New York City’s vibrant fashion scene took a leap into the future at the 2024 Digital Fashion Week red carpet event, hosted by Britta Cabanos, Founder of Inside Fashion Design (IFD )and The Conscious Fashion Design Academy with Raine Magazine as a media sponsor. Held at The Delancey, the event attracted visionary designers, students, fashion insiders and enthusiasts, who gathered to mingle, connect with, and explore the intersection of fashion, sustainability and digital technology.

Nova at NYC Digital Fashion Week - Inside Fashion Design

These prominent global designers shared their insights on integrating sustainability in both their physical and digital collections.

Britta Cabanos is an entrepreneur from Minnesota and a graduate of FIT, with a 30-year career in apparel design , working with top brands like Nike, Donna Karan, Perry Ellis, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria ‘s Secret. She has created a resource hub, IFD, that connects industry professionals and aspiring designers, offering educational tools, mentoring and community for personal and professional growth. IFD also champions ethical and sustainable practices, showcasing designers committed to social and environmental responsibility.

Catherine Roggero-Lovisii, Executive Board Member at Positive Planet US, CEO of Modern Meadows, a biotechnology company merging material science and biology for global wellness. Catherine is originally from France. An industry veteran who has held senior executive leadership positions in various companies like L'Oréal,Revlon and Christian Louboutin. She discussed her innovative approach to creating “green” eco-friendly, sustainable products and textiles, without animals or excessive chemicals, emphasizing minimal environmental impact while maintaining product performance and quality.

Ajay Shrivastav, Founder of Gingerblu, and co-founder of Fempowerment Foundation, highlighted how his brand empowers underprivileged women to attain economic independence by providing them with skills to create eco-friendly products, using indigenous fabrics and traditional techniques. He highlighted the social impact of these efforts,explaining that just “30 dresses” could support an artisan’s entire family for a year in India.

Siamanda Chege, Founder of BebeRavi Collection, and a former fashion model, who shared her commitment to social enterprise in Africa and her best practices from her brand. She employs local artisans, 300 women, many of whom are HIV widows in her hometown of Nakuru, Kenya to create fair trade,handmade products that are both high-quality and eco-friendly.

Nova Lorraine, a multidisciplinary creative, futurist and award-winning designer from Jamaica. Nova captivated our attention, presented a Generative Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven couture runway show under her HOUSE OF NOVA brand, merging augmented reality and blockchain technology with traditional craftsmanship. Fashionistas were transported to the virtual runway on the streets of Paris. Nova Lorraine’s avant-garde designs pushed the boundaries of digital fashion, showcasing the union of technology and couture and offered a transformative glimpse into the future of the fashion industry, as more people interact in virtual spaces today. She fuses culture, technology and fashion in storytelling. Nova Lorraine was also on hand to introduce and sign her latest book, “The Jockey on the Horse”, informing how creatives and others can thrive in the age of AI.

Attendees left the IFD event energized and excited. It marked a significant shift in how we view fashion, completely redefining our concept of future fashion shows. It celebrated the growing convergence of fashion and technology, illustrating how technology can drive creativity,reduce environmental footprint, enhance sustainability, and cultivate ethical consumerism on a global scale.

Written by Karleen Hemrick

Redefining Fashion: Highlights from NYC Digital Fashion Week 2024