It's a wrap! New York Fashion Week may be over, but designer Rebecca Minkoff is sharing her tips to surviving fashion's biggest week and how her latest collection is her most inclusive yet.
In past interviews, you've spoken about the importance of inviting real women to your shows. In your latest presentation, you had them in it. Talk to me about the importance of diversity to you, but also in the fashion industry as a whole.
REBECCA MINKOFF: I think it’s time we reflect our customer and showcase her within NYFW and how we represent our brand to the world. At Rebecca Minkoff, we have always worked to show diversity, of color and sizing, during our most previous shows and presentations but this time we really wanted to embrace real women. It’s been so very liberating.
You teamed up with Stitch Fix to provide a wide range of sizes (XXS to 3X) for your new capsule collection, but your brand has long been considered women of all shapes and sizing when creating clothing. Why do you think the industry is just catching up now?
RM: I think a brand needs to understand the investment it takes to create extended sizing in order to keep up with customer expectation. When you add it all up, you have to prioritize the needs of the consumer to ensure you can be successful as a company. We really valued the opportunity to listen to our consumers and utilize the data that Stitch Fix has been able to gather so we can fulfill their needs. I think it will also become easier as more designers begin to embrace this movement.
There were plenty of vibrant colors—blues, fuchsias, reds—on display at your presentation. What inspired those choices? And were there any fall trends you were anticipating when picking those particular hues?
RM: I love jewel tones and wanted fall to be about celebrating color and being bold.
What's one thing in your closet you can't wait to put on this fall?
RM: Our shearling coat! It’s reversible—which is perfect for Fall. We made it last year and it didn’t end up being produced, but we took a social media survey and 1,000 votes later we decided to bring it back!
Do you have any essentials (products you love) that have helped you survive NYFW? And why do you love these particular things?
RM: Joanna Vargas skincare! All my vitamins! Water!
When in NYC, where can we find you shopping, eating, having fun?
RM: Dumbo! I love there and it’s a hub for all amazing food! Shopping I do online, as a mom of three that’s all I have time for!
Photography by: Ryan Kobane/BFA.com
