The first Monday of Spring / Summer fashion week in New York has played host to Blogger and the Brand for the past three years. This year being no exception, the team at Ombre Digital presented the 4th Annual Blogger and the Brand Womens’, an annual influencer and small business networking series designed to forge relationships between “bloggers” and “brands” in a more meaningful and authentic way. As one of the largest networking events for bloggers and brands during New York Fashion Week, many seemed excited just to be able to connect with their peers in an intimate environment. A tasting of the summer’s Rose only served to further that cause.
While the surprisingly chilly late summer downpour no doubt affected attendance at this and countless other NYFW events, many beautifully attired young women still showed up eager to enjoy the night’s festivities.
Returning as sponsors this year, When Face Mask provided their latest sheet mask and beauty creams, important for helping influencers appear refreshed and energized during NYFW and beyond. Domaine Select Wine & Spirits also provided exceptionally crisp Rose and white wines for the evening. Also returning was Nineteenth Amendment, encouraging their network of designers to not only support local manufacturing, but also to develop local relationships with influencers eager to meet them.
Being held in Calligaris SOHO for the first time, Blogger and the Brand has become a bit of a traveling act around NYC, but the core focus of education and networking hasn’t changed. Shaokao Cheng, President of Calligaris New York felt great synergy in the interior design and fashion space as fashionistas increasingly build influence the space once reserved for interior designers and home furnishing experts.
Building upon Shaokao’s sentiment, the event’s most diverse panel yet featured Haley Nehman, Social Coach and Local Influencer from @Haley.Findlay, Tina Lee, Social Influencer from @Of Leather and Lace, Katherine Hartman of L.O.V Cosmetics and Michaell Johnson, Social Influencer of The Vanilla Plum. The fearless foursome shared some of their juicy tips and tricks for developing relationships online, growing an authentic following and brand and sharing your value in an overly saturated market.
For the first time, Blogger and the Brand featured a Style Host to drive engagement and interaction with the influencers to get a live pulse on the evening’s festivities. Local influencer and experienced marketer Malikah Kelly was the first to ever fill that role and provided some great moments on the panel as well.
Also new for this year were sponsors RxBar, L.O.V. Cosmetics and Hero Cosmetics. RxBar manufactures healthy snacks that are perfect for a mini-meal, post workout nutrition or on the go. L.O.V Cosmetics doubled down on the event, presenting the latest eye palettes and lip kits from their collection at their table, while also speaking on the panel. Hero Cosmetics, proud producer of Mighty Patch, was allowed represented by Marketing Manager, Hana Kim.
As DJ Taela Naomi kept the music lively from the very first entrant to the last moment, bloggers and brands alike seemed to be abuzz with chatter about the changing industry, potential collaborations and NYFW.
While comments about the quality of the panel and beauty of the venue rolled in, influencers and brands slowly began to roll out. It was a night filled with learning, building relationships, connecting with peers and celebrating a mutual admiration for fashion and female leadership. Everyone in attendance walked away with gift bags featuring products from Adesse NY, L.O.V Cosmetics, Hero Cosmetics and When Face Mask, our beauty sponsors for the evening, as well as a nutritious RxBar.
While the event continues to grow, in reputation and size, its great to see so many embrace the concept of building locally to grow globally. We hope to see you at next year’s events and you can find out quite a bit more at http://bloggerandthebrand.com.
