As another New York Fashion Week came and went, some of the seasons most promising and enterprising talents joined Carol and Humberto for a panel discussion at Milk Studios. The panel not only included some of OC’s favorite designers, like Jack and Lazaro of Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang, but also other heavyweights who made this past fashion week a hit: namely Mazdack Rassi, co-founder and creative director of Milk Studios (which played host to Proenza Schouler’s show in that very room the night before), and Simon Collins, Dean of Fashion at Parsons. Emceed by Estee Lauder’s Group President John Demsey, and moderated by the incomparable Suzy Menkes, the panel discussed the future of the American fashion industry.

When Suzy let the discussion open up to the audience of FIT and Parson’s students, the most prominent concern was, as one could imagine, how the students could make a name for themselves while entering the fashion industry during this struggling economy. Encouragement came from every corner, beginning with Dempsey who divulged that Mac Cosmetics was founded under an even more stifling economic climate than today, proving it’s common that under the most stressful times can come the most kinetic creativity. But is a unique point of view really enough to survive? Alexander Wang replied, “You can't just be creative. It's just as important to stay involved in all aspects, especially the business, and see that the clothes are being worn, and sold.” And it pays off, as he went on to confess, “The thing that most excites me is seeing someone when I don’t know who they are or where they come from, but they're holding my handbag or have on my top. There's that certain kind of unspoken connection and you feel that you've done your job - creating something that actually has legs and is walking into the real world."

Carol and Humberto responded by assuring the audience that they look at every collection that comes their way, inspiring a ballsy audience member to take the opportunity to pitch her collection to OC. The brazen young designer’s guts echoed one of the most important points of the conversation – you can’t get something if you don’t ask for it.

Take a behind the scenes look at the discussion at Milk.



FILED UNDER: alexander wang , proenza schouler , milk studios , behind the scenes , humberto leon , carol lim , Suzy Menkes , Mazdack Rassi