How are things looking behind the scenes?
So far, so good. We started setting up on Sunday and the scaffolding is now up in the arena which is very exciting. We’re also giving The Garden a new look this season and the team has been working around the clock to make sure we’re ready for Friday. It will still have a very industrial and raw look – that’s all I can reveal.
Does the event get easier to stage-manage the more seasons you have under your belt?
I wouldn’t say easier, as every season brings new challenges and new scenarios. Obviously, there’s a sense of comfort as we grow every season and there’s now a template, but we do like to tweak things to make sure we add new things to the formula.
Who are the standouts from your bank of speakers this year?
I’m particularly excited about Fern Mallis. As the creator of New York Fashion Week, what better person to learn from? We also have the fashion blogger Bryanboy – he’s sensational and huge in the fashion industry. Both these guests will be taking part in the D3 Talks upon which there’s a really strong emphasis this year. We’ll be touching on important topics such as e-commerce and we’ll also be making a lot of announcements.
Of the designers, who are you watching?
I’m always particularly interested in the new ones joining us. This year there’s Lamia Asudari. She’s a Saudi national based out of London and her collection promises to be quite interesting. We also have our mainstay regulars, seven out of 18 shows will be from designers who have shown for all three seasons. So we’re always looking to see what new things they have to offer.
