New York Fashion Week started a bit early for me as I kicked off the SS25 season at Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks which was filled with a wealth of knowledge. I’ve never attended a conference during NYFW but there’s a first time for everything. At Fashinnovation, industry leaders discussed sustainability, entrepreneurship, economic development, and trends.
I threw on a purple and green plaid dress and went to the 11th annual Fashinnovation Conference. The sustainability panel resonated with me as I don’t believe we should throw away our clothes. Clothing should be worn as many times as you wish (without over doing it) and when you get tired of it, you can put it away and wear it again a couple of years later. I wore this dress to a wine festival a couple of years ago and never posted the pictures so I decided to throw on the plaid frock and pair it with a plaid headband for the conference. I’ll probably wear it again a couple of years later. Clothes are meant to be worn and kept but if you’re absolutely tired of the items in your closet, simply give it away to shelters, non-profit organizations, and thrift shops.
Founder and CEO of Inflow, Khanh Le shared that when your fashion brand is sustainable, you stay ahead of environmental regulations which also increases consumer trust. A huge problem in the industry is that 40% of garments end up in landfill in Australia. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 85% of used clothes and textiles in the U.S. end up in landfill.
On a lighter note, Chief Customer Officer of Launchmetrics, Tatiana Ferreira shared that when brands partake in trends strategically, their Media Impact Value (MIV) increases. This was right up my alley as I work in influencer marketing. Media Impact Value puts a dollar amount to the posts that are shared about the brand on any media platform. Understanding Media Impact Value helps brands identify which voice is valuable for their campaign. Tenniscore became really popular this year as there was a 480% increase in content about tennis styles. Zendaya generated $8.8 million in MIV for Loewe in Rome, Italy during her Challengers press tour in a shimmering custom v neck tennis inspired dress paired with heels piercing through a tennis ball. The right talent paired with the right campaign makes a huge impact.
Press tours are not the only way the actress increased MIV for brands. Zendaya watched Wimbledon from the Ralph Lauren suite and generated $3.6 million in MIV for the brand during the July 2024 tennis match.
Fashion’s influence in our day-to-day life is pretty evident. Although we still have a long way to go for fashion to be fully inclusive with sizes, being plus size is not as taboo as it used to be during the 90s. According to the CEO of The Lions, Julia Kisla shared that fashion is focused more on illusion than authenticity. As fashion is beginning to be more size-inclusive, I just wish there would be more authenticity and less photoshop. People need to see the real so realistic standards influence them.
I completely enjoyed the Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks. There’s nothing like getting the chance to connect with like-minded people who love the industry as much as I do and are open to being a part of the change that the industry needs.
SHOP COLORFUL PLAID DRESSES BELOW
What would you change about the fashion industry?
I’m happy that plus sizes is becoming inclusive and no more a taboo. If you feel good in a dress, wear it and raise your head high with confidence for the world to see.
Aso oke in West of Nigeria in Africa is very durable and commands respect when you put it on. It’s mostly worn for wedding occasions and good tidings. It can be used to make shoes and bags as well
Thanks Oyin for given me the opportunity to talk about my culture.