Michael Venedicto, Artistic Producer, Trapeze Partnerships (Second from Left in above photo) and Jeff Warrington Design Director, The Look Partnership, LLC., have come together and have taken the initiative to reframe and reposition Los Angeles Fashion Week in order to more adeptly compete on the global fashion stage and marketplace.
On January 25, 2010, Venedicto and
Notable attendees included Christian Troy from the office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Adam Cooper, Director of New Media for the Mayor’s Office, Bert Keeter, former Halston designer, as well as representatives from the California Fashion Association, Downtown L.A. Fashion Week, Ford Models, Prada, Angeleno Magazine and the Historic Downtown LA Business Improvement District.
The discussions delved into crucial problems that have plagued our fashion week for years; the conflict of scheduling shows on the same night at opposite ends of the city, how scattered and disorganized it can get for all involved, and what an all-around tense and draining experience it can be for both the attendees and organizers. The roundtable organizers seemed genuinely committed to break thru the crippling grasp of disorder that sends our fashion community into a dither of considerable proportion twice a year.
Further, there were comments about how poorly LA Fashion Week is perceived by the world. This meeting was significant because the frustration with the logistics, planning and overall presentation of Fashion Week has come to a head. The need for the fashion community to work as a whole is crucial on so many levels. More importantly, the financial rewards to the City of Los Angeles from Fashion Week associated events are staggering, with $36.8 billion in revenue per annum, to be exact.
Michael Venedicto believes very strongly that Fashion Week in
Venedicto boldly challenged the panel with relevant questions that can make a considerable impact on Fashion Week in our community and around the world. He and his partner also outlined their own vision for the event. Their presentation was impressive. Everyone at the roundtable received a well-designed pamphlet, including their mission statement, which reads:
“OUR
Further:
“THE GOAL OF FASHION WEEK LOS ANGELES IS TO PROVIDE THE FASHION INDUSTRY WITH A WORLD-CLASS, WORLDWIDE PLATFORM BASED ON A HIGH LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION, DESIGN, STYLE, EFFICIENCY AND EXPOSURE.”
Venedicto and colleagues distributed a well-written questionnaire that posed thoughtful queries such as:
1.) What is unique about
2.) What competitive advantages/ disadvantages does
3.) Please recall your best/ worst runway experience and explain why it was the best or worst?
4.) Are you in favor of a consolidated, centrally-organized fashion week and runway show schedule, integrated with event advertising, pr, communications, etc.? and;
5.) Are you in favor of The City of Los Angeles either sponsoring or officially endorsing Fashion Week in
These questions opened up an honest dialogue between members of the panel who genuinely feel passionate about the future of L.A. Fashion Week. The only constituency underrepresented at the roundtable, and actually the most essential—were the designers themselves, whom without there would be no fashion week. It is so important for the designers to be present at these gatherings because the roundtable wants fresh ideas and innovative ways to further the evolution of L.A. Fashion Week.
Michael and his partner Jeff have given us a wake up call and a challenge that seems daunting, yet possible. The problems are many, but there always solutions, and these solutions are within the grasp of our creative and entrepreneurial fashion community. Their next fashion week roundtable discussion is scheduled for April.
We must come together and think of this as a “whole” and examine our own resistances, self-interests, belief systems, etc. that may block us collectively from moving forward on these issues so that we can reap the cultural richness and economic prosperity that all of us deserve.
By thinking in terms of how this can benefit us as a whole, the future of Los Angeles Fashion Week has a chance to be as big as Paris, London, Korea,
I leave you with the famous words of Tim Gunn from Project Runway: ”Make it work people!”
More information about this venture is available at: http://www.fashionweek.la/
Email: roundtable@fashionweek.la
Editors Note: We would very much like to hear YOUR comments on this blog regarding the roundtable and how fashion week could be improved!
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