7 Truths From FashCon Philly 2025 That Every Creative Needs to Hear
The energy at FashCon Philly 2025, hosted by the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, was nothing short of electric. Held at Moore College of Art & Design, the conference brought together a vibrant mix of fashion professionals: industry veterans, brand founders, emerging designers, students, and passionate creatives shaping the next wave.
Throughout the day, the conference was filled with excitement, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support. Whether you were swapping insights over lunch or listening intently during a panel, the space felt alive with possibility. Icons like Fern Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week (also known as the Grandmother of Fashion), dropped wisdom that only decades in the game could offer, while breakout designers like Madison Chamberlain reminded us of the power of fresh, unfiltered creativity.
Every single panel was rich with practical gems, raw storytelling, and inspiration that stayed with you long after the mics turned off. Here are seven things I learned that I’ll be carrying with me, into my work, into Fashion Talk, and into the future of fashion.
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1. Branding Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s Your North Star.
During the Brand DNA panel, Eleni McCready, Brand Marketing Executive at Powerhouse Collective, dropped one of the realest truths of the day: branding can feel overwhelming, heavy, even cumbersome. And in an age of fast content and even faster consumer expectations, it’s tempting to skip ahead to marketing—because that’s what gets you in front of people.
But Eleni challenged us to pause.
If you want to be the brand someone thinks about when they’re lying in bed… the brand they crave, add to cart, and actually buy—you have to know who YOU are. That clarity is your anchor, your compass, your differentiator. It's what keeps you grounded during the chaos and what carves out space for you in a saturated market.
She reminded us to ask:
What’s my North Star vision?
What do I do better than anyone else?
Who are my competitors… and how do I eat some of their lunch?
At the end of the day, branding isn’t just visuals and taglines—it’s strategy. It’s identity. It’s survival.
2. Make Your Business Life Sparkle. Literally.
In The Entrepreneur’s Playbook panel, designer Madison Chamberlain—known for her playful, non-traditional bridal wear—got real about the less glamorous side of building a creative business: the admin grind.
She shared that some days, you won’t even touch your creative work. Instead, you’ll be buried in financials, operations, emails, and logistics. And that’s just the reality when you’re running the show.
But instead of letting it drain her spirit, Madison found a way to infuse joy into the mundane. Her finance and reporting sheets? Hot pink with cute little designs. I just love it. Who says spreadsheets have to be boring?
Her point was simple but powerful: you don’t have to do things the “traditional” way. Fitting as that is the whole ethos of her brand. If you’re going to spend hours with a budget sheet, it might as well match your vibe. The more you personalize your workflow, the more you protect your joy—especially on those heavy days.
Make your business life as beautiful as your creative one. Make it sparkle.
3. If You Sell a Product, Your Manufacturer Should Feel Like Family.
In the Smart Manufacturing panel, Eji Benson, CEO and Creative Director of Ennui New York, made it clear: if you’re selling a tangible product, your relationship with your manufacturer can make or break you. It’s not just about sourcing, it’s about synergy.
He emphasized the value of forming a real bond with your production partners. Make them family. Why? Because when global disruptions hit—like the ongoing tariff war impacting overseas production—you’ll want someone in your corner who’s willing to collaborate, not just fulfill an order.
Panelists reminded creatives to open the door for honest, human conversations with their suppliers. Trust and transparency can lead to flexibility—whether that’s negotiating costs, adjusting timelines, or weathering the storm together.
It’s a reminder that smart manufacturing isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about building relationships that sustain your brand when the market gets shaky.
4. AI Shouldn’t Replace Your Creativity, But It Can Help You Breathe.
In the AI and Fashion panel, Nova Lorraine, founder of HON Collective, delivered a powerful wake-up call to creatives: don’t fear AI, learn how to make it work for you.
She wasn’t suggesting we replace our creative instincts with code or give up originality for automation. Instead, she challenged us to shift our mindset. AI isn’t here to steal your spark, it’s here to help you manage the noise so your spark can shine brighter.
Nova reminded the room that as a new brand or solo creative, you might not have a team (or the budget for one). You wear every hat: marketer, copywriter, assistant, strategist. That’s where AI comes in. Use it to handle the mundane: scheduling, brainstorming, organizing your to-do list. Let it take the weight off so you can focus on what only you can do—create.
“Don’t use it to cheat,” she warned, “but use it to free yourself.”
Just like the internet, AI isn’t going anywhere. The train has left the station, and the ones who experiment early will be the ones leading the way.
5. If You Can See It, You Can Build It.
During The Power of Collaboration panel, designer Jeanette Limas, founder of her namesake brand, delivered a heartfelt reminder that stuck with me: visualization is manifestation.
As she built her brand, Jeanette dreamed big, Ralph Lauren big. She admired his storytelling, the legacy, the timeless garments… and she didn’t just dream it, she saw it.
She shared that she would print out images of Ralph in luxury cars or beautiful settings she aspired to, and then she’d print out her own face and paste it over his. It might sound playful, but for her, it was powerful. Every morning she’d wake up, look at that image, and feel driven by the vision of where she was going.
It’s not just about success, it’s about clarity. About moving with intention. About knowing exactly what the dream looks like so every step feels aligned.
Don’t be afraid to dream out loud. Make the vision visible. Own it. Speak it. Paste your face on it if you have to. When you see it, you begin to believe it, and that’s when everything starts to shift.
6. Stand Out by Zooming In.
In the Ask the Experts panel, shoe designer Ruthie Davis dropped a masterclass on standing out, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field.
When a young lady asked how to thrive in streetwear, Ruthie didn’t sugarcoat it: the industry still skews male. But instead of seeing that as a barrier, she reframed it as an opportunity. She shared her own journey in luxury footwear, a space dominated by male designers like Louboutin, Giuseppe, and Manolo. And yet, she noticed, when women designed shoes, they weren’t always the bold, sexy, leg-lengthening heels she loved.
So she leaned in. She made that her thing. “I’m the Queen of Heels,” she declared.
Her advice was sharp: If you’re a small or independent brand, you can’t afford to be broad. You have to be the best at your specific lane. The more niche, the more ownable. Ruthie carved out her corner—ultra-high, sexy, made-for-women-by-a-woman heels, and she stands tall in it, unbothered by the big names.
“I’ll go against Gucci, Prada, anybody in that category,” she said.
The lesson is that your story is your edge. And when you define your niche clearly enough, no one can touch you in it.
7. Your Journey Can Be Someone Else’s Blueprint.
In the Fireside Chat portion of the conference, fashion industry icon Fern Mallis sat down with Milan Harris, founder and CEO of Milano Di Rouge, for a conversation that was equal parts wisdom, warmth, and realness. There was one truth Milan shared that I’ll never forget: share your story as you grow.
For Milan, who built a luxury streetwear empire from the ground up, storytelling isn’t just a marketing tool, it’s a lifeline. She spoke about growing up in the hood, and how so many people from her community don’t get to see alternative paths to success. They don’t see people making it in fashion, starting businesses, or defying the odds, and because of that, they don’t always believe it’s possible.
That’s why she’s intentional about sharing her journey. Not just the wins, but the full arc, from where she started to where she is now. When someone sees you doing what they once thought was impossible, a door opens. Hope enters the chat.
Even when Milan didn’t have many role models to look up to, she dared to think bigger. That spirit — that “why not me?” energy — is woven into every thread of her brand.
Her story became someone else’s permission.
Attending FashCon Philly was an inspiring, energizing experience that reminded me just how powerful community, creativity, and storytelling can be. If even one of these gems lights a spark for another creative out there, then sharing them was more than worth it.
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