Mazdack Rassi
{{Short description|Iranian-American real estate and creative entrepreneur}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{notability|Biography|date=February 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2016}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mazdack Rassi
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}}{{cite web | url=https://www.thecut.com/2009/08/156_minutes_with_mazdack_rassi.html | title=156 Minutes with Mazdack Rassi, Founder and Creative Director of Milk Studios | date=30 August 2009 }}
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_place = Tehran, Iran
| known_for = Co-Founder of Milk Studios
}}
Mazdack Rassi (born 1970) 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,{{cite news|last1=Detrick|first1=Ben|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/fashion/a-rebels-cause-fortifying-the-fashion-flock.html|title=A Rebel's Cause: Fortifying the Fashion Flock|website=The New York Times|date=8 August 2012|accessdate=8 August 2012}} as a co-founder of Milk Makeup{{cite web|last1=Heinzinger|first1=Kristen|url=http://fashionweekdaily.com/milk-studios-presents-its-first-ever-makeup-line/|title=Milk Studios Launches Makeup Line with Zanna Roberts Rassi|website=Fashion Week Daily|date=22 December 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Noble|first1=Audrey|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/got-milk-makeup-essentials-for-the-cool-girl-on-the-go|title=Got Milk? Makeup Essentials for the Cool Girl on the Go|website=Fashion Week Daily|date=23 March 2016|accessdate=23 March 2016}} and Camp David in Brooklyn, New York.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/fashion/milk-studios-sunset-park-camp-david-co-working-space.html?_r=0|title=They Made the Meatpacking District Fashionable. Is Sunset Park Next?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 May 2017|last1=Schneier|first1=Matthew}}
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. His mother found work in the costume department.{{cite web|last1=Dailey|first1=Jessica|url=http://www.curbed.com/2016/3/1/11131732/mazdack-rassi-home|title=Mazdack Rassi
|website=Curbed|accessdate=1 March 2016}}
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.
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. This became Milk Studios, a media conglomerate that now is a hub for fashion,{{cite web|last1=Clott|first1=Sharon|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2009/08/156_minutes_with_mazdack_rassi.html|title=156 Minutes With Mazdack Rassi, Founder and Creative Director of Milk Studios|website=NY Mag|date=30 August 2009 |accessdate=30 August 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/jenne-lombardo-mazdack-rassi-keith-baptista|title=Jenné Lombardo, Mazdack Rassi & Keith Baptista|website=Business of Fashion}}{{cite web|last1=Weiss|first1=Zachary|url=http://observer.com/2016/02/the-fashion-worlds-illuminati-convened-last-night-at-the-beatrice-inn/|title=The Fashion World's Illuminati Convened Last Night at The Beatrice Inn|website=Observer|date=13 February 2016|accessdate=13 February 2016}} photography,{{cite web|last1=Cruz|first1=Josephine|url=http://www.complex.com/style/2015/01/milk-studios-mazdack-rassi-kanye-west|title=Get to Know Milk Studios' Mazdack Rassi, the Man Kanye West Calls a "Visionary"|website=Complex|accessdate=23 January 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Bender|first1=Jeremy|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/iraq-war-platon-photos-2016-6|title=These searing pictures capture the tragic consequences of the war in Iraq|website=Business Insider|accessdate=22 June 2016}} casting, videography, media publishing,{{cite web|publisher=Gen.xyz Blog|url=https://gen.xyz/blog/milkxyz|title=Milk.xyz: This #WebsiteWednesday will add a cultural kick to your morning coffee|website=Gen.xyz|date=20 April 2016|accessdate=20 April 2016}} and cosmetics{{cite web|last1=Wischhove|first1=Cheryl|url=http://fashionista.com/2016/02/milk-makeup|title=MILK LAUNCHES A MAKEUP LINE FOR COOL GIRLS WHO ARE TIME-CRUNCHED|website=Fashionista|date=8 February 2016 |accessdate=8 February 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Blakely|first1=Lindsay|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/201607/lindsay-blakely/mazdack-rassi-milk-studios-production.html|title=Meet the Entrepreneur Behind Fashion's Biggest Insurgent Brand|website=Inc.|date=28 June 2016}}
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.{{cite web|last1=Mulshine|first1=Molly|url=http://observer.com/2014/10/downtown-fashion-kingmakers-at-milk-made-add-music-to-their-repertoire/|title=Downtown Fashion Kingmakers at MADE Add Music to Their Repertoire|website=Observer|date=9 October 2014}} Tattoo artist Scott Campbell partnered with Rassi and MILK Studios to host the "Whole Glory" show.{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Kristin|url=http://www.vogue.com/13446553/scott-campbell-whole-glory-shinola-los-angeles-mystery-tattoo/|title=Would You Get a Mystery Tattoo? A Vogue Writer Takes the Plunge With Scott Campbell and Shinola|website=Vogue|date=13 June 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Symonds|first1=Alexandria|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/t-magazine/mystery-tattoo-scott-campbell-whole-glory.html|title=I Got a Mystery Tattoo From Scott Campbell|website=New York Times|date=16 November 2015}} Rassi is a regular VIP at widely covered fashion events and music concerts.{{cite news|last1=Heyman|first1=Marshall|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bringing-out-the-fashion-set-1464042199|title=Bringing Out the Fashion Set|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=23 May 2016|accessdate=23 May 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Heij|first1=Patrick|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/fashion/mens-style/amazon-cadillac-mens-fashion-week-parties.html|title=Partying with Common, Kellan Lutz and Others at Men's Fashion Week|accessdate=13 July 2016|website=The New York Times|date=13 July 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Plummer|first1=Todd|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/05/25/fashion/Guide-to-the-2016-Hamptons-Party-Social-Circuit.html|title=Guide to the 2016 Hamptons Party Social Circuit|accessdate=25 May 2016|website=The New York Times|date=25 May 2016}}
Personal life
Rassi is married to Zanna Roberts Rassi, senior fashion editor at Marie Claire and correspondent on E!.{{cite web|last1=Ramshaw|first1=Emily|url=http://www.thecoveteur.com/2016/02/09/zanna-roberts-rassi-mazdack-rassi/|title=ZANNA ROBERTS RASSI & MAZDACK RASSI|website=The Coveteur}} They live in Chelsea with two daughters - Rumi and Juno.{{cite web|last1=Silver|first1=Denna|url=http://fashionweekdaily.com/family-circus-with-mazdack-rassi-and-zanna-roberts-rassi-2/|title=Family Circus With Mazdack Rassi And Zanna Roberts Rassi|website=Fashion Week Daily|date=9 September 2014|accessdate=9 September 2014}}
Charity and Honors
Rassi serves on the Parsons Board of Governors,{{cite web|url=http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/board-of-governors/|title=PARSONS BOARD OF GOVERNORS|website=The New School}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://metrony.wish.org/news-and-events/calendar-of-events/events-time-folder/2016/power-of-a-wish---nyc-gala|title=POWER OF A WISH - METRO NEW YORK GALA|website=Make-A-Wish|accessdate=9 June 2016}} He also co-hosted the first annual Autism Tomorrow benefit.{{cite web|last1=Barsamian|first1=Edward|url=http://www.vogue.com/13435657/jacquelyn-jablonski-hanne-gaby-odiele-autism-tomorrow-benefit-new-york-party/|title=A Model Cause: Jacquelyn Jablonski Hosts the First Annual Autism Tomorrow Benefit|accessdate=11 May 2016|website=Vogue|date=11 May 2016}} 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.
References
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Category:American people of Iranian descent
Category:American businesspeople in fashion