Fashion Tech and Sustainability News & Events in NYC | 5.7.18 - 5.31.18 | Fashion Revolution Week Event Recap

Dear Friend,

On Thursday, April 26th Balanced Fashion in collaboration with Get The People, hosted an immersive Fashion Revolution Week event focused the topic of branding and storytelling. It was a dynamic evening of networking, conscious fashion conversations, all-star panelists, cocktails, brand pop-ups and an after party - all took place at the incredible Freehold Brooklyn. Megan Murphy-Bratich, the co-founder of Get The People lead the panel that started with a conversation about what makes a compelling brand story - and why a core brand story should not necessarily be about sustainability. Panelists agreed that the sustainability and social mission of a brand is a ground base any brand should have, but not necessarily a tool for attracting the customers - because at the end of the day you have a product to sell and the product needs to be very compelling at the first place. It's about showing to the customers what's the purpose of this product and why they would benefit from buying it, what value it brings to their lives, how long will it last in their wardrobe, is it truly timeless?

Dana Davis shared that Mara Hoffman pieces are thoughtfully designed with circularity in mind, as the brand offers customers a product that doesn't lose its value next season but becomes a wardrobe staple instead. Scot Tatelman, Co-Founder of STATE Bags believes that sustainability and social aspect of product design and marketing need to be organically weaved into a financial planning for a design-driven business - and as a result, his brand is 100% aligned to his personal values from both ethical and profit perspective. Tabea Soriano who's leading FUTUREMADE, a brand integrity and sustainable innovation agency reminded us that the standards in the fashion industry are rising and if a few years ago not using child labor finally became essential for brands, today what's essential is paying the garment workers fair wages and providing acceptable working conditions. In the future, brands will only create garments that are recyclable or made of fabrics that are not harming the environment. Today we are certainly seeing progress towards this vision, however, very few companies are at the forefront of this change. The brands we featured in our event's pop up experience are certainly some of those few: Emme by Korina, Take Me Alive, Jibs Life, and Querencia Studio are prime examples of how emerging designers create beautiful products and tell compelling stories to their customers while carrying a strong sustainability mission. 

Watch the video of the panel event here!

Next Balanced Fashion event will take place on May 31 in partnership with DWT Fashion Law firm and will be focused on The Future of Authentication Technology and Anti-Counterfeiting - we are going to have an amazing conversation with industry leaders on what brands can do to create products that cannot be replicated. Get your early bird tickets here!

News Digest:


Sustainability

  •  7 Of The Most Powerful Women In The Sustainable Fashion Industry - Mochni
  • How Fashion Revolution plans to become a go-to industry resource for sustainability - Glossy
  • What really goes into a fashion sustainability ranking & how brands game the system - TheFashionLaw
  • Report: Levi’s is ‘all talk and no action’ on sustainability - Glossy
  • The young designers pioneering a sustainable fashion revolution - Vogue
  • Stella McCartney: ‘Only 1% of clothing is recycled. What are we doing?’ - TheGuardian
  • Why brands are under increasing pressure to be transparent about what they believe in - AdWeek
  • The Best Answers To #WhoMadeMyClothes This Fashion Revolution Week - Forbes
  • How to get into ethical fashion, according to four labels already doing it - Dazed
  • How G-Star Raw is paving the way to more sustainable denim - Glossy

Technology/Business

  • Amazon Wants to Know Your Waistline - Wall Street Journal
  • Blockchain, Internet of Things and AI: What the newest luxury startup accelerators are investing in - Glossy
  • How fashion should (and shouldn’t) embrace artificial intelligence - Business of Fashion
  • The gatekeeper to trust: How blockchain could infiltrate luxury - Glossy
  • Is video the future of online shopping? - Business of Fashion
  • Adidas is testing how to mass-produce custom shoes like those it makes for elite athletes - Quartz
  • Fast fashion’s biggest threat is faster fashion - Business of Fashion

Events


Tuesday, May 8th

7:00 - 9:30pm May 2018 NY Tech Meetup and Afterparty

Join us for NYC's most famous and longest running monthly tech event! You'll see a fantastic lineup of New York tech companies presenting live demos of their products, followed by an afterparty where you can network with the community and meet our demoers and sponsors. Price: $10 Location: AppNexus Razzle Dazzle Room 28 West 23rd St., 4th Floor 

Wednesday, May 9th

7:30 - 9:00pm Fashion Addicts Anonymous

Fashion Addicts Anonymous is a weekly community led forum diving into personal experiences of the fashion industry from a diverse group of consumers, makers, and industry professional participants. Some have been on the path for years while others just learned what the term means. This community led discussion is for anyone and everyone. Young or old. Fashionable style icon or t-shirt and jeans kind of pal. esa believes that having conversation with one another is one of the most important parts of the path towards sustainability. FAA is a reminder that we aren't alone as we realize the negative effects of the industry and begin to explore how we can change that. Price: Free Location: Zero Waste Daniel, 369 Hooper Street, Brooklyn

 From Conscious Leadership to Conscious Businesses

Business models are evolving from purely profit-focused businesses to purpose driven organizations. And from systems that are process-oriented to human-centered, this means that the individuals who are able to adapt and relate will be called to lead. Attendees will leave with an understanding of a model that will help them develop their own leadership skills and learn how it impacts the systems they work in. Price: Free Location: General Assembly, 902 Broadway, 4th Floor

Thursday, May 10th

10:00am - 6:00pm TechDay New York

Featuring 500 of most innovative startups, accelerator programs, tech talent & investors. Price: $10 Location: Pier 94, 711 12th Ave

6:15pm - 9:00pm Moda Operandi - Fashion Meets Tech

Welcome to the Front Row: Join the Moda Operandi technology team on May 10th for a series of lightning talks as they discuss the cutting edge technology that powers one of fashion’s fastest growing luxury shopping platforms. Price: Free Location: Galvanize 303 Spring Street

7:00pm - 9:00pm The Future of Sustainable Living: Leading a More Eco-Friendly Life in NYC

Join us for a networking + panel event with innovators in the sustainability space creating products, services, and platforms to make sustainable living affordable and accessible. From paperless toilet paper to a zero waste grocery store to sustainable cleaning tools for the home, this diverse panel will share their personal narratives, experiences, and values in how they are creating a more sustainable future and help NYC reach its goal to send zero waste to landfills by 2030. Price: $20 Location: Prime Produce 424 W 54th St (between 9th and 10th aves)

Saturday, May 12th

11:30am Brunchwork w/ Instagram

You're invited to an unforgettable brunch with Kay Hsu, Global Director of Instagram's Creative Shop. Enjoy a fireside chat with Kay, curated connections, a businesschallengeand pitch off...over a seasonal, locally-sourced meal.. Price: $45 Location: Galvanize, 303 Spring St

12:00 - 3:00pm Bushwick Stop 'N' Swap

Bring clean, portable, reusable items you no longer need and take home something new-to-you. No one is required to bring something to take something. Books, toys, fashionable clothing, housewares, electronics & more! Price: Free Location: BKLYN Commons, 7 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn

Monday, May 14th

7:00pm - 10:00pm Emergence: A Collective Fashion Show

Emergence is a collective fashion show of work from the graduating design students of New York City. These emerging designers spent this year creating beautiful collections that exemplify sustainability, textile design, and innovation. Price: Free Location: The Dumbo Loft 155 Water Street

Wednesday, May 16th

6:30pm - 9:00pm Fireside Chat with Amanda Curtis (Nineteenth Amendment)

Amanda Curtis is the Cofounder and CEO of Nineteenth Amendment. Join the Start Up Grind team to learn more about her work at Nineteenth Amendment.  Price: $20 Location: Alley powered by Verizon 119 W 24th St, Fl 2

6:00 - 9:00pm BROOKLYN Fashion Incubator 2018 Fundraiser & Fashion Show 

First Annual Fundraiser ~ International Cuisine and Wine Tasting & Informal Fashion Show! Join us with a friend to celebrate our third year mentoring young fashion businesses to succeed. Price: $105 Location: FLYNG SOLO 434 West Broadway Main Entrance - SOHO

6:30pm – 9:00pm The Role of Content in Innovation with Pavan Bahl (Mouthmedia)

Linerun presents the Role of Content in Innovation with Pavan Bahl, CEO of Mouthmedia Network. In this unique live mobile experience, Pavan will share how content producers have become major players in shaping this new wave of innovation across various industries and verticals. Price: $31 Location: Bus stop in front of Whole Foods Market, 250 7th Avenue, btw. 24th & 25th St.

Saturday, May 19th

4:00pm - 6:00pm The Future of Design is Biology

Join Genspace and WantedDesign for this panel during NYCxDESIGN, New York's celebration of global design. Companies, artists, and designers are increasingly using biological cells in cutting-edge fashion, products, and architecture. Four leading experts at the intersection of biology and design will discuss how biotechnology is transforming living organisms into the next medium for design. Price: $12.61 Location: LGenspace, 140 32nd Street, Suite 108, Brooklyn

Monday, May 21st

Sustainable Fashion Committee Meeting at LIM College - May

Join the NYC Fair Trade Coalition May 21st 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, May 22nd

7:00pm - 9:00pm Utopia / Dystopia: Fashion, Gender, and the Feline Divine

The series Utopia / Dystopia, co-presented with Morbid Anatomy, continues with an exploration of the history of leopard print and its evolution as one of the most popular prints in western fashion. Author Jo Weldon will discuss its impact on womenswear and how the lineage of divinity, royalty, and warriors has influenced the style of contemporary divas, a new perspective on a much-misunderstood domestic goddess. Price: Free Location: Hauser & Wirth Publishers Bookshop, 548 West 22nd Street

Wesnesday, May 23rd

5:45pm - 9:00pm Design Driven NYC

NYC's top monthly event focused on design with TED-style presentations. Price: Free Location: BuzzFeed 111 East 18th Street

6:30pm – 8:30pm Tech and... Wellness.

Wellness has become more and more of a priority in people's lives. With this changing behavior, the wellness industry has adapted to offer innovative solutions to meet consumer demand. From personalized guided workouts, to meditation and sleep training, to access to thousands of fitness studios, the technology is constantly evolving. Join us at GA HQ, as we host a panel of representatives from Equinox, LifeBEAM and ClassPass Live. They will discuss how they’ve been impacted by the rise of tech, how they've adapted and innovated, and what they expect to see in the future. Price: Free Location: General Assembly, 902 Broadway, 4th Floor

Wednesday, May 30th

6:30pm - 9:00pm Balanced Fashion x DWT Panel Event: The Future of Authentication Technology and Anti-Counterfeiting

At my next Balanced Fashion event, we will have industry experts at the forefront of enforcement discussing the evolution of counterfeiting, including, the Darknet, Artificial Intelligence authentication technologies, the benefits and risks of blockchain technology and, how some brands are moving toward creating their own counterfeits to condition the consumer. Price: $15 Location: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 1251 6th Avenue, 21st Floor

Cool Finds:

Stay Inspired,

Nataliya

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