Prabal Gurung and Public School designers to speak at Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2017

Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2017 has added four new celebrated names to the speaker line-up for this year – designer Prabal Gurung, Public School's designer duo, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, and the former dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design, Simon Collins. They will take part in the panel debate 'Fashion for a cause'.

Designers and fashion houses have taken to the runway to voice their opinions on the current political climate, using their designs as tools of expression to make statements, celebrate their values and pose questions about the future of our world. Moderated by Simon Collins, the 'Fashion for a cause' panel debate will explore fashion's role in current culture and politics, with panellists sharing their unique experiences and discussing the importance of taking a stance and challenging the meaning of fashion in our society.

Designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, born and raised in New York City, founded Public School in 2008 and have since then redefined the landscape for menswear and womenswear. Public School has its production roots in New York, supporting local tailors, pattern makers and skilled garment workers.

Prabal Gurung launched his collection in February 2009 with a philosophy encompassing modern luxury, indelible style and an astute sense of glamour. Born in Singapore and raised in Nepal, Gurung began his design career in New Delhi, before moving to New York to complete his design studies at Parsons the New School of Design.
Simon Collins is founder and CEO of the Fashion Culture Design Series and principal consultant at The House of Collins. Following a career as a fashion designer, then creative director for some of the world's leading brands, including Nike, Polo and Zegna, he recently spent seven years as dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design.

Some of the other speakers at the Summit include Anna Gedda, head of sustainability, H&M; Eileen Fisher, founder & chairwoman, Eileen Fisher, Inc.; Ellen MacArthur, founder, Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Jason Kibbey, CEO, Sustainable Apparel Coalition; Julie Gilhart, creative business consultant; Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability officer, Kering; Mark Langer, CEO, Hugo Boss; Michael Kowalski, chairman & interim CEO, Tiffany & Co.; Vanessa Friedman, fashion director & chief fashion critic, The New York Times and Wendy Schmidt, president, The Schmidt Family Foundation.

The event on sustainability in fashion, Copenhagen Fashion Summit, will take place on May 11, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark.