Photo Credit: Daniel Quintanilla

FULL-BODY INVESTMENT

Fashinnovation kicked off their first event of 2025 today with a special NRF (National Retail Federation) breakfast talks with CEO’s who’ve led their companies to outstanding success. At the Accessories Council here in New York’s midtown Manhattan came Krissie Millan, CMO of Bonobos, Amy Shecter, CEO of Cast, and Nancy Berger, Founder of Start With A Good moderating the breakfast talks. Retail continues to pivot and change course due largely to changing consumer habits, buying online’s the catalyst, then GEN Z brings their own version of glam to the fashion industry. And as retailers continue responding to buying habits and new technologies, there seems to be a final landing in the closing of stores while shoring up high performing outlets to handle the new age of retail.

AMY SHECTER

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy Shecter was the CEO of Glam Squad, walked through a CVS makeup aisle one day, declaring it needed disruption. Fast forward to today after seeing Glam Squad have tremendous success before the realities of COVID-19 said otherwise, Amy’s takeaway from her success is to be full. In order to contribute both mentally and physically, you as an individual must be full body on you, being the only way you could ever lead a team with one clear direction. The only way you will ever get your team to meet short or long term goals is if you’re confident about yourself, and they can lead those under them. Confidence level of women, they’ll apply for a job knowing 90 percent of job. Confidence level of men, they’ll apply for a job only knowing 30 percent of job. Women need more confidence.

KRISSIE MILLAN

After having a stellar chapter at Rebecca Minkoff, followed thereafter by going to companies preparing them to sell off assets before being hired by a company she helped to sell, Krissie Millan is now the CMO of Bonobos. A valuable radar any confident CEO or business owner has is spotting a bad apple in the bunch, which can take down an entire team. As well as a good competent leader, you have to know how to uplift your employees to do not only their best work, but exceed expectations. Krissie also emphasized how she’s using new fashion technology to create good menswear, a division in fashion that was dormant for a couple of years is now finding its way back to consumer buying habits.

NANCY BERGER

As Nancy Berger, Founder of “Start With A Good” led the breakfast talks this morning, Nancy revealed a quick plan of action relating to the LA wildfires. One of Nancy’s friends reached out to her for a swag bag, because the friend lost everything they had on the wildfires. Nancy at the time regrettably couldn’t offer anything to help her out. But then Nancy thought, I have the power to make a swag bag for her friend in need happen. So that’s when Nancy went to work, using all her vital resources, and calling every contact she knew to help. And sure enough, Nancy got the things she needed for her friend that lost everything. Hands down.

JAIWON RHI – NXN LABS

Shortly after the panel of CEO’s spoke with the Fashinnovation NRF Breakfast Talks, we all got a demonstration by Jaiwon Rhi who’s CEO of NXN LABS. Based out of San Francisco, NXN LABS deals with Generative AI, the fashion aspect is sizing models with clothing. But here’s the kicker, you don’t always have to use real models to determine sizes and looks with AI. You are free to use virtual models to size and style a sweater, creating an ideal look for the sweater you’re selling onto your consumer. Those who were sitting in on the demo had questions about model licensing and perpetuity, as well as see possibilities now and in the future.

CONCLUSION

Having all the tools at your disposal can truly lead to a well-run company with all hands on deck, but it must come from fully-invested input by employee and CEO. One’s vision starts with an idea, and it takes commitment from those who believe in your vision to turn dream into reality. And even with a bold idea, you need people not only to motivate, but leaders who’ve parlayed previous experience for a current business to have sustainable success.

DANIEL QUINTANILLA