#BogotàFashionWeek experience

The Chamber of commerce in Bogotà through the consultancy of Fabian Hirose, appointed a group of selected advisors to mentor Colombian brands and coach them in the preparation of Bogotà fashion week, focusing on international markets.

I was nominated as jewelry mentor and I have been working with 25 brands.

Three weeks of mentorship started in October, and pursued in December and February. As a first warm up, I gave to the brands alltogether various lectures on jewerly ecosystem, business models, branding and communication, merchandising plans and margins.

I then started to work individually with each brand with a program of definition of their stylistic identity and brand promise and collection structure, focusing on the best assortment for international exposure as well as careful postioning from pricing and margin point of view.

I was extremely amazed to see how much creative potential is in Colombia. All brands have a contagious energy , balancing their native culture and tradition with a sense of contemporary and great manufacturing skills. Most of the brands produce collections on their own, as in Colombia the suppy chain is not yet so developed.

I was therefore exposed to jewerly collections featuring rough and facetted emeralds, recycled materials, beans, “mopa mopa” ancient technique, porcelain, stainless steel, plastics, cotton and silk just to name a few - a fresh breath into new potential and for me a 360 degree mentoring covering all the steps that I usually deal with in my job as jewelry business consultant. 

I also learnt new manufacturing techniques and was able to appreciate how much “metal hammering” can open up to new shapes and intruiging styles.

It was therefore possible to make sure the overall assortment is consistent and appealing for the international buyers, with a balanced offer in terms of product, looks and price points.

Next step, mentoring on look books, catalogues , packaging and display, bringing all the brands to the big challenge of Bogotà fashion week.

Stay tuned for the upcoming results of this great project done in cooperation with the dream team!

#BogotàFashionWeek #jewelrybusiness #jewelryconsultant