Harley McVicar’s Parsons Dream Comes True

The granddaughter of Dame Pieter Stewart, founder of New Zealand Fashion Week, Harley grew up in the front row, absorbing creativity, style and artistry from some of the industry’s best.

Now, at just 18, Harley is stepping onto one of the world’s most prestigious stages, having been accepted into the Parsons School of Design in New York City for autumn 2025, and earning a scholarship in recognition of her talent and dedication.

“Parsons was embedded in my brain from a very young age,” Harley says. At eight, she made headlines as the world’s youngest fashion blogger, covering NZFW and interviewing designers such as Sean Kelly, winner of Project Runway. By 13, she was designing T-shirt prints for Fashion Week volunteers. “NZFW was my playground. The creativity I was able to absorb gave me my passion for photography and a broad knowledge of how to draw, paint and design.”

Her mother, make-up artist Kristen Stewart (Y9 1988), says Harley’s success is the result of years of focus and drive. “She set clear goals and achieved each one, from winning art cups to becoming a prefect at St Margaret’s. She worked tirelessly on her Parsons application, crafting essays and a portfolio that told her story.”

Harley’s journey has been filled with memorable moments, walking in children’s shows, meeting A-listers like Pamela Anderson, and learning from New Zealand’s most celebrated designers. But Parsons marks the start of an exciting new chapter.

“I’ve dreamed of this for over a decade,” she says. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn, grow, and create in one of the most inspiring places in the world.”