REBECCA MINKOFF

REBECCA MINKOFF

Fashion Futurist Heads into the Metaverse

By Jadan Horyn

Designer Rebecca Minkoff smiles widely when she sees me. She is a formidable maskless presence leading her public relations entourage toward me. “Don’t worry I’ll be back” she whispers then struts over to a terminal for a live TV interview with Yahoo and CNBC.

Her 2021 NYFW Capsule celebrates her brand’s 20th anniversary and launches it into the future. Spring Street Studio is once again hosting the bulk of Fashion Week events in its sunken living room surrounded by rich red walls with windows overlooking Tribeca. Minkoff has made the rotation from the rooftop to an indoor greenhouse, to the sunken living room. Placed all around the room are images of her capsule. 2D tangible creations, collages featuring model portraits by Cass Bird for her NFT collection.

Minkoff is the first American female fashion designer to produce NFTs. Her digital collection via The Dematerialised based on those 2D “I Love New York” images sold out in under 10 minutes. The collection included 4 full looks, exclusive bags, jewelry, and highlighted a signature RM x Limelife by Alcone Makeup look and custom RM x KISS Nail Designs.

The entire collection is exclusively available in the digital world.

All proceeds fund a grant for Women-Owned Businesses Impacted in NYC by the pandemic. The Female Founder Collective (501c3) will be administering the grant to support these muchneeded businesses. All revenue from NFT resales will continue to benefit the Female Founder Collective due to the NFTs smart contract structure.

She materializes next to me and is mobbed by fans and media. I immediately commented on her choice to present a multimedia collection as opposed to an in-person approach. She laughs and says “Yes, we did in-person when no one else would - why not shake it up? Do the unorthodox.” We grab some quick photo’s and I ask to continue this convo in an interview.

Unorthodox is one word to describe Minkoff. Fearless is another and is the title of her recently published book. Futurist is the word I use.

Fashion Futurist Rebecca Minkoff has been on the forefront of innovation in an industry known for fastidiously resisting innovation until it becomes financially sensible, yet prone to fads and flashes. She has nimbly navigated both, setting her own course for success.

WHEN IT COMES TO ROYALTIES, THEY ONLY COME INTO PLAY WHEN IT IS SOMEONE WHO SHOULD GET A ROYALTY.

-Rebecca Minkoff

I hear her voice on skype, positive and upbeat, a hallmark of Minkoff. She has a sense of eternal optimism. You can hear her smile, her voice is that infectious. What follows is a conversation on her unconventional collection, her fearless approach to life, and her vision for the future of fashion.

JH: What made you choose to release the capsule as a series of NFT’s?

RM: A friend asked me if I was doing NFTs and I thought man I must really be behind. I did some research and saw it was cutting edge. We are known in the industry for being on the forefront of technology. I put QR codes in my bags and in my book to get an idea of who my customers were and what they liked. I did my research and this was coming fast and furious. We created two different types of NFTs: the 2D images and the exclusively digital garments.

JH: Do you believe NFT’s are the future of art? Ensuring provenance of product for consumers and product proceeds for designers and artists?

RM: NFTs are the future.

When it comes to royalties, they only come into play when it is someone who should get a royalty. I don’t know if every NFT commands a value. But it allows for artists and designers to collect on their work. And most people will be ok with that, the way they are for musicians. We are really just at the beginning.

JH: I am impressed by the philanthropic angle you chose - In fact, I was critical of the Met Gala this year because it funded cultural fashion, not humans who work in fashion severely impacted by Covid. No comment on that is needed. But I am curious what led you to want to do what you did philanthropically.

RM: It is really built into the brand's DNA. When I made the “I <3 New York'' shirt 20 years ago, I sent it out on September 9th, 2001, and then it got worn on TV. When sales starting rolling in, I said this is disgusting I can’t make proceeds off of this. So I donated all my profits and ate ramen noodles. Our history is full of charitable moments and on my 20th anniversary in the midst of this global crisis how could I not give back?

JH: The smart contract aspect of your collection ensures perpetual proceeds towards The Female Founder Collection. Do you think this is the future for ensuring funding for charitable causes not to mention artists/companies/designers? It’s akin to a royalty but tracked and paid through the blockchain.

RM: So I think for the charitable aspect as the market grows for this, I think it's an incredible way to sort of do something without having to do something, you know, is a very low lift to say, 5% goes and maybe that's charity, or maybe it's funding, new designers hack. It could be going back to the designer in perpetuity. People can get really creative with how they choose to use that.

JH: I am curious about your thoughts on the future of NYFW. Many people feel it’s kind of lacking a vision for what it wants to be. You of all people have continued to advance it - do you feel it needs more in-person events, centralized events, or a move towards decentralization?

RM: You don't get the same kicks if you lose the inperson experience. Even if people are going to be more digitally focused they still want to show up and dress up. They want to have a community experience. If you go solely digital you lose that.

I think people will continue to augment it and add to it digitally.

During the height of the Pandemic, I spent time in Miami striking up conversations with many of those in the creative and intellectual classes selfexiling in a land of relative freedom and normalcy. While there I spoke to futurist Rob Michael, who first put me on the NFT beat. At the time they were a concept. We futurecast together a world filled with NFT art existing solely in the digital space in virtual worlds populated by avatars who would be clothed in one-of-a-kind creations. The NFT Metaverse where value propositions and the blockchain undergird uniqueness and irrefutable provenance.

Rebecca Minkoff fashion futurist has entered the metaverse. There is no going back.