On Feb. 17, WWD and the Council of Fashion Designers of America held a dinner to mark the end of New York Fashion Week at Le Rock.
Fairchild Media Group’s chief executive officer Amanda Smith and the CFDA’s CEO Steven Kolb cohosted the evening, which brought together fashion designers, influencers and industry leaders. Designers and creatives included Brandon Blackwood, Kim Shui, Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell, Sander Lak, Kate Barton, Hayley Baylee, Danielle Frankel, Nell Diamond, Trey Laird, Jalil Johnson, Ana Khouri, Batsheva Hay, Veronica Bulgari, Aisling Camps, Olympia Gayot, Gigi Burris O’Hara, Bernard James and Nicky Campbell.
Kim Shui and Jalil Johnson.
Matteo Prandoni
Also in attendance were Brian Swartz, chief financial officer of Genesys and his wife, Tami Remen; Vaibhav Jain, senior group director of digital growth at Chanel, and Alicia Parker, chief marketing officer of Tishman Speyer.
Guests mingled by the bar to sip on cocktails, catching up after a hectic NYFW season and looking through pages of WWD’s latest February Weekend edition. Later, attendees sat down for a three-course dinner from chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson.
Tanner Richie, Basheva Hay, Olympia Gayot and Fletcher Kasell.
Matteo Prandoni
“We have a tremendous partnership with Rockefeller Center and Tishman Speyer,” Kolb said in his opening remarks. “This is a landmark of our city, a destination and a crossroad of culture, art and history. Two years ago when Thom Browne, chairman of the CFDA, had an impossible idea to stream fashion week live to the public. It wasn’t really impossible because we now bring live New York Fashion Week to the Plaza every September with Rockefeller Center as our partner and livestreaming presented by Genesys — bringing New York collections to the public and give them a direct front-row seat.”
The evening also shed light on the future of AI within luxury fashion. Kolb pointed to Danielle Frankel looking for opportunities to incorporate it on the production side of her business, alongside Kate Barton’s most recent fully digital show powered by AI. Representatives from top brands in retail companies discussed the role that technology plays within today’s fashion journey for customers and how to interact with them meaningfully today.
Haley Baylee
AnnAnn Puttithanasorn
“Luxury clients expect personal connection and meticulous attention to detail,” explained Jain. “Technology, particularly AI, should be applied in a way that enhances — not dilutes those moments. By giving advisors greater insight and support into the customer journey, it enables personalized experiences that feel seamless, exclusive and authentically human.”
The biggest challenge is how brands can continue to keep the human touch and use technology to amplify it. Moreover, utilizing AI in a creative way that doesn’t replace human emotions is fundamental. Jain said that loyalty in luxury is all about creating predictability and knowing their customers so well to drive returning customers.
Brandon Blackwood and Bernard James.
AnnAnn Puttithanasorn
“Luxury has always been defined by the care and precision behind every experience. What’s changing is how those experiences are delivered. Today, AI is no longer a question of ‘if,’ but ‘when’ and how masterfully it’s applied. We’re partnering with brands to usher in the next era of fashion and luxury by using AI to operate with greater precision and ensure every moment feels both personal and enduring. True to fashion’s legacy, this isn’t about following trends, but setting the standards that shape what comes next,” said Swartz.
To learn more, visit www.genesys.ai.