hi it’s great once again my name is Simeon and I’m here to talk about
Simeon and I’m here to talk about
Simeon and I’m here to talk about fashion in Iowa as Rachel mentioned yes
fashion in Iowa as Rachel mentioned yes
fashion in Iowa as Rachel mentioned yes you heard that correctly fashion and
you heard that correctly fashion and
you heard that correctly fashion and Iowa no I’m not crazy give me some time
Iowa no I’m not crazy give me some time
Iowa no I’m not crazy give me some time i’ll explain but there are a group of us
i’ll explain but there are a group of us
i’ll explain but there are a group of us in iowa we’re calling ourselves the iowa
in iowa we’re calling ourselves the iowa
in iowa we’re calling ourselves the iowa fashion project and we believe we hope
fashion project and we believe we hope
fashion project and we believe we hope that we’re working on something that can
that we’re working on something that can
that we’re working on something that can not only be transformative for the state
not only be transformative for the state
not only be transformative for the state of iowa but change the fashion industry
of iowa but change the fashion industry
of iowa but change the fashion industry throughout the country and possibly have
throughout the country and possibly have
throughout the country and possibly have a global impact as well but a bit about
a global impact as well but a bit about
a global impact as well but a bit about me first the interesting thing is I’m
me first the interesting thing is I’m
me first the interesting thing is I’m not originally from Iowa I came to Iowa
not originally from Iowa I came to Iowa
not originally from Iowa I came to Iowa from Ohio to work on the Obama campaign
from Ohio to work on the Obama campaign
from Ohio to work on the Obama campaign in 2008 I was one of the first foot
in 2008 I was one of the first foot
in 2008 I was one of the first foot organizers from the Iowa caucus and I
organizers from the Iowa caucus and I
organizers from the Iowa caucus and I follow the campaign all the way through
follow the campaign all the way through
follow the campaign all the way through the primary to the general coyness
the primary to the general coyness
the primary to the general coyness states all across the country and ended
states all across the country and ended
states all across the country and ended up in Washington DC working on the
up in Washington DC working on the
up in Washington DC working on the transition team and staying for the
transition team and staying for the
transition team and staying for the inauguration after all right after all
inauguration after all right after all
inauguration after all right after all of that I came back to I would have
of that I came back to I would have
of that I came back to I would have finished my degree but to be perfectly
finished my degree but to be perfectly
finished my degree but to be perfectly honest with all of you I never thought I
honest with all of you I never thought I
honest with all of you I never thought I would stay I never thought it would be
would stay I never thought it would be
would stay I never thought it would be my final destination point I like many
my final destination point I like many
my final destination point I like many of you like many people across the
of you like many people across the
of you like many people across the country didn’t really appreciate that
country didn’t really appreciate that
country didn’t really appreciate that Iowa had a cool and creative community
Iowa had a cool and creative community
Iowa had a cool and creative community economy that there were entrepreneurs
economy that there were entrepreneurs
economy that there were entrepreneurs doing things my understanding of the
doing things my understanding of the
doing things my understanding of the state was very surface level but I would
state was very surface level but I would
state was very surface level but I would soon be proved wrong so back to Iowa
soon be proved wrong so back to Iowa
soon be proved wrong so back to Iowa fashion this article here is a article
fashion this article here is a article
fashion this article here is a article in The Onion kind of satirizing Iowa
in The Onion kind of satirizing Iowa
in The Onion kind of satirizing Iowa Fashion Week it’s funny I know it’s
Fashion Week it’s funny I know it’s
Fashion Week it’s funny I know it’s really really funny it gets thousands of
really really funny it gets thousands of
really really funny it gets thousands of retweets and likes and comments every
retweets and likes and comments every
retweets and likes and comments every single time is pushed out during Fashion
single time is pushed out during Fashion
single time is pushed out during Fashion Week this woman probably has bedazzled
Week this woman probably has bedazzled
Week this woman probably has bedazzled jeans on it says that Iowa is fashion
jeans on it says that Iowa is fashion
jeans on it says that Iowa is fashion backwards that the fashion and design
backwards that the fashion and design
backwards that the fashion and design talent is lacking it’s non-existent in
talent is lacking it’s non-existent in
talent is lacking it’s non-existent in Iowa
or the perception of Iowa is corn its
or the perception of Iowa is corn its rule its agricultural that there’s corn
rule its agricultural that there’s corn
rule its agricultural that there’s corn as far and as wide as the eye can see
as far and as wide as the eye can see
as far and as wide as the eye can see but what you don’t see you don’t see
but what you don’t see you don’t see
but what you don’t see you don’t see pictures like this this is not LA this
pictures like this this is not LA this
pictures like this this is not LA this is not New York this isn’t some European
is not New York this isn’t some European
is not New York this isn’t some European fashion capital this is Ames Iowa
fashion capital this is Ames Iowa
fashion capital this is Ames Iowa population 20,000 people soaking wet
population 20,000 people soaking wet
population 20,000 people soaking wet this is their student produced fashion
this is their student produced fashion
this is their student produced fashion show every single year they produce a
show every single year they produce a
show every single year they produce a fashion show and it’s considered the
fashion show and it’s considered the
fashion show and it’s considered the best student-run student design fashion
best student-run student design fashion
best student-run student design fashion show of the entire country iowa state
show of the entire country iowa state
show of the entire country iowa state university has a really cool fashion and
university has a really cool fashion and
university has a really cool fashion and design program that is ranked one of the
design program that is ranked one of the
design program that is ranked one of the top ten fashion programs in the entire
top ten fashion programs in the entire
top ten fashion programs in the entire country it’s a top 20 program at the
country it’s a top 20 program at the
country it’s a top 20 program at the entire world a top 20 fashion and design
entire world a top 20 fashion and design
entire world a top 20 fashion and design program in Ames Iowa or you don’t hear
program in Ames Iowa or you don’t hear
program in Ames Iowa or you don’t hear about todd snider and i were born bred
about todd snider and i were born bred
about todd snider and i were born bred and raised designer who just sold his
and raised designer who just sold his
and raised designer who just sold his line to american eagle for an ungodly
line to american eagle for an ungodly
line to american eagle for an ungodly amount of money you don’t hear about
amount of money you don’t hear about
amount of money you don’t hear about bird hours a menswear boutique that’s
bird hours a menswear boutique that’s
bird hours a menswear boutique that’s been there for 20 years in Des Moines GQ
been there for 20 years in Des Moines GQ
been there for 20 years in Des Moines GQ recently raided the store a top-five
recently raided the store a top-five
recently raided the store a top-five men’s boutique in the entire country you
men’s boutique in the entire country you
men’s boutique in the entire country you don’t see images like this this is a
don’t see images like this this is a
don’t see images like this this is a fashion show that we produced for
fashion show that we produced for
fashion show that we produced for Matthew Christopher Matthew Christopher
Matthew Christopher Matthew Christopher
Matthew Christopher Matthew Christopher is another I will born bred raised
is another I will born bred raised
is another I will born bred raised designer he lives in New York City right
designer he lives in New York City right
designer he lives in New York City right now but he actually manufactures bridal
now but he actually manufactures bridal
now but he actually manufactures bridal couture couture gowns in Iowa and ships
couture couture gowns in Iowa and ships
couture couture gowns in Iowa and ships them all across the world so what’s the
them all across the world so what’s the
them all across the world so what’s the problem here why is there this massive
problem here why is there this massive
problem here why is there this massive disconnect between the perception in the
disconnect between the perception in the
disconnect between the perception in the reality well there’s a lack of community
reality well there’s a lack of community
reality well there’s a lack of community all those efforts that I described are
all those efforts that I described are
all those efforts that I described are looked at in isolation no one’s
looked at in isolation no one’s
looked at in isolation no one’s connecting the dots there’s not a way
connecting the dots there’s not a way
connecting the dots there’s not a way for for people that are wanting to
for for people that are wanting to
for for people that are wanting to design and wanting to build brands in
design and wanting to build brands in
design and wanting to build brands in Iowa to plugins what community vested or
Iowa to plugins what community vested or
Iowa to plugins what community vested or support them there’s this push in this
support them there’s this push in this
support them there’s this push in this pool to move the places like New York or
pool to move the places like New York or
pool to move the places like New York or San Francisco or maybe even Chicago and
San Francisco or maybe even Chicago and
San Francisco or maybe even Chicago and no one’s telling the story no one’s
no one’s telling the story no one’s
no one’s telling the story no one’s telling a compelling coherent story
telling a compelling coherent story
telling a compelling coherent story about fashion in Iowa for the world to
about fashion in Iowa for the world to
about fashion in Iowa for the world to see but the biggest the biggest problem
see but the biggest the biggest problem
see but the biggest the biggest problem and the one that we’re out too soft is
and the one that we’re out too soft is
and the one that we’re out too soft is that there’s no community creating
that there’s no community creating
that there’s no community creating isolation it’s awfully depressing often
isolation it’s awfully depressing often
isolation it’s awfully depressing often times people get up give up and they
times people get up give up and they
times people get up give up and they don’t recognize their part of a larger
don’t recognize their part of a larger
don’t recognize their part of a larger fabric of a community and there’s no way
fabric of a community and there’s no way
fabric of a community and there’s no way there’s no community there’s no entity
there’s no community there’s no entity
there’s no community there’s no entity there’s no organization for people to
there’s no organization for people to
there’s no organization for people to plug in if I want to be a part of a
plug in if I want to be a part of a
plug in if I want to be a part of a fashion community if I’m looking for
fashion community if I’m looking for
fashion community if I’m looking for help where do I go who can help me
help where do I go who can help me
help where do I go who can help me oftentimes you just give up and we came
oftentimes you just give up and we came
oftentimes you just give up and we came about this Iowa fashion project thing
about this Iowa fashion project thing
about this Iowa fashion project thing this fashion community building effort
this fashion community building effort
this fashion community building effort by accident we produced a fashion show
by accident we produced a fashion show
by accident we produced a fashion show dr. fest which is a yearly conference
dr. fest which is a yearly conference
dr. fest which is a yearly conference for entrepreneurs for small business
for entrepreneurs for small business
for entrepreneurs for small business owners gets about a thousand people each
owners gets about a thousand people each
owners gets about a thousand people each year and growing and last year we wanted
year and growing and last year we wanted
year and growing and last year we wanted to use the the conference the event as a
to use the the conference the event as a
to use the the conference the event as a platform to showcase this this fashion
platform to showcase this this fashion
platform to showcase this this fashion thing these are this emerging fashion
thing these are this emerging fashion
thing these are this emerging fashion community but it wasn’t a conventional
community but it wasn’t a conventional
community but it wasn’t a conventional fashion show that’s about one designer
fashion show that’s about one designer
fashion show that’s about one designer or one brand that you’re there to see it
or one brand that you’re there to see it
or one brand that you’re there to see it was a collaboration it was a combined
was a collaboration it was a combined
was a collaboration it was a combined effort of designers of independent
effort of designers of independent
effort of designers of independent brands of boutiques of stylist of
brands of boutiques of stylist of
brands of boutiques of stylist of photographers of creatives saying hey
photographers of creatives saying hey
photographers of creatives saying hey let’s all band together let’s
let’s all band together let’s
let’s all band together let’s collaborate collaborate and showcase
collaborate collaborate and showcase
collaborate collaborate and showcase this community using this event and that
this community using this event and that
this community using this event and that fashion show was a huge success we had
fashion show was a huge success we had
fashion show was a huge success we had 400 plus people show up after the show
400 plus people show up after the show
400 plus people show up after the show people were demanding when our next
people were demanding when our next
people were demanding when our next fashion show was going to be when’s the
fashion show was going to be when’s the
fashion show was going to be when’s the next fashion event happening how do i
next fashion event happening how do i
next fashion event happening how do i plug in I really like what you guys are
plug in I really like what you guys are
plug in I really like what you guys are doing the energy and the excitement
doing the energy and the excitement
doing the energy and the excitement there’s great momentum at that event
there’s great momentum at that event
there’s great momentum at that event what you guys are doing what’s net and
what you guys are doing what’s net and
what you guys are doing what’s net and it cost us to take a step back and think
it cost us to take a step back and think
it cost us to take a step back and think about how do we how do we take that that
about how do we how do we take that that
about how do we how do we take that that moment how do we take that momentum and
moment how do we take that momentum and
moment how do we take that momentum and turn it into a movement so created the
turn it into a movement so created the
turn it into a movement so created the Iowa fashion project we have a launch
Iowa fashion project we have a launch
Iowa fashion project we have a launch party in the first event was a test
party in the first event was a test
party in the first event was a test we wanted to test would people show up
we wanted to test would people show up
we wanted to test would people show up would a fashion community show up with
would a fashion community show up with
would a fashion community show up with designers and brands and people looking
designers and brands and people looking
designers and brands and people looking to plug in or people looking people who
to plug in or people looking people who
to plug in or people looking people who had ideas and they wanted to figure out
had ideas and they wanted to figure out
had ideas and they wanted to figure out how to make that happen would they show
how to make that happen would they show
how to make that happen would they show up to an event is there a consumer
up to an event is there a consumer
up to an event is there a consumer community out there who want to support
community out there who want to support
community out there who want to support local designers and manufacturers and
local designers and manufacturers and
local designers and manufacturers and boutiques will they show up to Iowa
boutiques will they show up to Iowa
boutiques will they show up to Iowa fashion project launch event and that’s
fashion project launch event and that’s
fashion project launch event and that’s this picture suggests they did and it
this picture suggests they did and it
this picture suggests they did and it was a success but to be perfectly honest
was a success but to be perfectly honest
was a success but to be perfectly honest with all of you we got some things wrong
with all of you we got some things wrong
with all of you we got some things wrong initially rather naively we thought that
initially rather naively we thought that
initially rather naively we thought that we were going to do this thing rubaru
we were going to do this thing rubaru
we were going to do this thing rubaru going to announce that we’re here and
going to announce that we’re here and
going to announce that we’re here and the skies would open up the heavens
the skies would open up the heavens
the skies would open up the heavens would bequeath themselves to us and we
would bequeath themselves to us and we
would bequeath themselves to us and we would get lots of funding and we will be
would get lots of funding and we will be
would get lots of funding and we will be able to partner with large institutions
able to partner with large institutions
able to partner with large institutions and organizations because fashion and
and organizations because fashion and
and organizations because fashion and Iowa was cool it was creative it was
Iowa was cool it was creative it was
Iowa was cool it was creative it was sexy how could you not want to be a part
sexy how could you not want to be a part
sexy how could you not want to be a part of this well you know needless to say
of this well you know needless to say
of this well you know needless to say that’s not how things went down but what
that’s not how things went down but what
that’s not how things went down but what we did find is that if we focused on
we did find is that if we focused on
we did find is that if we focused on community building if we focus on
community building if we focus on
community building if we focus on providing a platform and an entry point
providing a platform and an entry point
providing a platform and an entry point for people to plug in if we kept doing
for people to plug in if we kept doing
for people to plug in if we kept doing events if we have fashion shows and
events if we have fashion shows and
events if we have fashion shows and fashion mixers and if we did that
fashion mixers and if we did that
fashion mixers and if we did that collaboratively we could build our brand
collaboratively we could build our brand
collaboratively we could build our brand everything would take care of itself in
everything would take care of itself in
everything would take care of itself in all of that work over the court of the
all of that work over the court of the
all of that work over the court of the course of the year really culminated in
course of the year really culminated in
course of the year really culminated in Iowa’s first fashion festival flyover
Iowa’s first fashion festival flyover
Iowa’s first fashion festival flyover fashion fest Iowa among many in the
fashion fest Iowa among many in the
fashion fest Iowa among many in the Midwest is considered a flyover state so
Midwest is considered a flyover state so
Midwest is considered a flyover state so we decided just to own it let’s fly have
we decided just to own it let’s fly have
we decided just to own it let’s fly have her fashion fest let’s do it let’s make
her fashion fest let’s do it let’s make
her fashion fest let’s do it let’s make it cool let’s make it big and let’s just
it cool let’s make it big and let’s just
it cool let’s make it big and let’s just keep this thing going so the festival
keep this thing going so the festival
keep this thing going so the festival was was really part fashion week we had
was was really part fashion week we had
was was really part fashion week we had for fashion shows over the course of two
for fashion shows over the course of two
for fashion shows over the course of two days it was part conference we had
days it was part conference we had
days it was part conference we had panels and exhibitions and workshops and
panels and exhibitions and workshops and
panels and exhibitions and workshops and presentations explaining how people can
presentations explaining how people can
presentations explaining how people can build their brand connecting designers
build their brand connecting designers
build their brand connecting designers and so forth and it was part music
and so forth and it was part music
and so forth and it was part music festival I’m every single night we had a
festival I’m every single night we had a
festival I’m every single night we had a really cool music performance and people
really cool music performance and people
really cool music performance and people could dance the night away so what we’ve
could dance the night away so what we’ve
could dance the night away so what we’ve learned
learned
learned over the course of about a year or so is
over the course of about a year or so is
over the course of about a year or so is that we’re really onto something that
that we’re really onto something that
that we’re really onto something that this fashion thing is legit there’s this
this fashion thing is legit there’s this
this fashion thing is legit there’s this community out there and if we focused on
community out there and if we focused on
community out there and if we focused on building community if we focus on
building community if we focus on
building community if we focus on providing a way for people to plug in an
providing a way for people to plug in an
providing a way for people to plug in an entry point that we can be successful
entry point that we can be successful
entry point that we can be successful and that that initial assumption that
and that that initial assumption that
and that that initial assumption that basic insight that talent exists in Iowa
basic insight that talent exists in Iowa
basic insight that talent exists in Iowa it just needs a home and that if we if
it just needs a home and that if we if
it just needs a home and that if we if we mark it if we promote if we become an
we mark it if we promote if we become an
we mark it if we promote if we become an advocate for what’s really possible in
advocate for what’s really possible in
advocate for what’s really possible in Iowa then we’ll be okay so why should
Iowa then we’ll be okay so why should
Iowa then we’ll be okay so why should some of you may be so cynical like why
some of you may be so cynical like why
some of you may be so cynical like why should I care you know this fashion
should I care you know this fashion
should I care you know this fashion thing is cool Simeon nice speech pat on
thing is cool Simeon nice speech pat on
thing is cool Simeon nice speech pat on the back okay first of all fashions big
the back okay first of all fashions big
the back okay first of all fashions big business can create jobs it can
business can create jobs it can
business can create jobs it can stimulate and be the focal point of a
stimulate and be the focal point of a
stimulate and be the focal point of a creative economy but there’s a larger
creative economy but there’s a larger
creative economy but there’s a larger point here we’ve long accepted that
point here we’ve long accepted that
point here we’ve long accepted that Silicon Valley doesn’t have a monopoly
Silicon Valley doesn’t have a monopoly
Silicon Valley doesn’t have a monopoly on ideas or talent that you don’t have
on ideas or talent that you don’t have
on ideas or talent that you don’t have to live in Silicon Valley are Boston or
to live in Silicon Valley are Boston or
to live in Silicon Valley are Boston or New York to start a company why can’t
New York to start a company why can’t
New York to start a company why can’t that same principle apply to fashion and
that same principle apply to fashion and
that same principle apply to fashion and ultimately big picture if we’re
ultimately big picture if we’re
ultimately big picture if we’re successful transforming the perception
successful transforming the perception
successful transforming the perception of what’s possible creating this this
of what’s possible creating this this
of what’s possible creating this this fashion community and building it up it
fashion community and building it up it
fashion community and building it up it really makes a point about what’s
really makes a point about what’s
really makes a point about what’s possible in the state that regardless of
possible in the state that regardless of
possible in the state that regardless of your idea of your creative ambition that
your idea of your creative ambition that
your idea of your creative ambition that there’s a home for you in Iowa that you
there’s a home for you in Iowa that you
there’s a home for you in Iowa that you don’t have to go elsewhere and that’s
don’t have to go elsewhere and that’s
don’t have to go elsewhere and that’s what it’s all about and I suspect in
what it’s all about and I suspect in
what it’s all about and I suspect in fact I know that if we can do this in
fact I know that if we can do this in
fact I know that if we can do this in Iowa if we can do this in Iowa you all
Iowa if we can do this in Iowa you all
Iowa if we can do this in Iowa you all can do the same thing as well here and
can do the same thing as well here and
can do the same thing as well here and ready in fact it seems like you already
ready in fact it seems like you already
ready in fact it seems like you already are thank you very much
”
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