Connecting the Dots Across Creative Industries

✨🪐 THE MAIN POINT

For today’s main point I want to talk about why we’re going build this community and investigating, ideating, working, and testing across creative industries rather than just focusing on fashion.

For those that know me personally, it seems like the most obvious place to continue to work and do the work I want to do moving forward — which is to question more than ever and to find new approaches to old problems in the fashion industry.

To be candid, there is definitely a bit of disillusionment with me and fashion. Having been in it for a while, I have seen how we continue to kick around the same can, have the same discussions, thinktank the same challenges, and how a future vision coming out of any of that is almost always just that — something we’ll do tomorrow. What is happening in almost every area of fashion at this point is tough to watch. But I have hope — I’m a delusional optimist, so while I feel a certain disillusionment it wouldn’t be enough to stop me from continuing to work on trying to create and build in this industry.

THE DREAMERS and the new path that is expanding beyond fashion is about so much more than that. I talked about how this isn’t a rejection of the “old way” in my last post, this is about building the new.

And what I know for sure is that new ideas and new ways of doing things don’t come from a siloed view of the world or a tunnel vision approach to the industry you’re in.

BLURRING THE LINES & CONNECTING THE DOTS

For 15+ years I’ve absorbed everything I can from every field, industry, experience, job, role, and cohort I’ve been in or even part of momentarily. The through-line has always been fashion, but I’ve had the opportunity to work in or at least touch almost every other creative industry — music & entertainment, hospitality, food & beverage, art, and technology among them.

From working backstage at NYFW as a wide-eyed intern / assistant, and time spent as a PR girl in fashion and luxury travel and hospitality, to manning the media pits at Camp Bisco during the rise of EDM into the mainstream (shoutout CWPR) and working red carpets for major studios’ film premieres. From agency to freelance to in house stints, from B2C to a transition into B2B fashion that helped me see the talent that is often hidden behind what happens on the runway or the retail floor. From seeing first-hand how innovative technology is creating new opportunities in the fashion supply chain and how some of the world’s biggest brands struggle to keep up, to having a front-row seat to the chaos through COVID and the continuous and major challenges in the retail and wholesale landscape since. It’s been a ride.

My career thus far has given me a level of exposure that has defined how I see and operate in the world today. More importantly, it has given me a specific viewpoint and experience in how to create impact and innovate.

I write this not to give you my credentials, but to give context for the following: I know without doubt through my own experience — career and life path, through my successes, failures, and learnings — that connecting the dots across industries and disciplines is a key to innovation and what truly leads to new solutions.

And if you don’t believe me, believe people who have famously done more for the world than I certainly have (so far, anyway).

Working in and across different fields, being exposed to different disciplines and what is working and is not, learning new approaches and techniques in other areas, and generally being able to see the world from different viewpoints gives us the ability to question from new angles and then bring in new solutions or create new opportunities. Especially where at first glance it seems like there are no other options.

PERFECT TIMING & THE OPPORTUNITY IN SHAKY INDUSTRIES

Beyond this approach to life and work being inherent to who I am, it is also a unique time in almost all creative and culture-driven industries where what used to work, no longer does. And glaringly so. There is not a single creative industry that isn’t experiencing major, catalytic challenge, isn’t at a cross roads, or within which I (and other Dreamers) don’t see opportunity to try things a different way.

There is SO much more to unpack, point out, and to write about for each of these but here is some topline food for thought:

FASHION

Where to begin. Fashion finds itself continuously grappling with challenges that extend far beyond sustainability concerns, which are often noted first and foremost but we need to instead start with the true driver behind the chaos. While consumers today are more “conscious” and sustainability focused, I would argue (and has been well-documented) that it is not the growth in consciousness or sustainability concerns that is the primary cause of misalignment with the traditional mass fashion system and how it has functioned for 100 years. If this was the case, we would not be seeing the fast rise of the TEMUs and SHEINs of the world.

The traditional seasonal model and historical mass production practices are no longer sustainable because fashion’s model for going to market is not appealing to (I’m about to generalize here) increasingly picky and price averse, uniqueness and #aesthetics focused, overnight digital trend-driven consumers. Our ignoring of this simple fact continues to lead to a a glut of excess inventory created by mass production models that no longer align to the reality of the market or to the consumer. Estimates are suggesting billions (B!illions) of items overproduced annually leading to — yes — environmental waste, but also to major markdowns and overstock issues, payment delays that reverberate across the value chain, and a general breakdown of once-dominant traditional models of creation, development, production, and delivery. Retailers are, of course, becoming increasingly risk-averse and reluctant to take chances on new, unproven brands, making the path to commercial success for emerging designers and independent brands even more difficult than before. This is driving an increasing homogeny and general drop in creativity, unique points of view, and sometimes talent in the fashion world. Meanwhile, luxury and large scaled premium brands continue to consolidate operational efficiency under a handful of conglomerates, and are therefore managing to keep old supply chain models in place, giving manufacturers little incentive to innovate. And around and around we go. Until we can’t anymore.

Fashion is at a turning point, offering exciting opportunities to address its challenges through innovation and fresh perspectives in almost all areas — the question is not what should we do but more so, where do we start?

ART

In the art world, the conventional gallery system is struggling to adapt to the digital age, leaving many artists underrepresented and overlooked. A general sense of elitism and lack of diversity in traditional art institutions have led to a stagnation of creativity and, in many ways, an exclusion of fresh perspectives. This void is being filled by online platforms and AI-driven art creation tools, democratizing access to art markets and redefining the concept of creativity itself. Emerging artists are finding new ways to connect directly with audiences, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and creating community-driven art experiences.

MUSIC

In the music industry, the dominance of major labels and streaming platforms has led to a homogenization of sound and well-documented unfair compensation for artists. The current system of financing and of streaming discovert favors a small percentage of top performers, leaving many talented musicians struggling to make a living. This imbalance is spurring a revolution in independent music production and distribution — artists are leveraging social media and blockchain technology to create direct connections with fans, exploring new revenue streams through virtual concerts, and even using AI to compose and produce music, challenging the traditional power structures of the industry.

FILM & ENTERTAINMENT

In film and entertainment, the risk-averse approach of major studios has resulted in a a deluge of remakes, sequels, and formulaic content, stifling creativity and originality. The reliance on established franchises and star power has left little room for fresh voices and innovative storytelling. This creative vacuum is opening doors for independent filmmakers and small production companies to experiment with new financing models, such as crowdfunding, blockchain-based investments, and even new models of production and creative equity. These newcomers are bringing diverse perspectives to the screen and exploring unconventional distribution methods, including direct-to-consumer streaming platforms and interactive, altmedia storytelling experiences.

DESIGN

In the design world, the traditional approach to mass production and planned obsolescence is facing increasing scrutiny due to its environmental impact and lack of personalization. The one-size-fits-all mentality is no longer meeting the needs of consumers who desire unique, sustainable products. This shift is creating opportunities for designers to embrace digital fabrication technologies, such as 3D printing and parametric design, enabling mass customization and on-demand production. Additionally, the rise of biophilic design and circular economy principles is inspiring new-gen designers to create products and spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally responsible and adaptable to changing human and cultural needs.

OUR OPPORTUNITY

Like I said in my first post, this isn’t doom and gloom. This is disruption paving the way for a new era of creativity and innovation. The breakdown of outdated systems is a breeding ground for new and fresh perspectives to emerge, challenging the status quo and reimagining how creative industries can operate more sustainably, equitably, and innovatively.

Which all leads me here. With you. On this new adventure. With so many possibilities just waiting to be uncovered by this new tribe of future-focused creatives. And an opportunity for us to lead the charge in reshaping these industries for the better, one project at a time. Or a few at a time, why not.

How unbelievably exciting is that? ✨

As always, thanks for reading and for being here,

✨🪐 Teodora

P.S. — you can always reply to these emails or email me directly at [email protected] with feedback, thoughts, ideas, feelings, hopes….wishes…dreams.

#INSPO - A Sensory Experience Combining Art x Music x Animation

I’ve been following Le Maille for a while and I’m kiiind obsessed and always mesmerized by what he does. Sitting at the intersection of art, film (history) and animation, and music, his work blends art, sound, and motion, which creates a unique sensory experience that is literally hypnotizing.

His vinyl animations are technically zoetropes — a pre-cinema/film technique (and major step in the evolution of animation) that creates the illusion of motion through the display of a sequence of static images.

His work is intricately designed on vinyl records, which he then brings to life when the records spin at specific speeds. I highly recommend clicking through to instagram to get the full experience as intended — the magic is in the combination of the art in motion and the specific tracks he chooses ✨

Click below or here: @le_maille

That’s it for this week, with one last note to say that if our mission resonates and you want to tap into the ideas and insights we’re sharing here every week, or if you just want to show some good ol’ support, you can subscribe below and get our editions and updates straight to your inbox 👇