Mar 13, 2018
Fashion Tech and Sustainability News & Events in NYC | 3.13.18–4.26.18 | RSVP for March’s Balanced Fashion Event
It’s my pleasure to invite you to my next Balanced Fashion event that will take place on the 22nd of March and will be focused on the future of direct-to-consumer, essentials-focused sustainable fashion brands. Come meet some of the leading players in this movement, as well as emerging brands discuss the future of sustainable fashion. Some of the topics will include the importance of a clear brand’s aesthetic and merchandising, how to attract the new customers to a sustainable brand, a potential collaboration with big names in the industry vs creation of a new wave of big brands, the circular economy in fashion, and the application of fashion tech tools. Confirmed panelists: Jessica Jones, Marketing Manager, ADAY, Althea Simons, Founder, Grammar, moderator: Allison Vicenzi, Founder, Vicenzi. More panelists will be confirmed this week. Email me for a ticket. I’m still looking for the location for this event, so if you have any leads on spaces who would be open to host this panel, please send them my way!
Also, save the date (April 26th, 6:30pm) for the April event Balanced Fashion is hosting in collaboration with Get The People Agency during the Global Fashion Revolution Week. It will be focused on branding & storytelling for fashion sustainability. Email me for an early bird free RSVP. The tickets will cost $20 when we publish the event.
Last week I wrote an article based on the eye-opening report that was issued by ClimateWorks Foundation and Quantis. By now we all know that fashion industry is the 2nd biggest contributor to the World’s pollution — including climate impact, water use, and overall waste. This is the industry we live and breath, full of creativity, innovation, and beauty. If you are reading this article, it means you are probably not feeling indifferent about it. I mean, you are directly playing a role in it by wearing clothes every day, right? We talk about it a lot these days, there’s so much buzz in the press about sustainability, but what about taking an action ourselves to generate some meaningful results? I hope the facts in this article will inspire you. Read it here.
News Digest:
- H&M On Why Collective Industry Ambition Is Crucial For A Sustainable Fashion Future — Forbes
- 5 Innovations That Could Help Make Fast Fashion More Sustainable — Fast Company
- How Heron Preston is bringing sustainable practices to the streetwear industry — Glossy
- Why is it so hard for clothing manufacturers to pay a living wage? — Racked
- Stitch Fix CEO Katrina Lake talks data, Amazon — and hot tubs — Fast Company
- How brands are using private-label fashion lines to compete with Amazon — Glossy
- Who Is Most Vulnerable to Amazon’s Inexorable Rise? — Business of Fashion
- Solving for the last mile is retail’s next big disruption — Retail Dive
- ‘It’s had nine lives’: The state of Boohoo Group’s Nasty Gal, one year in — Glossy
- What Does Fitbit Need to Succeed? — Engadget
- Alexa, I need … everything. Voice shopping sales could reach $40 billion by 2022 — USA Today
- Why Retail’s Artificial Intelligence Bet is All Wrong — Quartz
- DVF is bringing customization and VR to its flagship store — Glossy
- The World’s First Digital Supermodel Has Arrived — Highsnobiety
Events
Tuesday, March 13th
5:45pm — 9pm Design Driven
Top NY’s monthly design event with Malthe Sigurdsson (Head of Design, Stripe), Melissa Cullens (Chief Design Officer, Ellevest), Dan Manian (Founder/CEO, Donut AI). Price: Free Location: BuzzFeed, 111 E 18th St
6:00pm Female Founders & Investors Unplugged
Join SAP.iO and Plum Alley for an evening with Brian Cohen, Vivian Rosenthal, and Vanessa Liu in conversation with Andrea Turner Moffitt, as we hear from them about their entrepreneurial journeys, their views on the evolution of venture capital and angel investing in New York, and how that’s helping women-led companies thrive in the city. Price: Free Location: SAP America, 10 Hudson Yards
6:30pm — 8:30pm What Did You Mean By That? Decoding Signals In Digital Communication
This fast-paced workshop will teach you the new rules of digital communication, led by collaboration expert Erica Dhawan. You will learn: How your modern communications are broadcasting your digital body language (even if you don’t intend to). Strategies to reduce the confusion and frustration that comes from all our various mediums, like email, phone, IM, text and even live meetings. How to select the best medium for your message (yes, it matters!). How to get closer to others intellectually, emotionally, personally, and professionally regardless of physical distance by smartly reading subtext Price: Free Location: General Assembly, 902 Broadway, 4th Floor
Wednesday, March 14th
5:45pm — 9pm Frontier Tech: Robotics, Drones, IoT & More [FirstMark’s Hardwired]
With founder/CEOs Josh Wolfe (Lux Capital), Sce Pike (IOTAS), Max Haot (Launcher), Zach Supalla (Particle). Price: Free Location: WeWork Chelsea 115 West 18th Street, 4th floor
7:00pm Human Centered Technology — The Human/Tech Paradox
In this session, we will discuss the role of human core elements in the face of technology and examples of how technology is being used to enhance people skills rather than eliminate them. Price: Free Location: SAP Next Gen Leonardo Center, 10 Hudson Yards
Thursday, March 15th
5:30pm Supply Chain & AI
Join us for an evening on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain management. Our expert speakers & panelists will discuss how AI transforms & improves retail supply chain operations through programs such as route optimization which increases efficiency in deliveries, & SMART-TL which reduces mileage & other data-driven software. This event combines a Lightning Talk, a “Fire-Side” Chat, & a Showcase. Price: Free Location: 10 Hudson Yards, SAP Leonardo Center, 48th Fl
7:30pm Google & The Human Side Of Tech
Join Google and Skilled Creative as we explore Conversational Interfaces like Google Home and Amazon Echo. We’re used to using conversation to get what we want from each other. There is an inherent value exchange in human-to-human discussion. Using conversation as a value exchange with our products and technologies is a new experience, and one fraught with controversy: privacy breaches, workforce replacement, and softening creativity are some of the concerns surrounding conversational interfaces. Price: Free Location: The Assemblage NoMad, 114 E 25th St
Monday, March 19th
7:30pm How We Choose: An Introduction to Human Design
Human Design is a cutting-edge personality assessment tool that sheds light on your emotional, psychological and energetic makeup, giving you the self-awareness and tools to align with your unique nature and step into your highest potential in every area of your life — in your career, partnerships and relationships. Come to this interactive workshop to get a taste for a profound system that can reveal how you are designed to navigate your relationships and career with the most ease and least resistance as your most authentic self. Price: Free Location: The Assemblage NoMad, 114 E 25th St
6:30pm — 8:30pm Sustainable Fashion Committee Meeting at LIM College
Join the NYC Fair Trade Coalition for an evening of planning, organizing, and collaboration. Learn how to get involved and push the sustainable fashion movement forward! Price: $5 Location: LIM College 216 E 45th st
Tuesday, March 20th
5:00pm Innovating Thru AR/VR
With Olivier Vincent (President, WeatherBug), Bryan Chasko (CTO, SameDay Security), Judah Tveito (Creative Dir., SameDay Security). Price: Free Location: Amazon AWS Loft, 350 W Broadway
6:30–8:00pm Brunchwork w/ Google
You’re invited to an unforgettable sweetgreen dinner with Google’s Director of Project Management Jonathan Rochelle. Enjoy an intimate conversation with Jonathan…and curated connections over a seasonal meal. Price: $20 Location: Alley Chelsea, 119 W 24th St
7:00pm The Future of Sustainable Fashion — How Conscious Companies & Consumers Can Make an Impact
Join us for an inspiring and engaging conversation on the Future of Sustainable Fashion with experts from VOZ, New York Fair Trade Coalition, Sat Nam babe and Dopper who will share their insights on trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sustainable fashion industry. You’ll also have an opportunity to network with like-minded people from the Be Social Change Community and walk away with a better understanding of where your clothes come from as well as tips + strategies on how to be more intentional about the purchasing and disposing of your clothing. Price: $20 Location: Prime Produce 424 W 54th St
7:00pm Sacred Activism and the Future of Social Change
According to scientists, we have less than a decade to orchestrate a collective response to climate change or face catastrophe. At the same time, our political system has regressed and public discourse has atrophied. What kind of transformation, evolution, or revolution can we envision at this time? How will we work together to bring it about? Price: Free Location: The Assemblage NoMad, 114 E 25th St
Wednesday, March 21st
5:30pm — 7:30pm Sustainable Disruption — Companies Leading Towards Change
The event will feature a few truly innovative companies and organizations that are driving change and sustainably disrupting their respective industries, communities and even society. Speakers include: Gregory Lettieri, CEO, Recycle Track Systems, Tina Hedges, CEO, LOLI Beauty, Miranda Gardiner, Director Strategic Planning & Partnerships, Urban Fabrick. Price: $12 Location: Interface Flor 330 5th Avenue 12th Floor
6:30–8:30pm Whipsmart Brands: How Branded Content Is Taking Over Your Newsfeed
Join us as we share insights from social pioneers from leading brands and branded content powerhouses. Our expert-studded panel will unravel how their organizations are innovating and winning in the battle for attention. Price: Free Location: 902 Broadway, 4th Floor
Thursday, March 22nd
6:00–8:30pm Balanced Fashion Panel: The Future of Direct-to-Consumer, Sustainable Fashion Brands (Date may change)
We are seeing more and more fashion brands pop up that are focused on wardrobe essentials, have a direct-to-consumer business model and are intrinsically sustainable. Come meet some of the leading players in this movement, as well as emerging brands discuss the future of sustainable fashion. Some of the topics will include the importance of a clear brand’s aesthetic and merchandising, how to attract the new customers to a sustainable brand, potential collaboration with big names in the industry vs creation of a new wave of big brands, circular economy in fashion, and the application of fashion tech tools. Confirmed panelists: Jessica Jones, Marketing Manager, ADAY, Althea Simons, Founder, Grammar, Moderator: Allison Vicenzi, Founder, Vicenzi Price: $15 (A limited number of tickets are free for this newsletter subscribers, reply to this email to get a free ticket) Location: TBD
Saturday, March 24th
9:30am — 4:00pm Sustainability Crash Course 2018
Imagine being able to spend one amazing day immersed in learning about sustainable design — and meeting the people who have pioneered new thinking and practices. On Saturday, March 24, 2018, Pratt’s CSDS will present the eigth annual Sustainability Crash Course, a day-long series of workshops with a host of experts from Pratt’s sustainable design faculty and elsewhere. With over 20 speakers, it is sure to be a fantastic day of exploration and inspiration! Registration required. Price: Free Location: Pratt Institute Engineering Building 200 Willoughby Ave Brooklyn, 11205
Monday, March 26th
In Personal Branding with Purpose, Marcos Salazar, CEO of Be Social Change + Career Coach, will share key strategies and techniques on how you can build an inspiring personal brand that clearly communicates your passions, talents, and skills in an authentic and intentional way. Price: Free Location: Centre for Social Innovation, 601 West 26th Street, #325
Friday, April 13th
6:00pm — 9:00pm Sustainable Fashion Silent Auction & Clothing Swap
The NYC Fair Trade Coalition x Harlem Undressed invites you to bring your positive vibes (and lightly used clothes) and help us grow the SUSTAINABLE FASHION MOVEMENT! We’re auctioning off one of a kind items from designers committed to; the SDG’s, pushing their ethics forward and supporting fair trade both near and far. *10% of sales will be donated to the NYC Fair Trade Coalition. Price: $25-$50 Location: La Maison d’Art 259 West 132nd Street
Sunday, April 15th
11:30am Brunchwork w/ SoulCycle
You’re invited to an unforgettable brunch with SoulCycle’s SVP Strategy and Growth Abby Levy. Enjoy a fireside chat with Abby, curated connections, a business challenge and pitch off…over a seasonal, locally-sourced meal. Price: $45 Location: TBD
Monday, April 23rd
In Intro to Social Entrepreneurship, Marcos Salazar, CEO of Be Social Change + Career Coach, will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the social entrepreneurship space and share insights on the fundamentals for creating a successful social venture (for profit and nonprofit). Price: Free Location: Centre for Social Innovation, 601 West 26th Street, #325
Thursday, April 26th
6:00–9:00pm SAVE THE DATE: Fashion Revolution Week: Branding & Storytelling for Fashion Sustainability + Afterparty
April’s Balanced Fashion event will take place in collaboration with Get The People and we will be celebrating Fashion Revolution Week with amazing panelists from well-known brands that bring a real change in our industry and the afterparty. Price: $20 Location: Freehold, 45 S 3rd St, Brooklyn
Cool Finds:
- NY Fashion Tech Lab announced their 2018 cohort.
- Fashion forward: Get tailored insights on trends, opportunities and threats — From Shopify x Glossy
- Shoes of Prey on beating the odds in the customization market — The Current Innovators Podcast Episode
Balanced Quote:
“Formal education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune.” — Jim Rohn
Stay Inspired,
Nataliya
