{"id":18633,"date":"2022-03-08T13:11:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T18:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/?page_id=18633"},"modified":"2026-03-26T13:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:40:18","slug":"2022-designer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/college-of-business-innovation-leadership-and-technology\/school-of-design-and-art\/portfolio-in-motion\/designer-of-the-year\/2022-designer-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Designer of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cynthia and Najla Burt are the remarkable mother-daughter duo behind the luxury women’s wear label <\/span>Dur Doux<\/span><\/a>. The design house made its debut in Washington, DC in 2013. Since then Cynthia and Najla have established their label as one of the best in the industry, earning themselves titles at the <\/span>Black in Fashion Council<\/span><\/i> showroom<\/span> at New York Fashion Week 2022.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dur Doux translates to “hard soft,” and this concept is reflected in their posh pieces that also provide avant-garde elements. Priding themselves on their craftsmanship of tulle and other textiles inspired by the world\u2019s vibrant color palette.<\/span><\/p>\n Najla Burt serves as the founder and creative director of Dur Doux.\u00a0 She earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Florida. She then went on to Parsons School of Design, where she earned an associate’s degree in fashion design. She draws inspiration from unique fabrication techniques, dramatic details, while still remaining true to the idea of femininity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cynthia Burt, Najla\u2019s mother, serves as the company\u2019s co-founder and vice president.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dur Doux has been featured in Harper\u2019s Bazaar, L’Officiel, Vogue, and numerous other publications and editorials providing an affordable asset to luxury fashion.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n