FashionSpeak 2015 Recap

I'm a big fan of fashion events. I'm a really big fan of fashion events that include furthering my education in the field. The type of events where you can not only network with other industry insiders, but also learn from the industry's experts.

FashionSpeak is just that type of event. The one day conference is the only conference that brings together all of the area's style experts and fashion connoisseurs. Comprised of 5 panel presentations on 5 separate topics, there's something for everyone, whether you're a student (shoutout to the 45 Central Michigan University fashion students who attended) or a longtime business owner. There's also a lot of really amazing fashion eye candy.

After last year's stellar turnout and thoughtful lineup of speakers, my expectations were high. I was especially excited to see Roslyn of Detroit is the New Black (I'm admittedly a huge fan of both Roslyn and the brand and own this, this, and this from her shop). She shared her story from intern to buyer to shop keeper and had everyone taking notes. Designer Kevan Hall - who has dressed everyone from red carpet celebrities to Michelle Obama - also gave a phenomenal interview. Honest, bold, and full of wisdom (check my Twitter feed for some of my favorite quotes of his), he inspired the entire room to be persistent and tenacious and start knocking doors down to achieve your dreams.

Check out all the details from the day below and be sure to attend next year's event!

hustling

Some of the best dressed guests: Bruna of Style Mile, C'erra of Anthony Neil Brand, Lex of That Chic Lex, and a CMU student

CMU students. I definitely did not dress this well in college.

Thanks Bruna for snapping pics of me during the event!

top: j.crew (similar)

pants: shopbop

sleeveless coat: ann taylor (similar)

shoes: nordstrom (similar)

watch: shinola

bracelet: stella and dot renegade cluster

Upcoming Events in Detroit

Detroit is known for it's car industry (hello, Motor City). It's also known for it's bankruptcy. And crime. And ruin porn.

What Detroit is not known for? Fashion.

But Motown is stepping up it's game in the entire design industry and making itself known as an equal competitor in the creative arts. It's a place where entrepreneurs can thrive. Where creatives can collaborate. Where ideas come to life.

It's an exciting time to be in Detroit and people all over the world are recognizing the D for it's contributions (outside of cars, money problems, crime, and ruin porn). To honor this creative spirit, here are some of my favorite fashion and design events coming up in Detroit that you won't want to miss. So start figuring out your outfits and I'll see you there.

Detroit Design Festival (September 22-24)

From the website:
"5 Years. 5 Days. 500 Designers.
The Detroit Design Festival is North America’s festival of independent design. With over 500 designers, 25,000 attendees and 30 Design Happenings, the DDF is our time to celebrate Detroit’s role as a global center of design and creativity. Concentrated in Detroit’s Creative Corridor and various neighborhoods throughout the city, events and installations will showcase Detroit’s cutting-edge design with the rest of the world."


Hour Detroit Best Dressed Party (September 24)

From the website:
"Emceed by Local 4 Style Editor Jon Jordan, the highly anticipated event will celebrate the winners of Hour Detroit’s Best Dressed editorial feature. Guests will rub elbows with metro Detroit’s most fashionable while enjoying an unforgettable evening, including a champagne reception, an exclusive Neiman Marcus runway fashion show previewing this fall’s most anticipated trends, live music by Jared Sykes and DJ Prevu and an official after party."


Eastern Market After Dark (September 24)

From the website:
"The fourth annual Eastern Market After Dark returns for an evening of open studios and exploration. Founded in 2012 EMAD was created by Nina Marcus-Kurlonko in association with the Detroit Design Festival and Eastern Market Corporation.

With over 30+ venues opening their doors to the public, this will be a rare & exclusive behind-the-scenes peek into the studios, workshops and galleries and more that make up the diverse collective of Detroit businesses and creative hubs."


FashionSpeak (October 15)

From the website:
"DGG’s FashionSpeak 2015, Michigan’s only conference for the fashion industry, is set for Thursday, October 15, 2015 at the historic and modern One Woodward building, with panoramic floor-to-ceiling views of the city and riverfront, in downtown Detroit.

Presented by Taubman, this one-day conference will bring together nationally recognized experts in five fields crucial to the success of the fashion industry; each conducting a 70-minute workshop, all centered around the business of fashion.

There is a vast amount of talent in Michigan’s fashion industry, and DGG is poised to bolster education, provide resources and promote the successes of those in this segment. The DGG’s conference mission is “Keep Michigan Talent in Michigan”. We achieve that goal by giving both students and professionals the tools, education and resources to be better business owners."

What events will you be attending? Any others you guys are excited about?

FashionSpeak Detroit Recap

I’m not much of a talker. Never have been. I’ve learned over the years to be more outgoing and express my opinion, but I’m an introvert to the core. So you can imagine my surprise (and my husband’s) when I came back from last week’s FashionSpeak conference and could. not. stop. talking.

I decided to live in Detroit for a lot of reasons - the people, the history, the authenticity  - but the opportunities in the field of fashion was never one of those reasons. If I wanted to pursue fashion, I felt like it would have to be on my own.

Until now.

For the first time since moving to the city in 2005, I felt like I had a fashion community. For the first time I felt like there were others like me.

That feeling was incredible.

Hosted by the Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3), the conference was an all day event, featuring 5 impressive presenters: Rachel Lutz of the Peacock Room, talking about the importance of branding; Jeanette Puig-Pey and Bridget Sullivan from Lear Corporation highlighting Industrial Design; Matthew Burnett, the CEO of Maker’s Row opening up about local manufacturing; Senior Market Editor of the New York Times' T Magazine, Malina Joseph Gilchrist discussing her experience as a fashion editor; and finally, fashion designer Tracy Reese who shared her advice from her own personal journey.

Each session allowed for plenty of Q and A from the crowd, creating a stimulating conversation between the audience and experts, followed by a cocktail reception so that the attendees could network and mingle. This gave me the chance to really bond with other fashion bloggers, as well as meet local designers, fashion students, and entrepreneurs.

It was a rewarding day personally and a welcome reminder of the opportunities that exist here in Detroit.

Thank you to Styleshack for inviting me to the event as a Detroit blogger and to the DG3 for hosting such an amazing day full of education, inspiration, and community.

the speakers

the fashion

Interested in other local fashion bloggers? Check out these fabulous ladies: The Style Mile, Wear is Chelsea, Fashion Meets God, The Moda Intersection, Colour by Numbr, and That Chic Lex.

FashionSpeak Detroit

Detroit is a playground for creatives.

It is a city of passion. It’s filled with dreamers, creators, inventors and doers. It’s a city where - with a little persistence, perseverance, and grit - an unconventional idea can be transformed into a reality.

But it is also a city that is not always easy. It is a city that tests your stamina before fully opening its arms to you. And because of that, we are losing an endless supply of talent who leave our fair city for an “easier” chance of success in other places.

In a city with unlimited potential, we need to have available resources to not only retain our talent, but to encourage and support that talent.

The Detroit Garment Group Guild is hoping to do just that.

The group, which focuses on the fashion industry, helps to provide the education and tools necessary to become a successful entrepreneur and business owner in Michigan.

On Thursday the DG3 will host the second annual FashionSpeak conference, providing lectures, workshops, and networking that will focus on "the business of fashion." It is an incredible event that connects the Metro Detroit fashion community with leaders and experts in the field (check out the panel of uber impressive speakers, including Fashion Designer Tracy Reese). Whether you're a student with a passion for fashion or an entrepreneur trying to launch a business, this is one event you don't want to miss.

FashionSpeak sold out last year and only has a handful of tickets left for this year's event, so if you have an interest in the industry, be sure to grab your tickets ASAP.

You owe it not only to yourself, but to your city.