WWD's men's wear summit list expands

While the WWD Men’s Wear Summit is just around the corner, this Thursday in New York City at the Asia Society to be precise, the list of speakers is still growing. Several speakers were recently added, but rightfully so by the looks of it. For starters, they have added Glenn Silbert, Senior Vice President of Men’s and Youth Apparel Accessories at Under Armour, to do a presentation on the Relentless Pursuit of Innovation.

Additionally, Greg Petro, President and CEO of First Insight Inc., will disclose the results of a consumer company analysis that his company conducted during Men’s Fashion Week in Milan. One more addition will be Ali Asaria, founder and CEO of Tulip Retail, who will be joining Ethan Song, cofounder, CEO, and Creative Director of Frank & Oak, to do a joint presentation discussing how Frank & Oak moved from strictly online business to a growing business with multiple brick-and-mortar stores.

The list of speakers that have already been confirmed as listed by Women’s Wear Daily include Massimo Caronna, U.S. president for Italy’s Brunello Cucinelli; Richard Cohen, CEO of Hong Kong-based Trinity Ltd.; Giovanni Mannucci, CEO and president of Boglioli, and the duo of Alexandre Mattiussi, founder and president of Ami Alexandre Mattiussi, who will be joined by CEO Nicolas Santi-Weil. The designer community will be represented by Italo Zucchelli, Men’s Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection; Todd Snyder, founder of his namesake label, and Stuart Vevers, Executive Creative Director of Coach Inc. Thomas Ott, Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of men’s, gifts and home for Saks Fifth Avenue, will offer the retail perspective, while Felix del Toro, Senior Vice president of Men’s for Lululemon Athletica, will also be on the program.

The theme for this year’s summit is “The New Dimension.” It’s a very fitting title given the promising growth that menswear is showing this year. Some of the topics at this year’s summit will include challenges and opportunities in today’s marketplace, how retailers are reinvesting in the menswear business, and what’s next for the menswear market. It’s a meeting of the menswear minds, and one that is sure to help bring some more light to the evolving world that is being created for menswear in 2015.