Vogue’s Forces of Fashion conference returns this year with an in-person event in New York, taking place on October 14. Given the tumultuous and often ground-breaking events that have taken place in the last few years, the conference will be focused on exploring the future of fashion, especially as it relates to topics of sustainability, diversity, social responsibility, and greater representation of all kinds of groups within the industry.
The full line-up for the New York conference was revealed today (other conferences are also planned for Mexico City on October 13, and London, also on October 14). Anna Wintour, chief content officer, Condé Nast and global editorial director, Vogue will kick off the event with opening remarks. Chloe Malle, a Vogue contributing editor, will be the host for the day and guide participants through a day of exciting conversations with some of fashion’s most influential people. As an added bonus, attendees will have the opportunity to meet this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund class of finalists.
Kim Jones, the artistic director of couture and womenswear at Fendi, as well as Dior Men’s artistic director for ready-to-wear and accessories, will sit down with Nicole Phelps, the global director of Vogue Runway and Vogue Business, to discuss how he’s able to stay creative and juggle all his responsibilities while still finding time to stay plugged in to contemporary culture and cook up some of the coolest collaborations. Also in attendance will be Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli’s creative director, who will sit down with World of Interiors editor in chief, and global editor at large at American Vogue, Hamish Bowles, to talk about how Roseberry’s Texas upbringing has manifested in the opulent designs he creates at his Paris atelier, which have taken the world—and especially the red carpet—by storm, as well as how he is updating couture for the 21st century. And speaking of taking the red carpet by storm, the designer Christopher John Rogers, known for his exquisite use of color and volume, will be in conversation with Vogue Runway’s own José Criales-Unzueta, who just so happened to be his classmate at the Savannah College of Art and Design. The two will be discussing what it takes to make it in fashion today, but there’s bound to be a couple of fun stories about the designer before he was simply known to the world as CJR.
Meanwhile, the actress and founder of the perfumery Henry Rose, Michelle Pfeiffer will be in conversation with the fashion designer Stella McCartney, and Vogue’s global network lead, beauty and wellness director Celia Ellenberg, about building a beauty brand with intention and mindfulness. Another inspiring conversation will take place between the model and land protector Quannah Chasinghorse, and Xiye Bastida, a climate justice activist and cofounder of Re-Earth Initiative, who will discuss how they use their platforms to raise awareness and concretely effect change in the world. Iman, the supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist will be in conversation with Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies and The Fifteen Percent Pledge about holding the industry to account and what meaningful representation can, and should, look like.
Also at the event will be model, singer-songwriter, and model rights activist Karen Elson; the model and founder of Guest in Residence, Gigi Hadid; Carolina Herrera’s creative director Wes Gordon; and Camille Miceli, the new artistic director at Pucci. Joining them will be Vogue global contributing fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson; Vogue’s sustainability editor Tonne Goodman; and Lisa Aiken, Vogue’s executive fashion director, among others.
To learn more about the events of the day and purchase your ticket, make sure to visit the Forces of Fashion website. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the New York-Presbyterian Youth Anxiety Center, which aims to address the epidemic of anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults today. The event is being presented in part with the support of Brizo, John Hardy, and Rothy’s.
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