The MFMS 2025 Recap
After a year of meticulous preparation by the Student Planning Team, the 8th annual Michigan Fashion Media Summit came to life on March 28th, 2025. Co-Presidents Lila Grayson and Izzy Saunders, along with COO Kylie Stenzler led the team in executing the biggest Summit to date with over 740 attendees, 25 speakers, and more than 50 partners.
The Ross School of Business was transformed into a fashion wonderland, where attendees started the day with complimentary coffee from SmlWrld Coffee Club and a cereal bar sponsored by LoveBird. Between panels, they visited networking booths and explored the Fashion Forward Showcase displays. Early arrivals also signed up for individual coffee chats with one of 11 partners, including Steve Madden, LVMH, and Tiffany & Co. Guests were then ushered into Robertson Auditorium, where Lila and Izzy kicked off the event by introducing the industry-leading speakers and expressing immense gratitude for the MFMS. "The Michigan Fashion Media Summit was founded to provide University of Michigan students with real opportunities in fashion and media—opportunities that didn’t exist before," Izzy shared, reflecting on her experience with the summit. She went on to describe that "what began as an ambitious idea has grown into something far greater than we imagined, shaping students’ futures and opening doors that once seemed out of reach." With that, the MFMS 2025 began.
FROM FOLLOWERS TO FOUNDERS: CREATORS BUILDING THRIVING BUSINESSES
The first panel of the day was moderated by Jessica Williams, Head of Brand Partnerships at Shopify. She was joined by Chelsea Parke Kramer, CEO and Founder of Parke; Ella Rose McFadin, Founder of Skin by Ella; and Dianna Cohen, Founder of Crown Affair. The three successful female entrepreneurs shared the process of building their brands and reflected on the impact of social media on brand development.
Cohen of Crown Affair started the conversation, claiming that the power of social media for marketing and promoting a product, “is an essential part of building a business today, it’s pretty much impossible to grow a brand without [it].” Both Parke and McFadin agreed that personal branding is a crucial part of entrepreneurial success. Parke explained how wholeheartedly believing in your brand is foundational to others believing in it too, which starts with actually using your products. “Something that is so ingrained in the DNA of Parke is that I am always in Parke, my entire team is in Parke head to toe,” she added. McFadin, who’s skincare brand was founded on her personal social media presence, emphasized that attaching a face or lifestyle to a specific product has proven to drive sales and growth. She described, “my brand is really a reflection of me, my values and how I view makeup, and how I get ready in my day-to-day life.”
The women then discussed the second piece to driving brand growth: online communities. Parke shared that she reads every comment and watches every response video, truly taking community feedback into consideration and molding the products to her audience. The other women agreed, with Cohen claiming her brand to be “made in the comments.” Whether it be retaining clients, or modifying marketing tactics, Cohen explained, “it’s about bringing people in on that journey, sharing that we are growing and evolving together.”
BEYOND THE BOTTLE: TRANSLATING FASHION TO FRAGRANCE
The next panel discussed luxury fragrance’s place in the fashion industry, featuring President of Parlux, Lori Singer, accompanied by Jon Dinapoli, the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jon Michael Designs. Singer and Dinapoli have been a strong force in the fragrance space, collaborating with industry giants such as Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, and Billie Eilish.
Singer started her journey in fragrance at Revlon, where she focused on building both relationships and her skillset. She noted, “I went around the floor and met every brand manager and what I would do is say to them, ‘What do you have that I could help you with’” Opportunities began falling in her lap from her self-made network, prompting her main piece of advice: do more than what’s asked of you because you never know where it will lead. She then joined Calvin Klein, where she and Dinapoli revolutionized unisex fragrance and expanded the Marc Jacobs Daisy franchise from $50 million to over $250 million. From there, Singer stepped into her current role at Parlux, sharing that the key driver of her success in audience acquisition came from a commitment to understanding of the target consumer. “Fragrance is all about emotion, it’s this really personal and intimate category that is so rooted in emotions and the emotional connections we have with others,” she added. To her, fragrance is truly the final accessory to individuality.
The pair explained that the first step in fragrance development is establishing a vision, followed by innovation in scent, bottle design, and marketing. “We work with perfumers and product developers to create the magic of the fragrance,” Singer shared, highlighting her immense involvement in each stage of the process. Dinapoli steps in to work on product design, which he does alongside each celebrity client. Through countless meetings, he asks tons of questions, adding that “All of these answers put the pieces together, providing insight into the person and what they want to say from a personal and brand perspective.” He is committed to achieving the dream vision, no matter how many discussions it takes.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, STYLE: HOW ENTERTAINMENT IS SHAPING THE BEAUTY AND FASHION INDUSTRY
The next panel was moderated by Emily Blair of Emily Blair Media and featured panelists James Bee, a fashion and beauty photographer; Sophia Rzankowski, the Chief of Staff at Super Connector Studios; and Donni Davy, a two-time Emmy-winning makeup artist and the makeup department head of HBO’s Euphoria.
Davy shared a powerful insight for those struggling with networking, claiming that, “You are not going to get hired based on networking alone. It’s truly your work and your work ethic that is going to get you hired, so don’t worry if you’re shy.” Alongside this, Rzankowski reassured that it's normal to not know what you want to do, but immersing yourself in something that interests you is the first step to figuring it out. “Everything I’ve learned has come from putting myself around people who are so smart and learning from them. Try to absorb as much as possible and learn from all the different industries,” she added. As an alumni from U of M, Bee graduated in a state of limbo, unsure of how he would align his professional aspirations with his creative interests. Now, as a thriving photographer, he attributes his success to his diverse range of expertise–using uncertainty as fuel to push through trials and tribulations.
All three speakers emphasized collaboration as the gateway to success. For Davy, this meant reaching out to various models and organizations on Craigslist for one-off projects, aiming to build her portfolio. The importance of the project didn't matter, it was the experience she gained in each role that ultimately led her to her role in Euphoria. Furthermore, Bee stressed the strategy behind collaborations, noting that, “A lot of the shoots that have gotten me the bigger clients or the bigger names that I’ve wanted have been from collaboration.” So, no matter how big or small the job, the panelists stressed the importance of taking every little opportunity to become an expert in your field.
THE NEW RULES OF LUXURY FASHION
This panel, moderated by the Head of Corporate Development at Oscar de la Renta, James Nakajima, brought together three of the most influential minds in luxury fashion: Daniel Jadczak, the Chief Information Officer at LVMH Inc. North America; Bonnie Abraham, the Senior Vice President of Retail at Balenciaga Americas; and Rebecca Goodman, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Manolo Blahnik.
When covering Gen Z TikTok trends and reaching new audiences, Abraham shared how the younger generation, “is interested in the experiential, not just walking into a store and buying something, but feeling part of the ethos.” Jadczak agrees that Gen Z is a hyper-digital generation, sharing how LVMH caters to this by creating brand apps and experiences like virtual try-ons to build loyalty. At Manolo Blahnik, Goodman explained that the brand has, “focused more on TikTok on putting money behind content that’s going to be engaging,” and is tapping into influencer and celebrity collaborations as a way of appealing to a younger audience.
The panel then dove into how brands are using AI technology to improve the luxury retail experience. Jadczak claimed that relevancy is a key aspect of integrating any artificial intelligence into fashion. He shared that LVMH uses AI technology to target the right customers to improve operational efficiency through organized algorithms. Opposingly to LVMH and Balenciaga, Manolo Blahnik is a family-owned luxury house, influencing how technology is adopted. Goodman shared that the company is a bit more tactical and particular about investing in AI technology, while also benefiting from studying the other brand’s outcomes.
THE POWER OF INFLUENCE: FITNESS, WELLNESS & FASHION IN MEDIA
The next panel, featuring Sami Clarke, the Co-Founder of FORM, and JT Barnett, the founder of CreatorX, explored how influence can inspire healthier habits, build community, and create meaning in the wellness space. Moderated by Shelby Silva, the VP of Operations at FORM, the talk started out on a more personal note: discussing how FORM created a close-knit, digital community aimed at uplifting health and wellness journeys. “Your community is the way that you continue to scale and grow your business, and also stay true to your heart,” Clarke added.
To form a community as an influencer, you must identify yourself to your audience. Barnett explained, “To know who you are creating for, the first way to do that is by knowing yourself. What are the things you care about? Why would somebody be interested in you? What are the things you have to offer?” By asking these questions and putting them into action, you’ll undoubtedly find like minded individuals online.
To stand out in a sea of content creators, you must find your niche. Barnett explained, “Niches are very saturated: there are many different businesses out there that are creating similar things. But, if you focus on who the customer is, you'll always know where your north star is.” With this comes authenticity, which Clarke reinforces by concluding, “If I could give any advice, it would be to make community first–a lot can grow and blossom from there.”
REDEFINING THE GAME: THE INTERSECTION OF SPORTS AND FASHION
The next panel of the day investigated how fashion has become a powerful influence within sports. Moderated by Alex Crexcenti, Sports Anchor for WXYZ in Detroit, the panel brought together celebrity stylist and CEO of Closet Tours Dan Solomon; Mike Sainristil, formerly of Michigan football and now the quarterback for the Washington Commanders; and Joe Holder, a Nike Master Trainer and Performance Coach.
Athletes have recently become the newest style influencers, as people follow their favorite athletes to see what they're wearing and doing on social media. Holder references original fashion-sports legends like Michael Jordan, who paved the way for athletes to enter the fashion scene. As an athlete himself, Sainristil shared, “Off the field, I can show different sides of myself, my dad outfits, cool dad outfits, tunnel outfits–I get to show such different styles.” A lot of his interest in fashion comes from NIL influence, proving that being candid on social media is crucial for success off the field. “In football you have a helmet on, so putting yourself out there, stepping outside the box, because there’s more to you than what you do in your sport, and the people who support you deserve to see it,” he said. However, due to NIL, most young athletes have too much money–which they end up spending on regrettable purchases. This problem inspired Solomon’s platform, Closet Tours, giving celebrities, athletes, and people of status to sell their clothes to everyday consumers.
As brands capitalize on the intersection of fashion and sports, some succeed while others fail, which Holder calls “a transition of macro-concepts into micro-moments.” He emphasizes that profitability comes from staying true to a brand's culture, not just jumping on trends. “Brands must align with their heritage when tapping into sports culture,” he concluded.
STEERING A FASHION LEGACY
Nearing the end of the day, the second to last panel featured Emilie Rubinfeld, the Global President of Carolina Herrera, and was moderated by Dr. Marcus Collins, an award-winning marketer and a professor at U of M. The talk started with some important career guidance: “Every opportunity is a building block, from the internship to your experience at Michigan, it’s a slow build,” Rubinfeld shared. She urged students to become confident in self-advocacy, find opportunities for themselves, and ask for advancement. In putting herself out there, taking initiative, and asking for opportunities, she was able to make big moves up the career ladder. As an insight into her company, she advised aspiring fashion professionals businesses are focused on growth and seek confident employees who can contribute to its strategy and team–an even greater incentive for getting out of your comfort zone.
Rubinfeld also brought up an important point in regards to networking–noting the difference between LinkedIn messaging and actually researching the brand itself. In looking for employees, interns, and future leaders, she said, “I want to know that you’ve gone to our website, gone to a store, looked at all of our social channels, referenced something we just did, that shows me you’re interested in our brand because you’ve taken the time to learn.”
THE BUSINESS OF BEING YOU: SCALING INFLUENCE AND LIFESTYLE INTO A LASTING BRAND
During the last panel of the day, entrepreneur and influencer Paige Lorenze sat down with Rachel Liebenthal for an inspiring and authentic conversation about building a brand rooted in personal identity.
Best known for her lifestyle brand Dairy Boy, Paige discussed how staying true to herself has been the foundation of her success. She reflected on pivotal moments in her journey, like moving to Connecticut at just 20 years old and embracing her identity as a "farm girl", which all shaped the brand's aesthetic and voice. Paige emphasized that the authenticity behind Dairy Boy isn’t just surface-level; it’s woven into every decision she makes, from design to content creation.
What makes her brand stand out, she explained, is that it’s a direct extension of her lifestyle. “I wear the brand every single day,” Paige shared, underlining the genuine connection she has with her audience. She shares that if it weren’t for her passion, consistency, and unapologetic commitment to her roots, the brand would be nowhere. She reminded the audience that authenticity not only resonates, it sells.
CLOSING REMARKS
The 8th annual Michigan Fashion Media Summit brought together influential industry leaders and aspiring professionals for a day filled with inspiring panels, insightful discussions, and valuable networking opportunities. From exploring the impact of social media on brand building to understanding the intersection of fashion, fragrance, and sports, the summit provided attendees with essential knowledge and practical advice to shape their futures in the fashion and media industries. As the event wrapped up, it was clear that the MFMS continues to foster meaningful connections, inspire creativity, and open doors for students to succeed in an ever-evolving industry.
Thank you for attending! We can’t wait to see you at MFMS 2026.
Here’s to elevating the future fabric of fashion, one step at a time.
