Parke Lutter And The Art of Becoming Who You Already Were

Amherst isn't known for launching fashion designers and entrepreneurs, but that's just one of the reasons why this conversation with Parke Lutter was so much fun. This talent has been building inside of him since his childhood in the Midwest, where he made clothes for one of us stuffed animals, his friends, and even a prom dress for his sister. Still, Parke hadn't awakened to that interest as a professional possibility when he arrived at Amherst imagining a Wharton-bound career in business. His study abroad in Paris, the friendships he formed, and his own coming-out process helped him understand that his childhood instinct to make things wasn’t just a hobby. We also talk about the birth and evolution of Parke & Ronen, the fashion and lifestyle brand he co-founded with his now-husband, and how building a business that has lasted nearly 30 years has required resilience, reinvention, and a willingness to keep learning. Parke shares how his creative process has changed with age and how he’s thinking about the next phase of life, including questions about legacy, freedom, and what work might look like when you finally have the option not to do it. Highlights include: The role Amherst played as a safe, transitional place where Parke learned to think, create, and understand himself more fully. The creative “constellations” Parke builds from travel, culture, mood, and the world around him. What aging has changed about his creative muscle. How he’s thinking about the future: succession, legacy, creativity, and the possibility of a very different rhythm of life. The classmates he wants to hear from next To get in touch, email Parke at [email protected], and follow Parke & Ronen on social. Recommendation we made in the episode: Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. Note that the episode contains one use of profanity.