FASHION+TECHSF (formerly FashionMashup) is the longest running monthly workshop and event series in the San Francisco Bay Area focused synergistically on building, promoting and educating the vibrant community of fashion and technology entrepreneurs, designers, developers, bloggers, business professionals, students, investors and numerous enthusiastic companies, schools, groups and individuals who share our vision of a world-class fashion and technology industry that is innovative, disruptive and uniquely San Francisco.
Our mission is to create educational, social and business opportunities for the fashion and technology industries. In the past two years, FASHION+TECHSF has become the leading network for all things fashion and technology in the SF Bay Area.
Geek Style Lounge is a pop-up event combining fashion, beauty, lifestyle and tech concepts in a social setting. Attendees are introduced to the newest fashion/mobile apps, enjoy product samples and shop from emerging local fashion designers.Fashion Bloggers Connect is where fashion bloggers are given various platforms to promote themselves, share new tech and innovative fashion ideas in continuing to revolutionize San Francisco’s fashion industry in partnership with San Francisco Fashion And Merchants Alliance, Inc. presented by Fashion+TechSF.
[ L-R, Jacyn Siebert, Jennie Lodge, Zavan Quezada, Mai Le, Jesica Ryzenberg ]
[ L-R, Jacyn Siebert, Jennie Lodge, Zavan Quezada, Mai Le, Jesica Ryzenberg ]
FASHION+TECHSF (formerly FashionMashup) is the longest running monthly workshop and event series in the San Francisco Bay Area focused synergistically on building, promoting and educating the vibrant community of fashion and technology entrepreneurs, designers, developers, bloggers, business professionals, students, investors and numerous enthusiastic companies, schools, groups and individuals who share our vision of a world-class fashion and technology industry that is innovative, disruptive and uniquely San Francisco.
Our mission is to create educational, social and business opportunities for the fashion and technology industries. In the past two years, FASHION+TECHSF has become the leading network for all things fashion and technology in the SF Bay Area.
CT: I am a 23 year old, California-raised, full-time blogger for my blog, Profresh Style. I’m a “multi-hat” wearer: an editor, photographer, web designer, graphic designer, marketer, stylist, and so much more. I use my blog to promote my style and my interests and allow people to get inside my world through my blog.
SFFAMA: Where do you see fashion and technology heading?
CT: Fashion and technology have coincided for quite some time. Back in 2006, Alexander McQueen used technology to create a hologram of Kate Moss during his Fall show and it’s widely expanding. Now that bloggers have made their marks, iPads at the runways are becoming more common, smart phones are being utilized for more than just phone calls. We’re transferring docs to our phone, posting to our blogs, forecasting trends with the click of a photo and mass-emailed to everyone. The longevity of it all will be determined by what the technologists come up with. The new forms of technology that make information mass-producing faster, will be the determining factor on the future of fashion and tech.
SFFAMA: Why is technology important in the fashion world?
CT: It’s important because information must be dished out asap. We need to know NOW, not tomorrow when everyone else figures it out. Technology speeds up the information train, if you will. I heard a great quote from DKNY’s, Donna Karen, who said, “These (bloggers) are great. I will know as soon as a look hits the runway, whether or not it will be successful and how to alter changes if need be.” Without technology, this wouldn’t be happening as fast.
SFFAMA:What tech gadget can’t you live without? What do you use it for?
CT: Oh wow, this is a double-edged sword. I couldn’t live without any of my Apple products. My MacBook Pro comes with me EVERYWHERE, as does my iPhone. I need to be in the know, always knowing and learning as soon as “they” know. Both products are used to keep in contact with my readers, research on a constant basis and jot down ideas for upcoming blog posts. However, I wish that they weren’t attached to me all the time. I feel like the joys of being with people without technology is gone. We no longer can just have a conversation without one another checking and updating our Twitter, Facebook and writing emails. It’s terrible. SFFAMA:What fashion item can’t you live without, and why?
CT: Oh God, really? This question is always tough for me. Can I pick two things? My American Apparel sheer tunic blouses. I wear them almost everyday. I have duplicates so I’m not wearing them to threads but they are my most comfortable pieces ever. My platforms. I love feeling tall. It makes me skinny. Pathetic? I know but it’s my weakness and my compromise. If I’m not going to lose the weight, I need the tallest platforms in the world. Can you tell? This is my superficial side.
SFFAMA:Who do you think is the most influential personality in the fashion world, and why?
CT: Wow, what a tough question. I think that really depends on the person themselves. What I find most influential, some might. I truly believe this an opinionated question, not a factual question. The people I find most influential are behind the scenes-type people like Shelly Bromfield, previously DKNY’s Inspiration Director, or Iris Apfel, an interior designer. These women are fashion icons to me and have inspired my wardrobe.
SFFAMA: What is different about San Francisco fashion compared to other metropolitan cities?
CT: San Francisco has their own approach to fashion. It’s definitely comfort first. It’s not to say that some aren’t stylish but you can tell, comfort is definitely a deciding factor in getting dressed. To compare to other metro cities, SF doesn’t buy a collection, they buy pieces. Most the time, those pieces don’t pull together effortlessly like others. Myself, I buy pieces that will form a “collection” where each piece will compliment one another.
SFFAMA:What advice would you give to aspiring fashion entrepreneurs?
CT: My biggest advice is don’t stop. So many people I know stop after they hear the first “NO”. You’ll come across more no’s than you’ll ever want to hear but if you give up now, you’ll never feel the success of the struggle. I feel once you’ve found what you’re really good at and you enjoy it so that it’s not a “job”, then stay focused on that til’ you achieve it. That’s my best advice.
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Christina Topacio is a born and raised Californian with dreams bigger than her hometown. Always on the go, Christina decided to start a blog documenting her journey to “make it’. Over the course of two years, she’s changed blogs, focused more on her path and discovered herself in an overall fashion sense. Her blog has taken her to New York for fashion week, to events that have changed her life and introduced her to the most amazing people yet. Check her blog out at ‘Profresh Style’
Topacio is a member of SFFAMA and will be speaking at ‘Fashion Mash-Up’ on November 18th, 2010.
My American Apparel sheer tunic blouses. I wear them almost everyday. I have duplicates so I’m not wearing them to threads but they are my most comfortable pieces ever. My platforms. I love feeling tall. It makes me skinny. Pathetic? I know but it’s my weakness and my compromise. If I’m not going to lose the weight, I need the tallest platforms in the world. Can you tell? This is my superficial side.