 2014). "Family Circus With Mazdack Rassi And Zanna Roberts Rassi". Fashion Week Daily. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "PARSONS BOARD OF GOVERNORS". The New School.
  24. ↑ "POWER OF A WISH - METRO NEW YORK GALA". Make-A-Wish. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  25. ↑ Barsamian, Edward (11 May 2016). "A Model Cause: Jacquelyn Jablonski Hosts the First Annual Autism Tomorrow Benefit". Vogue. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
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