Connect China and US fashion entrepreneurs and investors: Luxe.Co New York Fashion Forum

September 17,2017

Luxe.Co successfully hosted the first “Luxe.Co New York Fashion Forum” in Midtown Manhattan, New York from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm on September 8th, 2017 (EST). Aiming to connect global fashion innovation forces, Luxe.Co drew the future of China’s fashion industry, together with industry leaders in fashion, finance, and technology from China and the U.S. at the forum.

The founder & CEO of Luxe.Co, Alicia Yu delivered the opening speech. She acknowledged that China fashion industry’s starting point was somewhat behind the U.S. However, she also identified the similarity for both countries in terms of market scale and development path. There are over 20 Chinese designer brands entering the official show and presentation schedule of New York Fashion Week this September. The collaboration between China and the U.S. fashion and finance industries has become increasingly crucial, considering the rise of China and overseas emerging brands, the strategic expansion of existing global brands in China market, the increasing awareness and demands of China consumers for global brands, the growing China local fashion enterprises, and the boosting fashion-oriented finance and industrial capital. As the most influential and global-vision fashion business media, Luxe.Co launched the English website — en.luxe.co in June 2017，aiming to connect China and global fashion and finance resources, and to stimulate the collaboration between China and global fashion investors and entrepreneurs.

Luxe.Co New York Fashion Forum presented three panel discussions, featuring: cross-border fashion investment and M&A, independent designer brands’ path to global brands, and fashion technology innovation, respectively.

Cross-border Investment and M&A in the Fashion Industry

Host: Alicia Yu, Founder & CEO of Luxe.Co, President of Orange Bay University

Panelists:

Jeacy Yan, Partner of IDG Capital
Joseph Lamastra, Founding Managing Partner of Sandbridge Capital
Cliff Moskowitz, Co-Founder and President of InterLuxe
Richard Chen, CEO of Yifei Investment Holdings & Huangpu River Capital

All panelists have extensive experiences in global fashion investment. Successful cases include Jason Wu, Derek Lam, Thom Browne, Gentle Monster, Farfetch, Moncler and etc.

Panelists shared their experiences and strategies in luxury and fashion investment, and provided recommendations on financing and development strategies for start-up companies.

Panelists also pointed out the difference in the business models between traditional and internet fashion brands. They agreed that celebrity / KOL and social media promotion had accelerated the development process of fashion brands significantly. Although there may be conflict between investors and entrepreneurs, panelists highlighted the positive impact of external investment on reinforcing the competitive advantages of emerging brands and accelerating the pace of market penetration.

Talking about the criteria influencing their investment decisions, panelists emphasized on three key factors: the management team, brand power and technology innovation . Considering more and more Chinese capital investing overseas, panelists preferred investors who understood the local market and who would be able to cooperate in further development in China and other Asian countries. They also discussed on the M&A valuation and category expansion of luxury and fashion brands.

Chinese and American Independent Designers Talk: How to Build New Global Brands

Host: Elisa Wang, Head of Content, Luxe.Co

Panelists:

Tao Wang, Founder of Taoray Wang
Cory Cole, Head of Marketing, Ramy Brook
Hanqing Zhou, Co-Founder of Zynni Cashmere

Elisa Wang, Head of Content of Luxe.Co presented Luxe.Co’s exclusive data findings on Chinese independent designers and “China’s Millennials Fashion Consumption Report”. Chinese independent designers have increasingly gained international education background and professional experiences. Their brands’ distribution channels and brand influence have been gaining global impact as well. The new generation designer brands have encountered intensive competition from global existing and emerging brands. Panelists shared their experiences, insights and strategies in branding, customer conversion, marketing, and distribution channels and so on.

Science & Technology Leading the Fashion & Luxury Innovation

Host: Claire Shen, Head of Research, Luxe.Co

Panelists:

Pano Anthos, Founder & Managing Director of XRC Labs
Karen Moon, CEO and Co-founder of Trendalytics
Elaine Y. Li, CAIA, Founding Partner of Zonvon Ventures
Jon Cilley, VP Marketing of Body Labs

With the development of online platform, social media promotion and new consumer shopping experience, technology has been increasingly transforming the fashion industry. Panelists shared their insights in fashion innovation. Trendalytics provides personalized consumer and market data to retailers and brands to assist their merchandising decisions. Body lab works on 3D human motion and shape to enhance online platforms’ personalized measuring and shopping experience. XRC joins force with Parsons School of Design to run an incubator for start-ups focusing on fashion and retail technology innovations, connecting entrepreneurs with investors and brand sponsors. Zonvon Ventures invests in high-potential technology innovation start-ups.

Luxe.Co InnoBrand 2017 Competition @ NYC

On the same day, Luxe.Co also hosted “InnoBrand 2017 Competition @ NYC”. Five inspiring fashion start-ups based in the U.S. (VUE, Pop & Well, Pulay, ShopShops and VEERAH) presented and competed for the qualification spots to the InnoBrand 2017 Finals.

Panel judges include: Alicia Yu, the founder of Luxe.Co, Pano Anthos, the founder and managing director of XRC Labs, and Elaine Li, the founding partner of Zonvon Ventures.

The first and the second prizes went to VUE (smart fashion glasses brand) and ShopShops (cross-border fashion online platform), respectively. They are qualified for InnoBrand 2017 Finals in Beijing in November 2017.

Contestants and penal judges at Luxe.Co InnoBrand 2017 Competition @ NYC

The supporter of today's forum ——.Co Domain and its parent company Neustar presented a special award “.Co Startup Ambassador” to Alicia Yu, the founder and CEO of Luxe.Co and the president of Orange Bay University.