The last 18 months have seen disruptive change for all of us, both professionally and personally. Even as the pandemic continues to rattle the globe, the hope is there is at least a beginning of a return to some version of ‘normal’ – or, as Brunello Cucinelli has eloquently described it, a path toward “A New Time.”

As part of that, I am excited to let you know that WWD will host its annual Apparel & Retail CEO Summit on October 26 and 27 in New York with a return to live events. With economies in the U.S. and Europe seeing some of the fastest growth in decades, and China continuing to expand, many observers are predicting the next decade will be a truly expansive one. That is why the theme of this year’s conference is The New Future: – Winning in the Roaring 20s. The aim is to explore not only how companies have fared during the pandemic, but how to survive and thrive in the years ahead.

Leading industry figures are expected to cover topics such as brand relationships; aligning with consumer values; the new era of retail; key technologies; how to lead responsibly and transparently, and the strategies that will be needed to navigate the waters of change.

The Apparel & Retail CEO Summit will begin October 26 with a morning session, lunch, afternoon session, cocktails and WWD Honors dinner program; it will continue on October 27 with a morning session and end with a takeaway lunch. I look forward to at last seeing all of you in person on those days. In the meantime, stay safe.

Sincerely,
James Fallon
Editorial Director, WWD