AFINGO FASHION FORUM NY

The AFINGO FASHION FORUM is an industry event series hosting fashion leaders and entrepreneurs to socialize and share their expertise.

AFINGO FASHION FORUM NY

PRE-PARTY

Thursday, March 31st

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

ADAM

678 Hudson Street (Meatpacking District)

This exclusive pre-party will be held for full-day pass holders only to kick off the event. This cocktail reception will give attendees an opportunity to connect with other designers and fashion enthusiasts over drinks at a retail location.

Students attending the Pre-Party must show ID upon entering.

AFINGO FASHION FORUM NY

MAIN EVENT

Friday, April 1st

Registration: Opens at 9 AM

9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Katie Murphy Ampitheatre, FIT (Building D)

Click to view Campus Map

Event Panels:

01 FASHION INNOVATION
02 SUSTAINABILITY + PHILANTHROPY
03 READY TO LAUNCH YOUR LINE? 
04 SOCIAL MEDIA + PUBLICITY

05 ICONIC WISDOM: NICK AXELROD IN CONVERSATION WITH CYNTHIA ROWLEY

Panels and Schedule:

FASHION INNOVATION: Industry iconoclasts turn the traditional business model on its head, bringing to light new methods to build a business, reach consumers, and distribute product. (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

• Ben Fischman, CEO, Rue La La (Moderator)
• Neil Blumenthal, Co-Founder, Warby Parker
  
• Andy Dunn, CEO and Co-Founder, Bonobos
• Jennifer Hyman/Jenny Fleiss, Co-Founders, Rent the Runway
  
• Aslaug Magnusdottir, CEO/Founder, Moda Operandi
• Darren Schwartz, SVP, Groupon
• Yancey Strickler, Co-Founder, Kickstarter

NETWORKING/BREAK (10:30 - 11:00 AM)

SUSTAINABILITY + PHILANTHROPY: Fashion specialists examine the balance of incorporating eco-friendly and socially-responsible initiatives into the fashion business, finding new ways to be "green" and philanthropic without sacrificing style -- or the bottom line. (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

• Jill Fehrenbacher, Founder, Inhabitat.com (Moderator)
• Jeffrey Costello & Robert Tagliapietra, Co-founders & Designers, Costello Tagliapietra
  
• Julie Gilhart, Fashion Consultant
  
• Melissa Kushner, Founder & Executive Director, Goods for Good
  
• Summer Rayne Oakes, Eco-Model/Activist and Founder, Source4Style
• Lisa Salzer, Founder, Lulufrost.com
  
• Starre Vartan, Publisher, Eco-Chick/Editor-at-Large, Coco Eco Magazine

NETWORKING/BREAK (12:00 - 12:30 PM)

ICONIC WISDOM: NICK AXELROD IN CONVERSATION WITH CYNTHIA ROWLEY: A fashion icon illustrates her successful journey through the fashion industry, recalling the knowledge and experiences that led her to design collections that continue to make lasting impressions, season after season.  (12:30 - 1:15 PM)

LUNCH BREAK (1:15 - 2:00 PM)

READY TO LAUNCH YOUR LINE?: Top designers and retailers share their stories and give practical advice on how to effecitively make the leap from sketch to sales, including how to avoid dangerous pitfalls to position a line for success.  (2:00 - 3:00 PM)

• Fern Mallis, Founder, Fern Mallis LLC (Moderator)
• Steven Cox & Daniel Silver, Co-Founders, Duckie Borwn
• Miguelina Gambaccini, Creative Director and CEO, Miguelina
• Adam Lippes, Designer, ADAM
  
• Bibhu Mohapatra, Designer, Bibhu
• Randi Packard, Fashion Market Director, Real Simple
  

NETWORKING/BREAK (3:00 - 3:30 PM)

SOCIAL MEDIA + PUBLICITY: PR professionals emphasize the importance of creating a signature identity through publicity, highlighting the top tools for achieving highly valuable exposure. (3:30 - 4:30 PM)

• Christene Barberich, Editor-In-Chief, Refinery29 (Moderator)
• Patrick Bradbury, Principal and Founder, Bradbury Lewis
  
• Pam Bristow, Creative Consultant and Communications Strategist
• Michele Cerwin, President, HL Group
• Elizabeth Grinspan, Editor, Racked NY
  
• Keith Pollock, Editorial Director, Elle.com

CLOSING REMARKS/NETWORKING (4:30 - 5:00 PM)

Event benefits Goods for Good.

About Goods for Good:

Through partnerships with international corporations and grassroots organizations in the developing world, we are able to provide school supplies, clothing, health and hygiene products and other necessities to orphans and vulnerable children, while at the same time reducing waste at home.