IF THERE WAS EVER A SIGNPOST TO THE FUTURE THIS WAS THE EVENT OF THE YEAR - FASHINNOVATION WORLDWIDE TALKS
Just one of the Powerhouse Keynote Panels with legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg @therealdvf & @dvf and Imran Amed @imranamed Founder and Editor in Chief of The Business of Fashion @bof
Kenneth Cole and Ali Pew - Fashion is “Here... For Good”
If there was ever a signpost to the future then it was the “Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks” event 2020, taking place across the globe for 2 days, April 20th and 22nd 2020.
Bringing together over 90 expert speakers into a virtual summit powered by Zoom and offering a staggering forum for conversation, knowledge and collaboration.
The list of Fashion “A” listers endless and with each speaker, joining for an open, honest discussion whilst in isolation. Baring all in unity for the power of good and a positive Future for the Fashion Industry.
From lockdown, in homes across the globe, this virtual community packed a weighty punch and importantly hammers home the need for systemic change. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for the Fashion Industry to seize the moment and radically reset and aged, inappropriate business model.
The event held in partnership with the UN Office for Partnerships, and in collaboration with the Conscious Fashion Campaign, focusing on the development of the Sustainable Development goals was an outstanding success, giving a voice to the Industry and its community and importantly open for all. This wasn’t a ticketed event, it was free, running for 2 days with a back to back schedule that would have tasked any event organizer.
Pulled together at short notice, this is a tribute to the professionalism of the Fashinnovation team and the founders Marcelo and Jordana Guimarães. Fashinnovation brings together international business leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and fashion designers, to inspire and ignite conversations that lead to revolutionary change within the industry.
Since launching with their debut conference at New York Fashion Week in 2018, Fashinnovation has built a community of powerhouses and brands such as Fern Mallis, Diane Von Furstenberg, Louis Vuitton, Chromat, WGSN, Wearable X, Mara Hoffman, Boxed Water, Refinery29, Fast Company, among others.
Sustainability was the founding format, and as we all hold fast in isolation, coping with major disruption to our businesses, families, cherished loved ones and friends, the energy of community was palpable. As was the honesty.
As we all move into an era post Covid, we have to embrace a new normal, or next normal as appropriately redefined by Kenneth Cole. The industry has to change its footprint, it needs to be leaner, greener and above all fair in its corporate social responsibility. The current pandemic has revealed a distasteful reliance and exploitation of the weakest links of the supply chain, namely the suppliers of components and services, especially in the far east which now faces a biblical famine and decimation of their vital textile, garment manufacturing industries.
In a post pandemic future lets hope that the Fashion Industry resets and for humanity - inspires change.
