The Human Experience of Brick-and-mortar Retail
Online shopping might be the preferred mode of shopping given its convenience and accessibility, but it can’t replace the human interaction one gets from visiting physical retail shops. In-store shopping experiences matter now more than ever. The challenge lies in using digital mediums to draw consumers into brick-and-mortar stores for the full, immersive experience. Join us as we explore how successful brick-and-mortar retailers in LA navigate the ever-shifting retail landscape and continue to thrive despite the digital competition.
Moderator
Dechel Mckillian
Fashion stylist and designer Dechel Mckillian steps to the plate with raw talent and the credentials to back it up. After her overseas studies, Dechel quickly found her way under the wing of celebrity costume designer Marco Morante, with whom she collaborated on costumes for chart-topping artists such as Lil Wayne and The Black Eyed Peas. Taking her position as wardrobe stylist on the road, she worked and traveled the world for four years with the aforementioned, refining her craft and immersing herself in the life and fashion of the cultures she was exposed to.
Since then, projects have been non-stop styling in the realm of commercial, editorial, music, and television. Her work has been highly received and featured in the likes of Nylon, Paper, and V magazines. At this point, Dechel is beyond that of a stylist…she is a creator. From consulting and merchandising to creative direction and costume design, she proves to be an asset to her clients. Time after time she diligently delivers exceptional concepts that incorporate a unique style that is heavily influenced by the unexpected. As a brand, Dechel Mckillian, thrives to entice levels of taste by introducing a personal curation of various extraordinary creatives alike.
As the Founder of recent fashion technology start-up GALERIE.LA, Dechel's mission is to make a positive impact on the Fashion industry. GALERIE.LA is the first platform of its kind to offer a curated selection of women's sustainable fashion available to shop online. Truly a one-stop shop that makes choosing sustainable fashion easy. Customers can shop their values without sacrificing their personal style.
Be on the look out for everything DM: eye for style, heart for fashion, and undeniable brilliance.
Stefan Siegel
Stefan Siegel, a native South Tyrolean — the German speaking part of the Triveneto region in Northern Italy, grew up in in an area responsible for over 40% of all high-end and luxury manufacturing, a surrounding where the ‘Made In Italy’ label is really being defined. Following his high school career at Venice’s prestigious military college, the Francesco Morosini Naval School, he kick-started his colourful career during his Economics studies in Vienna when he gained experience in the fashion and media industry working for prestigious design houses and advertising agencies. Following a successful modelling career that took him to five continents, he achieved his MA in International Business Administration in 2004 at the Vienna University of Economics. After graduation Stefan joined the world of finance, working for renowned companies such as Ernst & Young and Sal. Oppenheim in Switzerland, and finally the Merrill Lynch M&A Investment Banking group in New York and London specialising in the Consumer & Retail sector and advising publicly listed fashion powerhouses. Stefan used his gained experience to launch NOT JUST A LABEL (NJAL). Although launching the company on a shoestring in 2008, NJAL today is the leading global platform for emerging fashion designers and ranks among the most respected websites in the fashion industry. As the world’s leading designer platform for showcasing and nurturing today’s pioneers in contemporary fashion, it represents over 35,000 designers from 150 countries. It is an infinitely expanding destination devoted to facilitating growth in the fashion industry and has established itself as a distinctive creative hub fostering innovation.
Leslie Bedolla
A creator of memorable experiences for some of the most demanding and discerning client cultures in the world, Leslie’s expansive business experience spans the hospitality, apparel and retail sectors, in addition to establishing a luxe yoga retreat management company. Her passion and expertise lies in spotting collaborative opportunities, matching talent with trends, and delivering synergistic brand partnerships. Her keen eye for aesthetics and insatiable appetite for soulful exchanges are just a few unique qualities she brings to the table. Leslie splits her time between Los Angeles and Berlin.
Queer Identity in Fashion and Film as a Subversive Art
“This is a book about the subversion of existing values, institutions, mores, and taboos - East and West, Left and Right - by the potentially most powerful art of the century” wrote Amos Vogel in 1974 in the book “Film as a Subversive Art”.
Robert Mapplethorpe (photographer), Alexander McQueen (designer), David Bowie or Freddie Mercury (musicians)… these are just some examples of queer and non-binary avant-garde artists who reached global recognition and acceptance after breaking all the molds of what was socially acceptable at their time, and sometimes themselves in the process of doing so.
Almost half-a-century later most of the taboos Amos identified in his book - sex, violence, birth, death... -seem to have been overcome or at least exposed, sometimes in brutally raw ways primarily online whether through porn… or explicit violence on Facebook, not necessarily in artistic ways.
So is film still as relevant in the advent of the digital age and social media content? And what about the queer counterculture movements of the 70s and the 80s? Did their message and leadership fizzle out now that we can get married? What do the new generations have to say and how are they saying it? Are Youtube and Instagram the new window displays where to break those molds the way New York or London art galleries were in the 80s?
We’ll explore our role as artists, performers, designers and storytellers in a world that seems to have become the chaotic, amoral and violent place that many also find ways to blame us for. Do we highlight and contribute to the perception of chaos or do we shift the spotlight to the harmony that art carries in all of its forms no matter what our message is?
Ramon J. Goni - Filmmaker and founder of Swoon (Moderator)
Rain Valdez - Actress and Writer
George Bamber - Film and theater director
Chandra Feltus - Talent Agent
Marc Littlejohn - Fashion Director and Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist
Puma Road
Raise your glass and sip fine complimentary selections from the Puma Road Winery, see you on the stage!
The Franscioni family has worked the Salinas Valley soil for four generations. In the early 1890s, Silvio Franscioni Sr. settled a ranch outside of Gonzales with his beloved wife Maria and their children. What began as a dairy operation developed into a row crop farm. The owner of Puma Road winery, Ray Franscioni–Silvio’s grandson, is keeping the farming tradition vibrant and alive. His business ambitions reached beyond raising dairy cows and farming lettuce. While growing 6,000 acres of row crops, he decided to embark on a vineyard operation in the early 1990s.
For more than 20 years, Franscioni has been a prominent grape-grower in the Monterey County region. His operation has evolved into growing 2,000 acres of vines while continuing the family row crop business. About half of the grape yield is grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands; the other portion grows in the Paicines AVA.
About a decade after becoming grape growers, the Franscioni’s decided to craft wine themselves. The family produced their first vintage in 2003 under the label RF Wines. More than a decade later, Puma Road Winery now produces 4,500 cases per year. They proudly continue to grow 15 varietals. The winery is a thriving, local-based establishment that strongly reflects the Santa Lucia Highlands as well as the Paicines AVA. The earthy flavors and rich minerality of the soils create the unique wines one can only experience at Puma Road down the River Road Wine Trail.
We invite you to visit our Santa Lucia Highlands tasting room, situated on the original homestead the Franscioni family settled so many years ago. Experience the hospitality and local knowledge upon which we pride ourselves.
The ABCs of Conscious Consumerism
We are often faced with conflicting priorities when weighing the pros and cons of our purchase decisions. What might seem like an easy choice for one person might not be so for another. But all change starts with a single step. Your journey as a conscious consumer doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Let’s start with something basic.
What makes one a conscious consumer? How “ethical” does one need to be to be considered one? We are often faced with conflicting priorities. What might seem like an easy choice for one person might not be so for another. We get that, and we’re here to share a grounded perspective of conscious consumerism. What are the right questions to ask? How do we evaluate the options we’re presented with? And more importantly, what can brands do to make it easier to embrace conscious consumerism?
Moderator
Olga Johnston Antonova
Olga Johnston Antonova is a sustainable fashion expert, journalist and a stylist, whose work is informed by art and fashion history, deep ecology and futures studies. She is a leading voice in Russia in movements for sustainable and circular fashion industry, conscious consumption and a safe environment. Based in Berlin, she founded and co-founded international initiatives that help to cultivate ecological awareness and connect people through fashion and style, enabling personal, social and economic transformation.
Olga travels widely, giving lectures and workshops across Europe, Russia and the former USSR.
Panelists
Luke Haverhals,
Founder & CEO, Natural Fiber Welding
Analytical chemist/materials scientist and entrepreneur working to produce sustainable, high performance materials for a wide variety of applications. Expertise in scalable business + technology solutions for the circular economy. Experienced with natural materials, nanomaterials, manufacturing technologies and automation. NSF I-Corps @ DoD graduate.
More new tonnage of plant materials grows in a day on the planet than the total tonnage of all synthetic materials (e.g., plastics) produced by people in a year. Natural Fiber Welding is a patented fabrication platform that enables new high performance materials for textiles and beyond. Natural Fiber Welding leverages the most abundant high performance materials that nature provides to create complex composites that can not be manufactured in any other way. Production of amazing new high performance materials are being scaled by the Natural Fiber Welding team right now and range from 'practical' solutions to recycle billions of pounds of cotton, to 'exotic' clean water applications and even wearable capacitive energy storage. Our team is looking for collaborators who want to create scalable solutions that solve global problems.
Alison Gates, Creative Director, Nuuly
As the creative director of Nuuly, the new subscription clothing rental brand launched by Urban Outfitters, Alison Gates leads both the brand’s creative and sustainability efforts, pivoting between art directing seasonal campaigns to developing reusable packaging to spearheading company-wide changes.
An avid nature-lover with a background in physiology and neuroscience, she credits her tenure as creative director of sustainability lifestyle clothing retailer prAna, for transforming her interest in conscious consumerism into a true passion for creating sustainability within the fashion industry.
With over 10 years of experience in photography art direction, branding and graphic design, she has led creative teams at major fashion retailers like Express, prAna, and URBN in addition to running her own branding and design studio. She is also a certified integrative nutrition coach, clean-eating enthusiast, owner of Coastal Food Bars and mother of two.
Elizabeth Thomas James,
Co-Founder, Taylor&Thomas
James migrated to the world of fashion through channels that have always driven and inspired its finest creators: fine art, music, and photography.
Producing and executive producing video content for Concord Music Group, James’ tenure led her to cross paths with legends including James Taylor, Carole King and Paul Simon. When her years in the business no longer met deep-rooted creative needs and environmental concerns, she wrote a new chapter. In attending the Otis College of Art and Design, James reignited earlier days of unbridled inspiration in creating, while also meeting her sister in business. Unsurprisingly, undercurrents of 70s rebellion, self-actualization, and freedom of expression are personified with brand muses like Patti Smith, Debbie Harry and Jane Birkin.
Maurizio Donadi,
Co-founder & Creative Director, Atelier&Repairs
Maurizio Donadi brings over 30 years of strategic management experience in the fashion and lifestyle industries on a global scale.
He has directed product design teams and developed expansion strategies at brand, retail, marketing and distribution levels for some of the most successful, international fashion houses and their founders.
In 2012, Maurizio co-founded Conduit Creative Office, a consulting services platform to share his expertise with small and large organizations seeking re-engineering and growth.
Angela Lindvall: Beauty Begins in Me with Co-Creator Kayren Pace
Model, social entrepreneur, and activist Angela Lindvall along with co-creator Kayren Pace take us on a journey of inner discovery in this immersive session. The goal is to embrace our natural beauty and the miracle of our body’s self-healing, regenerative powers in understanding that existence in itself is beautiful.
Join us in an experiential session involving a soothing sound bath, a stimulating Pranayama using Breath of Fire, and an enlightening guided meditation to align our heart, mind, and will. Experience an awakening of your senses with Angela and Kayrens natural plant-derived oils as you inhale the good and exhale the bad.
This will be followed by an intimate Salon gathering where we’ll explore the idea that real beauty stems from knowledge and the light within. We’ll delve into how our values drive our choices and impact society and the environment around us, and how this shapes our current and future reality.
Join us in rediscovering your inner beauty.
Directors’ Panel: The Social Responsibility of Branded Storytelling
Every time we tell a story, it leaves an impact on the audience, whether positive or negative. Be it a story to entertain, inspire, or empower, it has the potential to shape the audience’s perspectives and influence their actions. So while brands must develop narratives to stimulate favorable consumer behavior, let’s not forget to pose the question: “What kind of society are we building as a result of these stories?” Join our featured film directors in this thought-provoking deep dive.
Moderator
Luke Gledhill
Luke Gledhill hails from the UK and has lived in Los Angeles for 4 years. Luke has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years across every aspect, including wholesale, distribution, design & marketing. He now runs a branding development & marketing agency called Just Up The Road.
One of his main passions is social & environmental impact, specifically sustainability.
And is no stranger to hosting speaker panels, as he hosts a monthly event at Soho House called Culture Your Creativity and a think tank meet up bringing together brands, companies & thought leaders that do good & give back through social & environmental initiatives.
Panelists
John-Michael Triana, LAFF Creative Director
John-Michael is a photographer and director based in Los Angeles. His work revolves around making objective moments subjective to the viewer. He does this by creating polished, mysterious, and captivating worlds conceived from his deep curiosity in existentialism, love, and desire. With a sophisticated eye for creating commercial content, his work is experimental in construction but is always rooted within a unique point of view.
He studied film under experimental artist Kevin Everson at the University of Virginia and began his career in New York City shooting fashion films for brands such as Banana Republic, VOGUE, COACH, Carrera, 7 For All Mankind, Bottega Veneta and David Yurman.
Moving to Los Angeles, he began directing music videos, branded content, and narrative film. He has directed two short films INTERVIEW (2014) and DANCE (2018), and is currently in development of a feature film.
He is the creative director for the LA Fashion Festival 2019.
Amber Moelter, LAFF Juror
Noir Tribe is a Los Angeles-based storytelling duo (Amber Moelter & Luis Barreto Carrillo) that creates visual content for the fashion industries, with a special interest in sustainability and social responsibility. Their work has been featured on Vogue Italia, Vogue México, ELLE México, NYLON Español, Harper’s Bazaar Bulgaria, Harper’s Bazaar Brasil, and Glamour. Clients include The Museum at FIT, The Women’s March on Washington, Inexmoda, Sana Jardin, Polite, and Fashion Revolution USA. Awards include Best Documentary for Peyote Dreams at the International Fashion Film Awards and Best Cinematography for ETHETICS (ethics+aesthetics) at the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh South African International Fashion Film Festival. Instagram: instagram.com/noirtribe
James Jenkins, Directors Hiss.tv
James has had a diverse career in the film and art world. He studied at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, which was a community of filmmakers artists and creators that experimented with the fluidity of different media. Equal focus was placed on a full critical studies in world cinema, expression of the avant garde, video art, installation and music. He cut his teeth in the industry as a visual effects artist and cinematographer on a number of award-winning commercials, television shows, fashion films, and music videos. He is known for his attention to detail and his unique hand-made analogue visuals under his industry pseudonym T.F. Bundy.
His recent works include a tandem visual effects collaboration with Terence Nance for his cerebral, free-form, Peabody-winning HBO show Random Acts of Flyness, and the Kasami Washington art film As If Told To G/D Thyself. James is one half of the director-duo Hiss, whose “style-is-content” creations are commissioned world-wide.
Alexandra Kaucher, Directors Hiss.tv
Daughter of an American and an Iranian who met in Paris, Alexandra has never been one content with the ground beneath her feet. She studied European and Mediterranean studies at NYU which, was really just an excuse to study abroad. This segued into a career of Art, Production Design and Costume Design for film. She is a collector, immersing herself in the wonderful cultures of the world, bringing them back and finding ways to celebrate them - but without appropriating or collaging them into the pervading cultural fabric. She designed projects in India, Morocco, South Africa, Europe, and all across the US - collecting and exploring everywhere she went. Her recent Production Design work includes the film To Dust starring Matthew Broderick, which premiered at Tribeca.
She now directs and produces with her partner and collaborator on various short-form pieces, music videos and art projects under the moniker Hiss. She brings her love of culture to her directorial work, and ensures the stories of others are depicted with dignity.
Marco De Ornellas, LAFF Juror
Marco De Ornellas is an international award winner actor, director, writer and producer. Originally from Brazil, Marco started his acting journey at CEFAR, Palacio das Artes Artistic Center Conservatory Program, Belo Horizonte / Brazil. As Being the only student with no past experience to be accepted in the program, his training days weren't easy. After dedicating day and night to his craft, soon he became known as being a hard working individual throughout the entire institution as an artist who is constantly searching for new challenges. Because of his dedication he was invited to play "The Wolf" in the play "Peter and the Wolf", where he had the chance to perform in front of 2.000 people at the state's most prestigious theater. After graduating with honors, he was invited to become a member of the well-acclaimed Mario Nascimento Dance Company. On his first play with the company, Marco was nominated for the award "revelation in dance" at the Sinparc Awards.
In his professional debut, Marco had the opportunity to play the lead role in Macbeth. After that he's performed professionally in several theater plays and films and collaborated with top theater companies in Brazil. His collaboration with Galpao Cine Horto foundation, gave him his first overseas experience, performing at the Havana Theater Festival, Cuba. He has collaborated with artists in Denmark, London, Prague, Spain, to name a few. Believing in the importance of being a multi-artist, Marco has extensively trained in several techniques, such as Grotowisk, Stanislaviski, Meisner, Artaud, Suzuki, Ballet and Contemporary dance, Martial arts, Commedia dell’Arte, etc.
Marco is always searching for new ways to rediscover himself in his craft and to expand his soul as an artist and as a human being. As a passionate traveler, a challenge junkie and a believer that growing as an actor and as a human being goes together in his life, he left Brazil in 2010 to experience new cultures around Europe and Africa, visiting many countries. Following his dream of becoming a successful international artist, he left Brazil and moved to New York City to pursue acting. His studies at the "Stella Adler Studio" lead him to his next school "The American Academy of Dramatic Arts", where he graduated with a talent based and a merit based scholarship. After graduating Marco has been working with many theater companies and film directors, also been working in the New York Fashion scene as a Model. He has been collaborating with theater groups in New York, Brazil and Europe. His performance on theater has granted him the award for "Best Brazilian Actor in the USA 2015" and the "Portuguese-Brazilian Awards 2015". Also in 2015, Marco lauched his film production company named, "Lobo Production". His award winner films have been screened at Fashion and Indie film festivals around the globe.
Sustainable Fashion: An Inclusive Way of Life
Now one of the most pressing global issues of our time, sustainability remains unchartered territory for most businesses, particularly within the fashion industry. It’s high time to transition from lip service marketing campaigns to transparent full-scale sustainable systems to make real change happen.
From Rihanna’s Fenty to Lady Gaga’s Haus Laboratories, we are seeing brands boldly inspiring proud diversity. Model casting too, has become noticeably more inclusive, with exotic faces such as Winnie Harlow, Shaun Ross, Khoudia Diop, and Aaron Philip gracing beauty ads, runways, and magazine covers.
As we welcome a new age of beauty that celebrates diversity and inclusivity by telling these stories with the respect and appreciation they deserve, it’s also an opportunity to infuse sustainable fashion into the narrative. In championing an open, kind, and enlightened era of fashion, let’s extend inclusivity to the environment, community, and animals we co-exist with.
We see brands doing their part in making sustainability the new status quo: Atelier & Repairs’ 0% new production 100% circular business model, Natural Fiber Welding's premium plant-based leather, and Nuuly's subscription-based clothing rental service are just a few examples.
Join us as we explore the movement that’s making sustainable fashion an inclusive way of life.
Moderator
Ngozi Okaro, Executive Director of Custom Collaborative
Ngozi Okaro, Executive Director of Custom Collaborative, is an advocate for socio-economic justice and environmental stewardship. She aims to serve three constituencies: fashion-industry workers who deserve fair compensation, thoughtful consumers who desire quality sustainable fashion, and businesses that want to develop and produce fashion locally.
She is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and New York. Among other distinctions, she is certified by New York University’s Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, was a 2014 Environmental Leadership Program Fellow, and is a graduate of the Coro Leadership New York program. Ngozi is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Morgan State University.
Panelists
Jeanice Parker, Custom Collaborative graduate and star of Fashion Is Love
Jeanice Parker, an alumna of Custom Collaborative, is a young entrepreneur, mother, and design enthusiast dedicated to regenerating the lens of life through creativity. Her writing, design, and creative direction are all focused on creating impactful and transformative experiences within society.
As part of her commitment to giving back to the community around her, Jeanice currently coordinates operations for an international nonprofit, ACCESS Health, which focuses on improving the health and well-being of people across the world. In addition, she is in the development stages of launching a women's clothing brand.
Jeanice is an alumna of the Lillian Project, an incubator founded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation where she studied business and finance in Harlem NY, and a member of Grameen America, a nonprofit organization committed to helping low- and middle-income women interested in entrepreneurship build businesses to enable financial mobility. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Merchandising from Herkimer County Community College.
Olga Johnston Antonova
Olga Johnston Antonova is a sustainable fashion expert, journalist and a stylist, whose work is informed by art and fashion history, deep ecology and futures studies. She is a leading voice in Russia in movements for sustainable and circular fashion industry, conscious consumption and a safe environment. Based in Berlin, she founded and co-founded international initiatives that help to cultivate ecological awareness and connect people through fashion and style, enabling personal, social and economic transformation.
Olga travels widely, giving lectures and workshops across Europe, Russia and the former USSR.
Jessica Kelly, Founder, thr3efold.com
Jessica Kelly is the Founder & CEO of THR3EFOLD. She’s spent a decade helping hundreds of fashion & lifestyle brands in New York City grow their business through marketing, sales, and PR. During a life-changing trip to India, she saw first hand the issues with the supply chain and fashion industry. That was the impetus to launch THRE3FOLD four years ago. THR3EFOLD is a tech platform that connects fashion brands to ethical factories, a sustainable community, and to buy & sell leftover fabric so they can grow their business for people, planet, and profit.
NEER Presents: The Digital Campaign: Stills + Motion - The Collaborative Set
Join NEER Motion, their artists and colleagues in photography and production for an interactive conversation about the landscape of content and how brands can effectively budget and plan for campaigns involving stills and motion assets. All your questions answered about the shoot and post production process and costs for motion. Learn about the various versions of a stills and motion production intended for social media outlets. Get insight into various ways to communicate your brand narrative and resonate with your audience through quality cinematic storytelling.
While the ways in which consumers ingest content continuously changes, their desire for quality does not. NEER is an artist agency representing a curated roster of versatile cinematographers, director/dp's and unique motion artists specializing in the beauty, fashion, luxury and lifestyle industries. NEER’s team and artists are experts in creating elevated visuals for stills and motion campaigns. We provide customized creative solutions to streamline all levels of production and post production while considering the varying outlets for the content, especially social media. Our mission is to prioritize efficiency while maintaining the highest level of quality for all content needs.
Moderator:
Stacy Scarsella - Owner/Executive Producer of Plaid Pony Productions
Panelists:
Kelly Montez - CEO/Artist Agent of Apostrophe Reps
Brent Mata - Founder of NEER Motion and cinematographer
Marianne Williams - Cinematographer @ NEER
Dante Pasquinelli - Colorist @ NEER Motion
Rava Wines
A Rava Wines ambassador will be on Stage A pouring their signature wines in govinos, complimentary, as well as to talk all things wine, cheers!
Located in the El Pomar AVA in the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country, Rava Wines + Events is the place for celebrations and live entertainment. The Rava’s, a third-generation farming family, has taken their expertise into the cellar crafting sparkling wines in the traditional méthode champenoise style. Experience Rava’s intimate wine country venue and discover a blend of modern hospitality, fine wines and your place for celebrations.
The Rava’s own more than 1,200 acres of premium vineyards that span from the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range in Monterey County to the Rava Estate in the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country. Owner, Chad Rava oversees and manages all vineyard operations, new plantings and harvest decisions. By having a hand in all production processes, the Rava’s are able to focus on terroir driven quality and their signature sparkling wines.
Festival Opening: LAFF with The Swagabonds
The Swagabonds is the first fashion brand designed in collaboration with Artists from Skid Row. Skid Row contains one of the largest stable populations of homeless people in the United States. While Skid Row is doubtless a hard place to live, it is nonetheless a community, where moments of light and humor often emerge from the darkness. It’s a village where you wave at someone at every corner, where people call out to each other, where people look out for each other. It’s this chaotic fraternity that few people know about.
We’ll hear from founders Gigi Freyeisen and Audrey d'Erneville about their mission to discover awesome talents while helping them rise above their circumstances through art and fashion.
LAFF Founding Director
Justin Raymond Merino
Guests
Gigi Freyeisen
The Swagabonds Co-Founder
Audrey d'Erneville
The Swagabonds Co-Founder
