Global Fashion Battle | Art & Fashion Forum

2015 was a year of expanding connections and realizing there are many supporters looking to bridge the gap between fashion and technology. After winning the Miami edition of Startup Weekend held at BuildingCo, my team, Precision in Motion and I hopped on our flights to Europe to compete in the second annual Global Fashion Battle.

In collaboration with Stary Browar, winning teams from New York City, Chicago, London, Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Miami were brought together to compete at the 9th Annual Art and Fashion Forum in Poznan, Poland. The build up to the final competition day of the week long event was filled with ways to utilize "The Five Senses" starting with a video and continuing on with lectures from renowned speakers such as Alina Wheeler, VC's, Angel Investors, Entrepreneurs, and Mentors that included a community building feel. While it was every team's intent to win, each individual knew the angst of standing in front of a crowd to pitch an idea that has yet to be created of which they were passionate and personally invested in. There was a sense of comradery and support to help each other improve on their idea, speech and presentation. At the end of the long days, we all came together to enjoy dinner, drinks, stories and networks.

While the intent of the pitches may be consider disruptive by conventional business standards, it's solid proof that being transparent, vulnerable, passionate, all the while having the willingness to exchange ideas and contacts is the new currency of businesses. Less coveting and scarcity mentality, more of sharing and "we're all in this together feel". The kinship let to more chances being taken, voices being heard, creativity spawned; furthermore, having that safety net of new friends in the audience when FINALLY pitching to Grażyna Kulczyk, Poland's richest women and Supermodel, Anja Rubik....well, that made it MUCH more fun! Do zobaczenia później, Polska. Til next time!