Preview + Q&A: FASHINNOVATION Worldwide Talks

Fashinnovation is the new mecca of convergence in the fashion industry. It’s where tradition mixes with innovation. It’s where apparel mixes with technology. Fashinnovation leads several conferences with panels of industry experts, entrepreneurs, and emerging brands in hopes of fostering dialogue and partnerships for more innovation and revolution in the fashion industry. In a time of much anguish, divisiveness, and unease, Fashinnovation’s 2nd Worldwide Talks 2020 seeks to unite, inspire, and progress. Below are the details to register and watch the virtual panel events, as well as a Q&A with Fashinnovation’s co-founder Jordana Guimarães!

What:

Fashinnovation’s 2nd Worldwide Talks 2020 is an online summit that will focus on sustainability—especially concerning the oceans—solidarity, tips for emerging companies and aspiring entrepreneurs, and more. The 1st Worldwide Talks 2020, which took place virtually in April, were a success with over 1 million organic impressions. The agenda for the 2nd event this year consists of 38 panels, so viewers will have leeway and options to enter and exit talks as they please. Where can we be in the future in terms of the environment, technology, inclusivity, and innovation? Tune in to find out!

When:

The virtual panels will take place on Friday, June 5th (World Environment Day) and Monday, June 8th (World Ocean’s Day). The talks will span these two days between 8 AM and 7 PM, with each segment varying from 10 minutes to 1 hour long.

Who:

This second round of talks are in partnership with Oceana, an organization protecting the world’s oceans, and the Conscious Fashion Campaign, a campaign seeking Sustainable Development Goals with the United Nations Office for Partnerships.

Viewers can expect to hear from speakers including fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, supermodel Coco Rocha, producer and DJ Steve Aoki, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia Sara Sozanni Maino. There will also be leaders and representatives from BoF, Free People, Bustle, The African Fashion Foundation, Bravo, Nest, The Runway of Dreams Foundation, and many more. LIM College’s very own Sustainability Professor and founder of Fashiondex Andrea Kennedy will also be speaking during the “Fashion Is Supply Chain & Circular Economy” panel.

In addition to the diverse conversations sure to inform and inspire, June 5th will close out the day with a 3D Virtual Runway Show, and June 8th will conclude with a discussion featuring Steve Aoki in which he’ll describe his fashion collaboration.

How:

Register here! After requesting an invitation, you should receive a confirmation email. Login information that will lead to the livestreamed talks will soon be sent to your inbox.

Q&A with Jordana Guimarães:

Victoria Montalti: Can you speak on the focus of this 2nd Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks 2020 and what the significance of holding these Talks on “World Environment Day” and “World Ocean’s Day” is?

Jordana Guimarães: The focus of the Worldwide Talks is always to stand in solidarity with important topics. During the 1st [talks], the focus was on COVID-19, and this time the focus will be on "Social Justice & Injustice" as well as equality. Aside from that, which is very important to us and our speakers, we always focus on the Sustainable Development Goals. So doing it on World Environment Day and World Ocean's Day was very important this time around.

VM: The first Worldwide Talks in April were a huge success! What have you and your team learned from these virtual panels, and how has it propelled the second Worldwide Talks?

JG: We realized that the first thing—when you're innovating, don’t try to be perfect; however, try and be the ones to innovate in terms of what's already being done and discussed so that you’re continuing the conversation. This is how people come up with new ideas towards the "next normal" in the fashion industry. Collaboration, social impact, sustainability and diversity is key in any industry, and through doing it online, you achieve all of that and with much greater success! We just decided to innovate further as well as collaborate further, which you’ll see starting tomorrow at the first day of the summit. Stay tuned!

VM: With positivity and unity at the heart of Fashinnovation, how will these panels show solidarity and tie social justice and injustice into the conversation in wake of recent and ongoing national events?

JG: We are making sure to open the event with the community so their voices can be heard. We’ll be discussing the recent happenings both from a US perspective as well as an international perspective alongside the UN to amplify the message. Also, all of our panelists will be touching on the current climate, which will be important considering that unity always wins.

VM: Are there any standout panel discussions or events you are especially excited for viewers to experience?

JG: I believe every speaker is special for a different reason, therefore, all of them will inspire in different ways and relate to different viewer’s realities.

VM: Is there a statement you’d like to make or a piece of advice for our readers that relates both to their ventures in the fashion industry as well as to Fashinnovation’s mission?

JG: Try! If you don't try, you'll never know if it works or if it's worth it! Be fearless. Fear is what gets in the way of accomplishing one's life mission, and, most of all, be hopeful. Hope is the only thing that propels you to keep moving forward!

Be sure to tune into the Fashinnovation’s 2nd Worldwide Talks 2020 on June 5th and 8th!