On a snowy, stormy Monday night in the middle of NYFW, almost seventy young women converged for an opportunity to connect and share in what they all considered to be a clear passion. While the majority of these women chronicle their attire daily for the world to see, several more were responsible for the creation of these garments and more still to share this with a wider audience. The focus for the night was collaboration, both in how to continuously create or establish such opportunities, but also how to extend these opportunities to established on an ongoing basis. The reason, Blogger and the Brand.

Image Credit: Phillip Tour Photography

Blogger and the Brand started like any other fashion event on a cold wintry night, but the rooftop oasis of SUSHISAMBA proved to be an incredible allure for fourty amazingly creative women eager to network and connect with one another and other creative brands in attendance. From newer style bloggers like Shawn Mitchell of Duo Diaries and Brittany Grace of Not Another Blonde to mega-influencers like Zorana Jovanic of Zorannah and her stylish colleagues Maja Malnar (Maja’s Diary) and Bridget Bahl (And I Was Like), the room was bursting with the energy and photography as the topic of collaboration and networking permeated the night.

The night began with open networking as many bloggers poured in to meet and great one another and connect with the various brands in attendance, including labels such as Anje Clothing, Mimu Maxi and Imaji Studios just to name a few. Vodka Mariette provided the fuel for the night with their custom Lumiere, a specialty cocktail made possible with their trademark Neutral flavored Vodka in the classic black bottle.

Image Credit: Phillip Tour Photography

Image Credit: Phillip Tour Photography

After developing new relationships and forming new friendships in the first half of the event, the bloggers quickly took their seats for the night’s panel discussion, an examination into key areas of blogger and brand relationships, such as proper methods of communication, ways to legally disclose advertising, effective uses of social media and new ways to create more visual content. The panel was proudly represented by an amazing trio of women anchored by Christine Bibbo Herr of NYC Pretty and featuring Kim Westwood of Shopping Links and Christina Ferrari of Christie Ferrari. As another of the event’s proud sponsors, Kim also provided product for the bloggers’ gift bags and spoke honestly about how brands could better leverage collaborations for growth in the future.

Image Credit: Elena Bazu

To cap off the night, almost everyone walked away with gift bags, stocked with product generously provided by ECRU New York, The Lotus USA and Jenabelle, as well as gift cards from Archibald Optics and the aforementioned Shopping Links swag. Brands including the aforementioned Anje Clothing, Jade Chi, Pink Heiress, S/H KOH, Shape Activewear and so many more graciously provided gift items as well, excited for an opportunity to collaborate with these emerging and established fashion bloggers, but also generally appreciative of the opportunity to take advantage of the buzzword for the night, collaboration.

Image Credit: Elena Bazu

While only the first inaugural event, Blogger and the Brand was a testament to the dedication of many creative individuals in fashion and proof that bloggers and brands are just looking for ways to better connect. Due to the many smiling faces seen exiting the room, plans are already underway for a men’s focused event preceding New York Fashion Weeks Men’s and second womenswear focused event this coming September.

Featured Image: Elena Bazu