We all recognize that digitalization and the fast technological development has an impact on all of us. Therefore, it’s no wonder that this also affects the fashion industry. Visitors to Berlin Fashion Week will find the answers at the #FASHIONTECH BERLIN conference, taking place at KRAFTWERK, Köpenicker Straße 70, 10179 Berlin, which brings together fashion companies, the tech industry and the start-up community, with the aim of discussing topics surrounding the digital transformation, change management, innovation and disruptive technologies.
Read in Superior Magazine # 66 the interview with Michael Stracke, Chief Business Development Officer #FASHIONTECH BERLIN.
Superior Magazine # 66 is as digital issue as well as print and download available.
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Michael, what is #FASHIONTECH BERLIN?
The #FASHIONTECH BERLIN conference, which was founded in January 2015 by the PREMIUM GROUP, is the leading C-level tech conference for the fashion industry in respect to digitalisation. We will talk about topics like ‘How to transform the organisation’, which we will be breaking down into the aspects of companies’ culture, leadership and the whole future of work, technical innovation and of course the customers' journey.
Who are the addressees of #FASHIONTECH BERLIN?
Our visitors are C-level executives from fashion, retail, tech, politics, the economy and the media. In July representatives from 38 countries attended, including the USA, Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, India, China, Thailand and Vietnam, not forgetting Russia and Israel too. We are also particularly appealing to start-ups though — which is very important in view of an interdisciplinary dialogue on the subject of innovation and corporate culture. As one of the events organised by the PREMIUM GROUP and part of Berlin Fashion Week we connect the players in the fashion industry with other relevant industries. We create a mix of different ecosystems with the aim of attracting a broad and varied composition of visitors.
#FASHIONTECH BERLIN is part of Berlin Fashion Week. How is it integrated into the fashion week program?
Through the collaboration between the PREMIUM GROUP, which hosts #FASHIONTECH BERLIN on 15 January 2019, and Messe Frankfurt, which hosts FASHIONSUSTAIN on 16 January 2019, visitors can access a wide-ranging program of content relevant to the industry.
Does #FASHIONTECH BERLIN only cover fashion topics?
Twice a year, during Berlin Fashion Week, #FASHIONTECH BERLIN connects fashion with the tech industry and the start-up community, with the aim of discussing topicssurrounding the digital transformation, innovations, change management and disruptive technologies. The conference creates the stage for interdisciplinary exchange between the different industries. The networking areas give visitors the opportunity to network with the speakers, industry insiders and entrepreneurs, as well as to seek out new business partners and generate business leads. #FASHIONTECH BERLIN has evolved to become a leading European content hub for technology, digitalisation, sustainability and innovation.
Beside the business element the #FASHIONTECH BERLIN program contains the sections Listen, Learn and Experience. What does that mean?
The #FASHIONTECH BERLIN conference is set up to the needs of the fashion industry. To achieve this, the conference is structured in three core areas: #LISTEN! featuring keynote presentations from leading international experts on the stage; #LEARN! with its interactive masterclasses for passing on detailed specialist knowledge; and #EXPERIENCE! in the Exhibition Area, which is where the latest developments, products and innovations in the market are introduced.
Is there a focus of #FASHIONTECH BERLIN?
There are a lot of important questions around digitalization to answer. The ‘Future of Work’ is one of them. It will play a major role as a new central theme, focussing on the following questions: what do the working models of the future look like? What job profile will companies and employees need in the future?
Artificial intelligence is another important topic – not just in connection with CRM programs, but also when it comes to further developing the processes along the supply chain. Analysing huge quantities of data from social media, e-commerce and smartphone feeds enables preferences, interests and consumers’ buying habits to be analysed. These can then be adapted to create a buying experience tailored to that customer’s personal requirements. Exciting examples of course include those from pioneers like Zalando and Amazon, along with Hugo Boss, Uniqlo and Nordstrom.
Is there any side-program at #FASHIONTECH BERLIN?
There is no special side-program especially for #FASHIONTECH BERLIN. It is part of Berlin Fashion Week which means that there are so many things anyway going around.
Last but not least, what have people to do to visit #FASHIONTECH BERLIN?
It’s easy. You can get your ticket at https://fashiontech.premium-group.com/en/ which gives you access to Conference and Stage Programme for EUR 240.00 (+19% VAT).
The Exhibition, the Masterclasses and the Networking Area are free of charge for PREMIUM GROUP badge holders.
Media and Press can pre-register at press@fashiontech.berlin.
Thank you for the interview. See you at #FASHIONTECH BERLIN
