The phrase “follow your heart,” may sound like a cliché that would make any student roll their eyes, but it’s actually good advice. Take it from Sami Clarke Barnetter, a former model, who then became a certified health, wellness, and fitness trainer. Her workout videos on YouTube were so successful she gained a million followers combined on her platforms, which helped her launch her brand FORM, an online fitness program and activewear brand.
Barnette — who was a panelist at the Michigan Fashion Media Summit’s 8th annual fashion summit at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business on March 28 — had a new spin on this idiom. “If it’s on your heart, it’s meant for you,” she said to a roomful of attendees at the summit, which brings together top industry leaders and aspiring fashion professionals with college students from the University of Michigan, as well as many other colleges from across the state and various parts of the country.
The day-long in-person and virtual event gives students the opportunity to learn about the range of careers in fashion and to connect with fashion professionals by providing keynote conversations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. This year’s summit included speakers such as Bonnie Abraham, senior vice president of retail at Balenciaga Americas; Emilie Rubinfeld, global president of Carolina Herrera; and Rebecca Goodman Krantz, vice president of marketing and communications for Manolo Blahnik. And presenting partners included top brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Steve Madden, and many more.
Each year, the executive board strives to make MFMS a place where students can learn and grow. They pick their speakers accordingly and ensure there are plenty of opportunities for learning and networking for all attendees.
“We wanted to be able to touch all different parts that intersected fashion, MFMS’s co-president Lila Grayson told Hour Detroit. “We wanted to make it not just about fashion but broaden our region — broaden our audience a little bit more.”
This year’s panelists covered everything from content creation and luxury fashion rules to merging fragrance, sports, beauty, and entertainment with the fashion industry.
Expert Advice
The summit included a variety of panel discussions, including “Redefining the Game: the Intersection of Sports and Fashion,” “Steering a Fashion Legacy,” “Beyond the Bottle: Translating Fashion to Fragrance,” “The New Rules of Luxury Fashion,” and more. Students got an inside look at each panelist’s journey — their career insights, achievements, and what makes their job unique — gaining a deeper understanding of the many elements that shape a fashion career.
Krantz, whose path to her position at Manolo Blahnik included stints at Oscar de la Renta, Kering Group, EQUINOX, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Hermes, encouraged students to “Be open to different paths to take because you never know where a path might lead you.”
“Start before you’re ready” and “Do it if you’re scared,” were two pieces of advices offered by Sophia Rzankowski, chief of staff at Superconnector Studios, a strategic business consultancy that connects brands, entertainment, and consumers, at a discussion called “Lights, Camera, Style: How Entertainment is Shaping the Beauty and Fashion Industry.”
At the “From Followers to Founders: Creators Building Thriving Businesses” panel, Chelsea Parke Kramer, founder of clothing brand Parke, a brand that promotes quality classic pieces that can live with you forever, was very blunt: “If you don’t believe in your brand, then there’s no reason to have a brand.”
And Paige Lorenze, the founder of Dairy Boy, the lifestyle denim, clothing, and houseware line known for its vintage cuts and washes, spoke about being true to your roots at the “The Business of Being You: Scaling Influence Into a Lasting Brand Legacy” panel. “You’re very impacted by your environment, and that also has to do with clothes,” said Lorenze, whose brand was influenced by her childhood in New England.
The Past & The Future
In 2018, founders Ali Gropper, Rachel Roth, Ryan Walker, and Meredith Rush launched MFMS after realizing the challenges of breaking into the fashion industry from outside of fashion capitals. Their goal was to give students opportunities to gain knowledge and build their network to make it easier to navigate getting into a career in fashion.
“We have lots of alumni that work at fashion brands. In fact, that’s who helps us get a lot of these partnerships and speakers,” said Saunders. “We have people at Saks. We have some people even still in the club that interned at places like Gucci and Ferragamo, and they have gotten those connections from the summit.”
Beyond the knowledge students gain from this event, it has also contributed to the growth of Michigan’s fashion scene. “It brings in these huge brands and speakers to the Detroit area. I think a lot of them really don’t have an excuse to come to Michigan sometimes otherwise,” said co-president Izzy Saunders. “Bringing in all these people…into Ann Arbor, and into the Detroit metro area is incredibly beneficial not just for students but for Detroit as a whole.”
Each panelist has a following, big or small. Either way, they are taking photos, going out and promoting the event, which leads to media coverage of Michigan and emphasizes the fashion presence in the area.
Not only are the panelists and speakers amplifying the event, but hundreds of students are also sharing their experiences online. This ripple effect of coverage showcases Detroit and Michigan’s growing fashion community.
“Detroit has such a rich culture of fashion, and I think it’s hard for people to learn about it. I think MFMS kind of puts that on a pedestal,” says Saunders.
Gropper said it perfectly during the event’s opening remarks: “In the blink of an eye, this once void on campus has blossomed into a home where thought leaders, powerhouses, and businesses come together to inspire and educate the next generation of fashion leaders.”
Learn more about the Michigan Fashion Media Summit at michiganfashionmediasummit.com.
