WGSN Appoints Fashion Guru to Lead Advisory Board

US-based fashion trend forecasting and analysis specialist WGSN has set up an Advisory Board, chaired by Simon Collins, who previously served as Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York.

WGSN, which is owned by media giant Top Right (previously known as Emap), uses forecasting, analytics and custom research techniques to study fashion season trends in apparel, accessories and interiors. In 2013, the firm acquired Latin American consumer behavior forecasting firm Mindset Communicaco e Marketing, and it has since merged knowledge and expertise from the latter business with its trend forecasting and technology tool Stylesight, to create a consumer insight and market strategy service called Mindset.

Collins (pictured) has spent nearly seven years in the role of Dean, during which time the school has formed partnerships with brands such as Louis Vuitton Saks Fifth Avenue, Uniglo, and Christian Louboutin, and developed and launched the MFA degree program in Fashion Design + Society. Earlier in his career, Collins was Creative Director at Nike Asia Pacific, and he worked with Marks and Spencer, Zegna, Itochu, Greg Norman Collection, and the Burton Group, after studying Fashion at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design and Epsom School of Art and Design.

The new Board will also comprise WGSN CEO Jose Papa and Chairman Duncan Painter, as well as several international CEOs and executives from Europe and South America. It will meet regularly and will also liaise with WGSN's clients and partners.

Papa comments: 'Simon's extensive background working in design and academia, with influential brands, government institutions and beyond, combined with his creative and innovative thinking, made bringing him on board a natural decision. His expertise will be invaluable to our brand as we expand our line of innovative technologies and reach greater heights.'

Web site: www.wgsn.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.