Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks 3rd Session
Detail, Verdi handwoven mochila bucket bag in gold silver-plated copper threads and gray organic silk.
Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks continues to address the critical issues surrounding the business of fashion, accessible to all on a global, digital platform. Industry leaders come together to share their experiences, their views and to create positive change. Let’s examine two of the important sessions and hear what these fashion leaders have to say:
Christopher Lacy: Assistant Professor Parson’s School of Fashion, Co-creator and host of
“Retail Revolution” podcast. Christopher Lacy is also an experienced brand consultant. “It’s important that we discuss how we can make sustainable, slow fashion accessible at a reasonable price for the lower income customer.”
Verdi, tabletop, woven copper centerpiece
Tomás Vera Gutierrez de Pineres: Founder and Creative Director, Verdi, contemporary textiles working within the interior design, fashion and art markets. His workshop is in Columbia. The mix of fiber and metal as well as the blending of traditional and contemporary are at the center of the Verdi brand’s core values. “We are working to help the local artisans create a dyeing process that will not harm the environment.”
Pasar Tote- Large – Upcycle Project #6, Alfeya Valrina. Created using 100% scrap leather from past production.
Alfeya Valrina: Founder and designer of Alfeyna Valrina brand of accessories produced in Indonesia working with local artisans using only Indonesian sourced materials. “It’s a priority for my brand to work with local artisans and source all materials locally as well. We reuse materials whenever possible.”
Stunning slides crafted with iridescent rooster tail feathers, Vanassibara
Sunset mosaic embellished oxfords as a work of art, Vanassibara
Diego Vanassibara: Designer and founder of Vanassibara sustainable footwear, originally from Brazil now based in the UK. “If you can create design excellence and remove the middleman, this is a sustainable process. This allows you to produce luxury and still reduce the cost.”
Kmana oversized leather tote
Bea Sanz Corella: Co-founder of Kmana brand of vegetable tanned accessories created with local artisans in Bali. Bea is a civic engagement expert and philanthropy advisor. The Kmana brand takes pride in being a part of the slow fashion and fashion revolution movements. Bea is the innovator of the Butterfly Mark. The Butterfly Mark is a third-party accreditation mark that identifies the luxury brands that meet the highest standards of verified innovation and environmental performance, offering transparency at points of sale and equipping consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. “We need to explain to people that slow fashion costs more because people are getting paid a fair wage. This is an important point for the customer to understand.”
Multi-fabric coat, Jonathan Cohen
Jonathan Cohen is a prominent designer and textile developer based in New York. Jonathan is the creator of “The Studio, which is an evolution of the Jonathan Cohen brand, expanding our design offering with both creativity and innovation through upcycled products. Fashion production leads to an abundance of fabric scraps and remnants that typically go to waste. Our mission is to utilize these unused materials to minimize landfill pollution. Past seasons’ leftover fabrics and our factories’ scraps are now the brainchild for new styles. Price transparency is important for people to understand; why is one t-shirt $11.00 and another $100.00? We need to provide the customer that information to make pricing clear.”
CEO, world-renowned stylist and designer Rachel Zoe is an editor, author, TV personality and entrepreneur recognized for her effortless take on glamour. As a designer, Zoe makes her exceptional taste accessible as Creative Director of the Rachel Zoe Collection, incorporating ready-to-wear, footwear and accessory lines available at shoprachelzoe.com and found in over 200 stores worldwide. “You have to be really clear about your mission. My mission is to empower women to live a life of style.”
Pink gold sequin belted jacket, Rachel Zoe
Rachel Zoe is also the founder and chief curator of the luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle membership, CURATEUR (aka Box of Style) and serves as founder and editor-at-large of online style destination, The Zoe Report, which covers fashion and beauty trends and inspiration to reach more than 14 million monthly users worldwide.
Raisa Bruner, staff writer, Time
Raisa Bruner is a journalist and anthropologist. Raisa has written articles for Time, Business Insider, People Magazine, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. Raisa Bruner was the moderator for this session.
Interested in following the Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks? Register for the next series here:
Fashinnovation, Our Manifest: Fashion is to Love
