PRESS REPORT 1
CELEBRATING INNOVATION IN FASHION AND TECH Following its success in London earlier in the year, The Fashion Futures Awards arrived in New York on October 29, 2015. In partnership with W magazine, the awards seek to identify and highlight the brands that are pushing boundaries and creatively using tech to make businesses smarter, production lifecycles leaner, brands stronger and customer experiences more fulfilling. The event honors the disruptors, visionaries and innovators in the fashion, tech and retail landscapes. Click here for more information. 2
WHO IS IN THE ROOM? 47% Fashion Brands & Retailers 167 ATTENDEES 26% Technology & Startups 27% Media SIMON MICHAEL KORS LEVIS URBAN OUTFITTERS PROENZA SCHOULER KATE SPADE RALPH LAUREN GUESS REBECCA MINKOFF OPENING CEREMONY TOMMY HILFIGER DKNY NORDSTROM KENNETH COLE JOE FRESH 3
WHO IS IN THE ROOM? 14% 5% 4% 7% 3% 66% 1% 4
MEDIA COVERAGE - PRE EVENT WWD, October 19 2015 Fashion Futures Awards Span Fashion, Tech W Magazine and Decoded Fashion have chosen the nominees for the first Fashion Futures Awards, which were created last month to recognize innovators in the fashion industry. The list of nominees across the 10 categories cover innovators in mobile, e- commerce, omnichannel, and data and analytics, including designers like Yigal Azrouël, established brands like Guess and start-ups like Adore Me. Our goal, said Decoded Fashion founder Liz Bacelar, who hosted a U.K. version of the awards in May, is that their stories inspire more and more industry leaders to experiment with new technologies in the near future. The 13 judges represent the worlds of fashion, retail, media and tech, including Google s Lisa Green, Tory Burch, Man Repeller blogger Leandra Medine and Bergdorf Goodman s chief executive officer Joshua Schulman, in addition to W editor Stefano Tonchi, among others. READ MORE HERE 5
FASHION TIMES, October 20 2015 W Magazine, Decoded Fashion Announce 2015 Fashion Futures Awards Nominees Earlier this month, news broke that Decoded Fashion and W Magazine have teamed up to launch the Fashion Futures Awards on this side of the pond. Back in May, the first Fashion Futures Awards were hosted in London. On Tuesday, the nominees for the debut Fashion Futures Awards were announced across all 10 categories. "We are really proud of how our finalists include some of the most exciting startups in the market today, as well as fantastic brands innovating in their own unique way," Liz Bacelar, founder of Decoded Fashion, said, according to a press release. "Our goal is that their stories inspire more and more industry leaders to experiment with new technologies in the near future." READ MORE HERE 6
WWD, October 9 2015 W Magazine Launches Fashion Futures Awards W Magazine and Decoded Fashion, an event series dedicated to connecting emerging technologies and decision-makers in fashion and retail, have partnered to launch the first installation of the Fashion Futures Awards in the U.S. After being introduced in the U.K. in May, the U.S. version will recognize innovators in 10 categories in fashion and retail, spanning mobile, e-commerce, omnichannel, and data and analytics. We ll celebrate both the evolution of the industry and the people and companies who are uncovering what s next, said Decoded Fashion founder Liz Bacelar. The winners at London s awards, which partnered with the British Fashion Council, included Farfetch for A Killer Experience ; Anya Hindmarch for Beyond the Runway, and Belstaff for Real-Time Innovator. Speaking about W s role in the launch of the U.S. version, publisher Lucy Kriz said, Powered by technology, fashion and retail are undergoing profound transformation. This partnership goes to the very core of our DNA as trailblazers and culture creators. READ MORE HERE 7
FASHION TIMES, September 9 2015 Decoded Fashion, W Magazine To Launch The Fashion Futures Awards In US Decoded Fashion and W Magazine have teamed up to launch the Fashion Futures Awards on this side of the pond. Back in May, the first Fashion Futures Awards were hosted in London. The Awards which honor innovators and pioneers in the fashion and retail industries will be held on Oct. 29 at The Bowery Hotel in New York City. The U.S. Fashion Futures Award winners will be chosen by an esteemed panel of judges including editor-in-chief of W Stefano Tonchi, Parson's The New School for Design Dean Burak Cakmak, 23 Stories editor-in-chief Dirk Standen, founder of Karla Otto PR Karla Otto and executive vice president and chief digital officer of Condé Nast Fred Santarpia. READ MORE HERE 8
MEDIA COVERAGE - POST EVENT WWD, October 29 2015 W Magazine and Decoded Fashion Reward Innovation in Retail, Technology The awards were also an effort to encourage more collaboration among what has traditionally been somewhat unlikely bedfellows: fashion and technology. Each of our winners is leading the digital revolution in their own disruptive way, said Liz Bacelar, founder of Decoded Fashion, an event series created to connect emerging technologies and decision-makers in the field. Minkoff, a finalist in two categories who partnered this month with AOL on a live, shoppable runway show, won for the best omnichannel experience. Luxury consignment service The RealReal was named the start-up set to disrupt fashion in 2015; it recently attracted $40 million in funding and partnered with Neiman Marcus to offer a consignor gift-card program. Fashion and technology are both about the future forecasting and influencing it as it relates to retail, designing and driving it forward when it comes to tech, said W Magazine editor in chief Stefano Tonchi. As a judge, it was refreshing to see so many inventive ideas and such an appetite for experimentation. The winners are great examples of innovative thinking at the intersection of fashion, retail and technology. READ MORE HERE 9
The Daily Front Row, October 30, 2015 W & Decoded Fashion Celebrate The Fashion Futures Awards Winners Last eve, leaders in fashion design and tech celebrated the first U.S. Fashion Futures Awards, hosted by W magazine and Decoded Fashion at The Bowery Hotel in NYC. The 10 categories recognized visionaries and disruptors, and the latest fashion initiatives using mobile platforms, e-commerce, and omnichannel. W editor in chief Stefano Tonchi, publisher/chief revenue officer Lucy Kriz, and Decoded Fashion founder Liz Bacelar were joined by attendees including Tory Burch, Steven Kolb, Rebecca Minkoff, Misha Nonoo, Thakoon, Wes Gordon, Carly Cushnie, Michelle Ochs, Adam Lippes, Dao-Yi Chow, and Maxwell Osborne. READ MORE HERE 10
wmag.com, October 30 2015 W Magazine and Decoded Fashion Present The Fashion Futures Awards At W, we always look to spotlight and celebrate those who take risks, said Editor in Chief Stefano Tonchi Thursday evening at the Decoded Fashion Fashion Futures awards ceremony, which honored innovators in technology. Discovering new talent and fostering innovation is part of W s DNA. And the room was full of such risk-takers, including nominees and award-winners Misha Nonoo, who staged her Spring 2016 entirely on Instagram, designer Rebecca Minkoff, and Julie Wainwright, founder and CEO of TheRealReal. Other guests were eager attendees of the Decoded Fashion summit, which took place in New York City earlier that same day. Entrepreneurs of everything from holograms to 3D printing swapped stories over cocktails at The Bowery Hotel before a seated dinner and awards ceremony. READ MORE HERE 11
New York Post, October 31 2015 Visions Intersect SEE FULL PAGE HERE 12
Fashion & Mash, November 3 2015 Fashion Future Awards Celebrates US Visionaries And Disruptors Rebecca Minkoff, Misha Nonoo and Tictail were among the winners at the inaugural Fashion Future Awards in the US; an event co-hosted by W magazine and Decoded Fashion. Recognising innovators across the fashion, retail and technology space, the evening celebrated the best across 10 categories including mobile, customer experience, start-ups, e-commerce, fashion week campaigns, data and analytics, omnichannel, and more. READ MORE HERE New York Observer, November 3 2015 (PRINTED ARTICLE) Shindigger READ ARTICLE HERE Fashion Times, October 30 2015 Decoded Fashion, W Magazine Name 2015 Fashion Futures Awards Winners The awards celebrate fashion, retail and tech innovators in 10 categories, spanning mobile, e-commerce and omnichannel. READ MORE HERE 13
Page Six, October 30 2015 Tory Burch Receives Fashion s Visionary Award Tory Burch was presented with a Visionary award at the first-ever Fashion Futures Awards on Thursday. READ MORE HERE Patrick McMullan, October 30 2015 (PHOTOGRAPHER) VIEW PHOTO ALBUM HERE 14
TESTIMONIALS We got involved with the Decoded Fashion Summit and Fashion Futures Awards because we see tremendous opportunity at the intersect of fashion and technology and we got very excited about it. Ultimately, these events really align with the brand ethos of W, which is all about innovation, risk taking and experimentation, so we were thrilled to be a part of it. Lucy Kriz, W magazine I think it s an amazing moment that celebrates all the great work and innovation that s been happening in the industry right now and being able to celebrate that together is a fantastic thing. Fred Santarpia, Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer, Conde Nast I am very glad to see that there is an award that is focused on the future of fashion as it s important to look at what the future has to offer the industry. This event really helps us to explore the different alternatives that exist, recognize fantastic ideas and encourage others to take a similar step. Burak Cakmak, Dean of the School of Fashion, Parsons School of Design 15
The awards signify the onslaught of what technology is doing to fashion and how it s changing that world. It s the first awards ceremony to really recognize the impact that technology is having on fashion. Rebecca Minkoff, Designer, Rebecca Minkoff It is really exciting to see the sexy part of fashion penetrating the technology business and these are the only awards that emphasize this and it s fantastic. I m always looking for things that helps us engage with our customer, so any technology that boosts this, we re very interested in. Doug Gardner, CIO, River Island It s amazing to be recognized for doing something innovative. The fashion industry has been very continuous and consistent, which is great, but it s also great to innovate and disrupt. Personally, I was longing to do something different and I think these awards are very important for highlighting those that do choose to break through and take a risk. Misha Nonoo, Designer, Misha Nonoo MEDIA CONTACT Lara Gilchrist, Communications Manager lara@decodedfashion.com +1 917-254-7672 16