American fashion is a reflection of the nation of immigrants we are. This season’s Americans in Paris lived up to its name with the most diverse group of designers yet.
The point was driven home during Saturday’s breakfast with CFDA President and CEO Steven Kolb, Diesel Founder Renzo Rosso, and the designers at the showcase at 29 Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
“If you think about, our industry really is a melting pot,” Kolb said. “I looked around the table and realized there was Victor Glemaud from Haiti; Jordan Askill from Australia; Mathew Harris from Jamaica via Luxembourg; Ahlem Manai-Platt from France; Sandy Liang, who is Chinese-American, and Telfar Clemens, whose family is from Liberia. It’s really American Immigrants in Paris.”
The designers enjoyed pastries from Stoney Clove Bakery and received sage business advice from Rosso, who answered questions ranging from John Galliano’s appointment at Maison Martin Marginal to Viktor & Rolf licensing deals. He told the designers that a certain level of success doesn’t mean you don’t have challenges anymore – they’re just different challenges. He also urged the designers to focus on storytelling.
Chromat’s Becca McCharen-Tran appreciated the feedback from Renzo, as well as Tomorrow London Holdings Ltds support of Americans in Paris, because “the business part is what we need help with.”
For many young businesses, collaboration of all sorts is key to growth, and Clemens, whose Telfar x White Castle capsule set a trend, viewed the introduction to Rosso as invaluable.
Through the fund, Harris of Mateo New York got to know RtA’s Eli Azran and David Rimokh, who are “lovely, cool, and humble. It’s inspiring to meet two guys doing so well.”
Ahlem’s Manai-Platt considers the CVFF journey a fairytale come true. “I am now the French girl living in California who shows in Paris,” she said. “I’ve met the most beautiful people – from Andrew Rosen and Eva Chen to the CFDA team to Joseph Altuzarra and Bella Hadid, who chose some of my glasses.”
Glemaud highlighted new friendships and the sense of camaraderie that came through the fund. “You can’t do it alone and anyone who thinks they can and create their own little eco-system is not going to stay around,” he said. “Fashion takes a village.”
In this case, the village is beautifully diverse.
Americans in Paris is open at 29 Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré though Monday.
