THE INDUSTRY'S FUTURIST PANEL

To welcome 2012, The Industry, the members only club for fashion professionals, is looking into the future.

On the 25th of January at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, The Industry will be hosting an informative debate with a panel of three professionals: Katie Bell, Nik Thakkar and Paulina Bozek, who have in the past played an active role to formulate the present state of British fashion, and at present are busy shaping its future.

Chaired by Industry advisor, Lauretta Roberts, Director of WGSN Boutique and the WGSN Gobal Fashion Awards (WGSN is the world’s leading global trend forecaster), the panel will include the following shakers and makers: Katie Bell, Creative Director of Stardoll, a virtual community website where the next generation of consumers is encouraged to create their own fashion world. It is one of few places on the Internet developed with an emphasis on girls' self-expression through fantasy and fashion play. What do Stardoll’s young players have to tell us about the future of fashion? Katie will be giving The Industry and its members exclusive insight.

Katie Bell of Stardoll

Nik Thakkar, industry leading brand content and publicity strategist who has co-pioneered a broad range of award-winning global entertainment and fashion campaigns including Wonderbra by Dita Von Teese, the Diet Coke by Karl Lagerfeld collaboration, creative content for LVMH, the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360 along with project work with trend forecasters, breakthrough pop stars and digital startups. Specialising in brand development and influence, Nik creates bespoke campaigns for brands within the digital space. How should brands communicate with their audience and potential market? And, how will this change and develop in the coming years? Does digital blur the lines between editorial and commercial? And, does this blur impinge on consumer rights?

Nik Thakkar

Paulina Bozek, CEO of inensu, a creative studio developing social and mobile applications and digital experiences for the connected generation. Recent projects include ‘Closet Swap’ – a social fashion platform developed in collaboration with Channel 4. As the name suggests ‘Closet Swap’ encourages the exchange of garments between friends, promoting the enlargement of an environmentally friendly closet. Is swapping clothes a trend only viable during a recession? Or is it here to stay? And, if so how will it affect the fashion industry? And how will applications that mime existing social behaviour affect the future of fashion consumption?

Paulina Bozek of inensu

Managing Director of The Industry, Courtney Blackman, says, “This is an Industry meeting not to be missed. We’ve pulled in three of the most talented and inspiring individuals who are shaping fashion’s future, and aren’t we all thinking about the future of our businesses? Collectively the panel’s experiences and knowledge need to be heard by any fashion professionals making plans for their business for the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Personally, as a fashion PR, I am intrigued to find out more about the future of brand communications.”

To apply for membership with The Industry, visit our JOIN page, or email: [email protected]