11:00AM - 11:45AM 

The New Aesthetic for FW 27/28 — Myth, Mess & Mastery: The New Language of Design

TREND PRESENTATION BY PECLERS PARIS

Discover the key creative shifts redefining contemporary design and lifestyle. This presentation explores how humble functionality, mythic storytelling, Y2K authenticity, and master craftsmanship converge to transform everyday objects into meaningful sources of well-being and discreet luxury.

Presented by:

Jennifer Karuletwa, Peclers Paris | Managing Director, North America, for Peclers Paris, deciphering the major societal and cultural changes that drive and transform your consumers’ lifestyles and desires

1:00PM - 1:45PM    

Ethical Luxury in the AI Era: The Rise of Human Relationship Capital

As AI replaces knowledge work and collapses skill differentiation, Human Relationship Capital is becoming the new competitive advantage. But how do we activate, compound, and measure the value of human relationships? This conversation explores how trust, shared values, cultural intelligence, and cross-industry collaboration can become strategic assets for the future of luxury. We’ll examine how curated, values-driven ecosystems can help leaders strengthen and increase the value of their relationships, unlock new opportunities, and create lasting impact.

A Conversation With:

Emmanuelle Rienda, ERA Ecosystem | Emmanuelle Rienda is a French Creative Director, Ethical Luxury expert, and Founder of Vegan Fashion Week and Ethical Luxury Group. With over a decade at the intersection of fashion, culture, and art, she has shaped the global ethical fashion movement across 30+ countries, generating more than 3,000 features in leading media including Vogue, WWD, and The New York Times. She was recognized by the City of Los Angeles for hosting Ukrainian Fashion Week in Los Angeles. She also led a collaboration with Balmain, continuing to drive a future where luxury and ethics coexist

Aley Underwood, Dover Street Market Los Angeles | Aley Underwood is a Los Angeles–based fashion retail leader with a background spanning luxury retail, brand strategy, marketing, and customer experience. Currently in retail leadership at Dover Street Market Los Angeles, she works across designer business development, client strategy, and team education. Her perspective centers on the intersection of product, storytelling, and customer behavior - and how a deeper understanding of the customer can create stronger, more lasting connections between brands and the people who wear them.

De’Angelo Lowrance, Deangelo Studio | De’Angelo’s work lives between the camera and the garment: fashion and celebrity director of photography, designer, curator, founder of Deangelo Studio, a creative media production company spanning brand campaigns, film, and documentary storytelling, and co-founder of Black Kids Travel, a cultural immersion organization whose African retreats sustain schools, wells, and youth resources.

2:00PM - 2:45PM       

Made in LA: The Real Benefits of Local Manufacturing

The conversation offers an honest, practical look at when producing locally makes sense for a brand, including both the advantages and the potential challenges. Join this group of experienced Los Angeles manufacturers representing different parts of the production process to discuss the benefits of manufacturing locally, including: Consistent production quality; Faster development and turnaround times; Easier communication and problem-solving; Greater flexibility for smaller runs and changes; Better consistency and understanding of fit and sizing; The ability to visit the facility and create behind-the-scenes content; Stronger, more collaborative relationships with production partners; We would also address the realities and tradeoffs—including pricing, capacity, sourcing limitations, and how brands can determine whether local production is the right fit for their particular business. I think it would be a useful and engaging conversation for both emerging designers and established brands interested in strengthening or rethinking their supply chains.

A Conversation with:

Gian Frabotti, Undisputed Principles | Consultant specializing in helping new and growing clothing brands find the right manufacturers, avoid costly mistakes, and bring their ideas to life with confidence. Gian has worked with thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs—through in-person workshops, walking tours of Los Angeles’ garment district, online courses, and direct consulting. From cut-and-sew to screen printing, sublimation, embroidery, and DTF — Gian teaches creators how to choose the right production method, source blanks or fabric, and scale their operations with a mission to make the apparel industry more accessible, transparent, and community-driven.

Sean Sassounian, SAS Textiles | CEO at SAS Textiles, a major domestic circular knitting mill and full-production apparel facility located in Vernon, California

Fernando Martinez, Brothers Mills | CEO of Brothers Mills, Local Manufacturer of Apparel & Furniture Trims. Proudly Made in the USA since 2013.

3:00PM - 3:45PM       

The 30-Day Launch: What Speed-to-Market Really Takes

Jessica Owusu-Afriyie launched STRIING, LA's first no-sew custom bikini bar, in three weeks flat. In this session, she shares the real playbook for launching fast: what to cut, who you need on the team, and how to know when speed is the right call, and when it isn't.

Presented by:

Jessica Owusu-Afriyie, Suite Creative Studio | Founder of Suite Creative Studio, an LA-based product development and sourcing studio supporting intimates, activewear, and swimwear brands from design through delivery. With 20 years of experience leading design and product development for brands including TA3, Dockatot, and Lane Bryant, she also founded STRIING, LA's first no-sew custom bikini bar, taking it from concept to retail in just three weeks.

11:00AM - 11:45AM 

Where Should Your First Technology Dollar Go? A Practical Guide for Emerging Fashion Brands

Join industry experts for a practical conversation about where emerging fashion brands should invest their limited technology dollars. This panel brings together leaders who work directly with growing brands, helping them evaluate, adopt, and prioritize scalable technology without a Fortune 500 budget.

Gain perspective on which tools deliver real value early on and which can wait until you scale, from design and production platforms to e-commerce, inventory, and AI-powered sourcing tools. Our panelists will share firsthand experience on what's actually worth prioritizing first, and where brands commonly overspend or under-invest.

Whether you're launching your brand, preparing to scale production, or simply deciding what to invest in next, this session offers a practical framework and real-world insight to help you make confident technology decisions.

A Conversation With:

Tirsa Parrish, Fashion Index | Tirsa Parrish co-founded Fashion Index in 2020 to bridge the gap between small to mid-sized companies and brands in the fashion industry and the resources that are scaled to work with them. Through Fashion Index, she is able to share that knowledge and industry acumen with the larger fashion community. With the tenets of Sustainability and Make-It-Local (To You), Fashion Index is an industry leading platform determined to move the industry towards an environmentally friendly future.

Ryan Lee Teng, Fashion Tech Advisor | With over 2 decades of executive management and consulting in the fashion industry sector, Ryan has specialized in digital transformation over the past decade. Focusing on 3D as the backbone for their supply chains, Ryan has worked with Alo Yoga, Nike, Arc'teryx, Gap Inc., and other companies to re-examine their entire processes.

Paula Unger, Make the Dot | Fashion industry executive for over 20 years in the positions of VP of Design and Merchandising and Creative Director for multi-million-dollar manufacturers and retailers, both corporate and privately owned. A purpose-driven leader with empathetic skills that empower and support growth and teamwork. Passionate about innovative, sustainable business practices to support human resources and the environment. Experienced in Branded, licensed, and Private Label fashion businesses. Experience managing large design teams on-site, freelance, and remote for Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s assortments of Sportswear, Workwear, Denim, Knits, and Accessories.

1:00PM - 1:45PM

Your Factory is Your Friend 

A practical guide to transforming your factory relationship from a transactional vendor arrangement into a true friendship and partnership that drives better long term growth.

A Conversation With:

Marta Miller, Lefty Production Co | Founder & Creative Director of Lefty Production Co, a one stop shop development house and apparel & accessories manufacturer based in the heart of Los Angeles.

Connie Cruz, Lefty Production Co | Connie has over 12 years of experience helping brands create garments while trying to build a made-to-order slow fashion brand. Her expertise guides brands from the ground up, taking them from initial concept through the development process to finished product.

2:00PM - 2:45PM

Fireside Chat: AI Isn’t About Replacing Creativity. It’s About Amplifying It.

AI is changing fashion, but the future is still human-led. In this candid fireside chat, fashion designer and creative director Natalie de Groot of The Fashion AIgency joins Tirsa Parrish of Fashion Index to explore how AI can amplify creativity, strengthen the design process, and help fashion move from reactive to proactive.

Together, they will discuss how designers can use AI to visualize ideas faster, reduce unnecessary samples and revisions, explore new creative directions, and communicate a clearer vision before moving into production. The conversation will also address the fear surrounding AI, the importance of transparency and ethical use, and why technology can never replace the experience, instinct, and human eye behind great design.

A Conversation With:

Natalie de Groot, The Fashion Aigency | Natalie de Groot is a Los Angeles-based fashion designer, creative director, AI fashion pioneer, and founder of The Fashion AIgency, an AI-powered, human-led creative studio. With more than two decades of experience in the fashion industry, Natalie understands the entire process of bringing a collection to life, from the first concept and brand vision through design, sourcing, sampling, fittings, production, creative direction, and ultimately bringing the product to market. Today, she brings that traditional fashion expertise into the next generation of creative technology through The Fashion AIgency, helping brands use AI across fashion design, creative direction, campaign imagery, lookbooks, product visualization, virtual casting, and fashion film. Natalie has become a recognized voice in AI fashion, building a community of more than 25,000 followers on LinkedIn and speaking about the future of fashion, creativity, and emerging technology.

Tirsa Parrish, Fashion Index | Tirsa Parrish co-founded Fashion Index in 2020 to bridge the gap between small to mid-sized companies and brands in the fashion industry and the resources that are scaled to work with them. Through Fashion Index, she is able to share that knowledge and industry acumen with the larger fashion community. With the tenets of Sustainability and Make-It-Local (To You), Fashion Index is an industry leading platform determined to move the industry towards an environmentally friendly future.