The best-kept secret at New York Fashion Week was `The Talks’ held in the cozy `Sunken Living Room’ of Spring Studios, downtown Manhattan. This series of `Conversations’ brought together fashion luminaries and influencers, placing them in the hot seat to share significant information about their lives, careers, journeys, and other business ventures, with groups of specially invited guests, who were even given the opportunity to ask questions.
`DESIGNED TO COMPETE’ was one of the sessions moderated by Endeavors CMO, BOZOMA SAINT JOHN, and featured fashion designer CYNTHIA ROWLEY, professional surfer CARISSA MOORE and New York Giants Running Back, SAQUONBARKLEY. The panelists shared their journey to fame and fortune, dropping some healthy gems along the way. These game-changers discussed the intersection of sports and fashion, plus what gives them a competitive edge in fashion and life. Designer Cynthia Rowley who is known in the fashion industry for designing pretty, feminine-looking dresses, told the audience that she actually took up surfing and fell in love with the sport before she created a line of surfing clothes for women. “I love being in the water, it’s something that changed my life, knowing that there is something bigger, it’s pure joy,” revealed the designer. “That inspired me to create a line of surfing wear – I knew somebody had to do something because all the wetsuits made you look like a boy. So I had to create a line that had the functionality of a wet-suit with the prettiness of ready-to-wear. Many thought I’d gone nuts…I was in danger of forgetting my other responsibilities….but it turned out well – the sports line influences the Ready-to-Wear line, and vice versa. You’ve got to put yourself outside your comfort zone.”
World champion surfer Carissa Moore, who has won three world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015 said that she never thought of, or dreamt that she would be surfing professionally on this level. She expressed being grateful to be on the world stage and win titles. This is her 10th season competing on the world stage. “It’s an honor to be a woman in the sport right now….my excellence in this chosen sports career, brought in endorsement deals in other areas.” Carissa said she finds the balance between her career and in her life, by being happy with the basics, “I love it (my career) and I am very passionate about it. I am very happy with my husband, my dog and living in Hawaii.”
New York Giants Running Back Saquon Barkley shared information on his Nike endorsement and his own fashion line of hoddies featuring his number on the back. He also has dealt with Pepsi and Panini Sports Cards. “Sports give you a platform, and that’s a big thing to see kids wearing a hoddie with my logo. I hope to have continued success in this area.” He talked about his competitive spirit and how he carries that winning attitude throughout life. “I’m used to winning,” he declared. Saquon is also very big on women’s owned businesses. He’s the father of a baby daughter of just over a year-old, and he wants to show her that aspect of the business, that she can do whatever she wants to do on a professional level.
On the subject of growing in business, Bozoma circled back to designer Cynthia Rowley who explained; “It’s being aware of the culture and not being self-centered, you have to be open-minded and listening. For me, it is being more mindful of sustainability, it’s more of a purpose, constantly being inventive, original and as authentic as possible. It’s hard work, it’s never easy. It gets harder all the time to stay relevant on a daily basis, there is no road map, there is no right way. I feel so lucky every day to have come this far and be in business for so long.”
