The beauty industry is committed to educating its next generation of stylists, MUAs, influencers, and marketers. In recent times, there has been an increase in initiatives and programs created to uplift beauty's next cohort of talent. From the British Beauty Council's Future Talent Program to Haeckels Beauty Academy and countless retailer accelerator programs, including Sephora and Ulta, it is now arguably more accessible than ever to gain a helping hand in the beauty market. The latest initiative to offer industry expertise to budding beauty hopefuls is College Fashionista's Creators Loft, which took place in NYC, coinciding with NYFW.
Kate Spade New York presented the event alongside TRESemmé and CeraVe. The three-day pop-up was specially designed for up-and-coming Gen Z influencers as an educational and wellness haven to support them during the busiest time of the year in fashion and beauty. The space allowed the influencers to elevate their craft sustainably and mindfully, focusing on branded activations and sampling to help them refresh between fashion shows and create inspiring content. Emma Burke of Kate Spade New York, fashion guru Izzi Allain, and Her Campus Media alums Sofi and Gigi Robinson were all on hand to offer advice to attendees.
"Fashion Week is such an integral part of New York culture, but can also feel extremely overwhelming for young newcomers. We are very proud to be working with Her Campus Media and College Fashionista to make it much more accessible to budding influencers and encourage them to take care of their mental health and overall well-being during this momentous week," commented Jenny Campbell, CMO at Kate Spade New York. "Gen Z is continuing to push the boundaries of fashion and deserves a seat at the table. That's why mentorship, peer and educational connections are crucial, and making wellness a priority is key to long-term success."
The loft included several panels and fireside chats to encourage and educate those in attendance. The Oddity and Gigi Robinson presented the BYOB: Being Your Own Brand fireside chat, an insightful session sharing tips and tricks on creating an authentic brand that works for the individual. Girlies On The Grid: The Creators Loft Content Shoot was hosted by industry experts, teaching the influencers the latest phone photo and video hacks and providing the opportunity to participate in a collaborative content shoot. Izzi Allain hosted a fireside chat, sharing the details of her journey as an influencer and offering tips, including how she got her start on social media and how she keeps her mental health in check while in the public eye. Finally, Best Face Forward, sponsored by CeraVe, presented the opportunity to ask a dermatologist anything, encouraging audience members to transition from their usual #DermTok sessions online to an IRL setting.
Ongoing activities that focused on the individual's NYFW prep also took place throughout the three-day experience, including the Kate Spade New York borrow-a-bag bar, where visitors could accessorize their outfits with a selection of Kate Spade bags; Kate Spade New York Rest Relax Recharge Room, a multisensory holistic reset area that allowed the influencers to relax and recharge away from their hectic day; TRESemmé Hair Bar, a pop-up hair styling station where those invited could have their hair styled to replicate runway-inspired hairstyles; and the CeraVe Skin Prep Station, where they could learn about dermatologist-recommended products for all skin types.
"We could not be more excited to officially welcome College Fashionista community members to our first-ever experience built specifically for Gen Z content creators during fashion's biggest week," said Windsor Western, co-founder of Her Campus Media, parent company of College Fashionista at the time of the event's opening. "Being part of the hustle and bustle surrounding SoHo in September is a dream come true for so many young content creators. It's our hope that having this inclusive space to unwind, mingle, learn and create will provide an oasis from the stress that many content creators experience during this hectic week."
The weekend ended with the College Fashionista Reunion, where influencers who had attended across the week all came together to share what they had learned and network with each other. The event happened at a time when the beauty industry is making continuous efforts to become more inclusive and inspiring. Not only is this type of experience a great way for brands to advertise their products and reach potential consumers and collaborators, it also continues to promote the important message of collaboration rather than competition. As the number of businesses offering education and networking-based events continues to grow, the beauty industry evolves every day, future-proofing itself with the next generation of highly educated individuals who will go on to amplify the sector beyond limits once imaginable.
