The CFDA’s Tech Talks was created as a way to commemorate singular achievements within technology and fashion. For the first talk in the series, CFDA.com sat down with Sandra Lopez, Vice President of Strategic Relationships/Business Development for Intel’s New Devices Group. Lopez focuses on business and market development for fashion, sports, and fitness. Over the past couple of years, she has been a vocal voice driving the convergence between fashion and technology and was instrumental in establishing the relationships between CFDA, Intel and Barneys New York, Opening Ceremony, Fossil Group and TAG Heuer.
CFDA.com: When did you first become interested in technology?
Sandra Lopez: “Ironically, I started my career as a Fashion Buyer in Silicon Valley back in 1995 and was intrigued by the use of technology to drive the business forward. Living in Silicon Valley in the mid-Nineties, I was exposed to new and emerging technologies and I was able to envision how technology would transform how we would live. Since I did not have an engineering degree, I knew I had to jump on the train sooner than later. I jumped on the train and never got off. Now, two of my passions have converged – fashion and technology.”
CFDA.com: What are some of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on?
S.L.: “Wow – it is as if you are asking which of my children are my favorites. I love all of my children for different reasons. What I am most passionate about is taking BIG risks; pursuing things that have not only have never been done before, but also deliver meaningful business impact. Intel provides the opportunity to think the unimaginable, the impossible, and you have to have the fortitude to realize the vision despite your failures. Honestly, I would never have thought our CEO would become a regular at New York Fashion Week. That is how committed we are to converging two worlds: fashion and technology.”
CFDA.com: What is one app you can’t live without, right now?
S.L.: “Imagine if we did not have Google Maps. A lot of the websites and apps we use leverage Google Maps API to power location experiences. Your personal navigator is at the palm of your hands. If you think about it, it is pretty remarkable that less than 30 years ago we used McNally maps.”
CFDA.com: What is one of the best parts about working in technology right now?
S.L.: “With technology I see opportunity. The opportunity to give a child who does not have limbs in Sudan, due to warfare, a hand to eat or play. The ability to democratize education and provide education to all of our children. The ability to drive change and have the voices heard via social media. Or in the world of wearables, the ability to better understand one’s biometric data to improve one’s overall well-being, which has direct impact on your overall performance. One of the wearable features that I value tremendously as a working mom is that I no longer miss the important text messages because my phone is in my purse.”
CFDA.com: Where do you see fashion and technology headed in the next few years?
S.L.: “Honestly, we are just in its infancy. I understand that social media and e-commerce have had a transformative effect in fashion, yet imagine all the technology applications from apparel to retail –smart accessories and apparel that begin to understand you. We understand the world around us yet what about our bodies? The ability to deliver a personalized experience based on your biometric data is fascinating and I see several use cases.
Our worlds – fashion and technology – are simply converging and I saw it first hand at the tech industry version of fashion week, the Consumer Electronic Show. There were several fashion houses and fashion editors attending for the first time. Technology is part of culture and fashion is part of culture. And Intel has partners such as Council Fashion Designers of America that understand this convergence and are attending CES because they want to be at the forefront of the convergence to ultimately drive the fashion industry forward.”
