Fashion Month Edition: Highsnobiety editor-in-chief Willa Bennett on building content, commerce and experiences around NYFW
Sep 11, 2023
auto_awesome
Willa Bennett, Highsnobiety editor-in-chief, discusses the company's content, commerce, and experiential strategies during New York Fashion Week. They highlight the integration of digital and print media, the significance of the September issue, and their perception as a streetwear-focused publication. They also touch on attending fashion shows, supporting emerging designers, and the importance of repurposing content for strategic social media rollout.
Highsnobiety's approach to New York Fashion Week involved combining content, commerce, and experiences.
Highsnobiety focuses on cultural moments, energetic experiences, and unique perspectives in their coverage of Fashion Week.
Deep dives
New York Fashion Week Pop-up and Multi-cover September Issue
Willa Bennett, Editor-in-Chief of Highsnobiety, discusses the New York Fashion Week pop-up and the release of their multi-cover September issue. The pop-up wrapped up with a clothing ceremony, and the covers, featuring Lil Yachty, Wesley Breed, and Grace Valentine, were selling out quickly. Bennett explains the decision to feature multiple covers, highlighting the unique qualities and influence of each individual. She also emphasizes Highsnobiety's focus on combining content, commerce, and experiences, as well as the importance of being strategic and selective in their activations.
The Role of the Editor-in-Chief and Highsnobiety's Perspective
Bennett shares her perspective on the role of the editor-in-chief, emphasizing the importance of having a point of view and being in touch with culture. She explains that Highsnobiety's social-first approach informs their coverage of Fashion Week, focusing on cultural moments, energetic experiences, and unique perspectives rather than traditional runway reviews. Bennett also discusses the brand's commitment to supporting emerging designers and championing voices that are often overlooked.
The Influence of Streetwear and Highsnobiety's Global Youth Platform
While acknowledging streetwear as a significant part of Highsnobiety's DNA, Bennett describes the brand as a global youth platform that extends beyond streetwear and sneakers. She highlights the importance of having a loyal community of followers, showcasing unique perspectives, and staying true to their voice. Bennett also mentions the evolving nature of fashion, where various styles and influences merge, making Highsnobiety's focus on youth-driven content even more relevant.
Future Plans, Amplifying Content and Brand Presence
Looking ahead, Bennett discusses Highsnobiety's upcoming December issue and their continuous efforts to refine their social media presence. She emphasizes the importance of being strategic in rolling out content across various platforms and engaging with their audience. Bennett also speaks about the power of activations, collaborations, and the strength of their community, highlighting their approach of being more than just a magazine and focusing on what sets them apart.
It’s a new era for fashion month, where designer collections are just one piece of the pie. As brands across price points and specialties aim to compete in the increasingly competitive retail landscape, more are taking advantage of the opportunity and approaching it strategically. They’re cutting through the noise with innovative marketing tactics, introducing new commerce plays and leveraging advanced digital capabilities to best showcase their products. In this podcast series, running throughout Fashion Month Spring 2024, Glossy and influential leaders are breaking down the evolution of the experiential event.
In this episode, we sit down with Willa Bennett, who joined fashion and media company Highsnobiety as its editor-in-chief in 2022. Highsnobiety had a presence at New York Fashion Week with a three-day “Neu York” pop-up shop and various on-site events. Bennett talks about how the company catered its content, commerce and experiential strategies to this season's fashion week. She also discusses how Highsnobiety covered the event and how that plays into her focused approach to running the publication. This episode was recorded amid bustling NYFW, in Showfields’ NoHo location.