“Industry 101,” financing, internet and social media, and dealing with celebrities and talent are among the courses that will be offered.
An incubation program for creatives and those interested in learning more about the management side of the fashion industry is being launched by WME Fashion.
The three-month in-person program, which includes six development sessions to build community, access, and education for the six selected aspiring creatives and six aspiring managers, is accepting applications through this Thursday. Scaling the program annually is the aim.
The program will take place in New York City from October through December, with application selection taking place in September. “Industry 101,” financing, internet and social media, and dealing with celebrities and talent are among the courses that will be offered. A combination of top executives and WME fashion talent will serve as mentors.
To benefit the most from the program, WME Fashion advises applicants to have at least two years of experience working in the fashion sector or a related field. The evaluation of applicants will take into account their talent, motivation, and experience.
William Morris Endeavor is a media and entertainment firm, and its division is WME Fashion. The portfolio of WME Fashion consists of Art + Commerce and The Wall Group, IMG Models, and IMG Fashion Events. It covers brand collaborations, event production and ownership, artist and talent management, unique content creation, and advisory services.
Ali Bird, senior vice president, global talent strategy and incubation at WME Fashion, is leading the initiative.
With the goal of increasing diversity in their ranks and the industry, Bird established The Wall Group Incubator in 2020 for aspiring wardrobe stylists, hairstylists, and makeup artists. The program operated for three cycles in New York, Los Angeles, and London, matching mentees with mentors one-on-one.
This idea is furthered by the fashion incubator program, which includes a management track for handling talent, models, designers, and content producers. There will be in-person group sessions rather than one-on-one online mentoring.
When starting their careers, most people want to know who they can connect with and how to keep those ties going as they advance in their careers. That takes on a lot of significance and is a major factor in future success, according to Bird.
Although several attendees—including makeup artist Karina Milan—were signed by the Wall Group Incubator, attendees are not guaranteed to be signed by the agency as a result of their experience.
“The program called Incubator transformed my life.” It provided the direction and support I needed to break into the world of fashion and celebrities. Milan, who is currently touring with Ice Spice, stated, “I think my favorite part was the community of professionals I gained that I can now lean on.”
In addition to struggling to execute on its initial public offering in 2021, Endeavor has also suffered financially as a result of the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. It declared its intention to go private in April.
According to Bird, the company’s diversity has always been one of its selling features, and WME Fashion is no exception.
“Under one roof, you have the best agencies in the world.” Anyone involved in the fashion, beauty, or luxury industries knows that Art + Commerce is a first. It kind of produced and has maintained a fashion photographer. And the Wall Group—we work with every A-lister in New York, Los Angeles, and London. IMG has persisted in pushing modeling in terms of inclusiveness, diversity, and representation. The fashion events team, on the other hand, works in all three of those representation industries in addition to its own.
She emphasized that, from an incubator perspective, there is much to learn.
