CFDA held its sixth annual Fashion Education Summit at the Crosby Street Hotel over a two-day period last week. Panelists explored topics such as the top influences on the industry as well as sustainability in design and presentation.

Among the highlights, the Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Design Fellows Kara Kroeger and Blake Felty talked at length about the importance of the program and how it provided them with valuable post graduate experience. Designers Noa Raviv and Becca McCharen of Chromat discussed the marriage between technology and fashion with chief of technology at Manufacture NY, Amanda Parkes. Raviv explored how mistakes can be turned into inspiration and McCharen elaborated on how she foresees the future of fashion evolving with technology.

Amanda Johnston and Katarina Rimarcikova from the London College of Fashion, meanwhile, discussed the importance of collaboration across industries and industry departments, a concept that was put to practice on the second day with group activities and think-tanks.

With designers, students, teachers, and industry leaders present, this year’s summit certainly evoked food for fashion thought.