Fashion Uncovered: 1st Speaker Panel
Written by Lauren Veum
The panel event that The Vault hosted on March 21, 2023, was nothing short of intriguing, informative, and extraordinary. As a part of The Vault executive team, we set up an event to get the inside scoop from professionals in the business behind the fashion industry, learning how they navigate problems, direct their passion, and how they succeeded. Each speaker provided a fresh perspective on their careers.
Loni Andreen graced us with her presence and expertise as the Chief Creative Officer of Shopbop. Shopbop is an online fashion apparel and accessories shop that opened in 1999. Like many, Andreen knew that she wanted to work in the fashion industry since she was young. She had a passion for designing clothes and creativity. She graduated with a degree in Textile and Fashion Design from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and an associate’s degree from FIT in New York City. After college, Andreen managed and bought at the boutique level before eventually progressing into personal styling. While she shared about her personal life, she also guided the audience on the dos and don’ts of the job application process. Andreen was an amazing asset to this panel, and The Vault appreciates everything she shared from her years of experience in the fashion industry.
Rob Bowhan was another incredible addition to the panel, providing his own experiences as someone who never imagined he would end up in the fashion industry. Bowhan, a Madison native and UW-Madison alumni, worked for an Egyptian apparel manufacturing company in Alexandria, and functioned as their agent in the US. He moved to Egypt for three months to help the company open several retail locations in Alexandria and Cairo. His experience traveling worldwide has broadened his horizons and opened a multitude of doors for his future. After his explorations in Egypt, he moved to New York and worked exclusively in brand management and wholesale, overseeing brands such as Edwin Denim and Puma. After moving back to Madison, Bowhan opened his brand, August, on October 28th, 2017. He established August as a brand and community fixture, an amalgamation of streetwear, sneakers, art, music, and literature. While traveling, Bowhan was never enthralled in fashion or the business behind it but realized that it was his passion, and he has been thriving in it ever since. One piece of advice that grabbed the audience's attention was that a job application should never exceed 1-2 pages, as people have short attention spans and do not want to read a lengthy resume. He stated, “put your best foot forward on your application, and let the readers get to know you through your experience.” We cannot thank Bowhan enough for sharing his understanding of sales strategy, brand management, marketing, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small business in the fashion industry.
Lastly, Adam Woitkowski, the Chief Commercial Officer of CD Peacock Jewelers & Timepieces in Chicago, Illinois. He manages the sales and operations of CD Peacock’s three stores in the Chicago area and will oversee the addition of three new stores by 2025. CD Peacock was founded in 1837 and is the oldest luxury jewelry and first registered business in the city of Chicago. Before CD Peacock, Woitkowski worked in luxury retail and client expertise at stores such as Chanel and Saks Fifth Avenue. His lighthearted and kind spirit was made for guiding newbies and coworkers. He allocated life-long advice to the audience of the panel event, such as knowing your assets and being humble. He shared an experience of hiring someone who was an UberEats driver, which may sound simple, but it told him everything he needed to know about the applique. The person had grit, possessed pride, and was hardworking, which is what he considers necessary when bringing someone new to the team. Additionally, he discussed the importance of trusting your coworkers and creating a strong bond with them–without loyalty and strong communication, you have nothing in the workforce. Everyone who attended was fortunate to be in the presence of Woitkowski’s witty humor, immense expertise in luxury fashion, retailing, and cutting-edge business ideas.
Overall, the panel was an excellent opportunity for members to become more familiar with the business behind fashion and hear reputable advice from reliable sources. Thank you to Loni, Rob, Adam, attendees, and my fellow Vault executive team members for curating this event. Their advice and ideas have impacted many lives and will continue to help inspire individuals pursuing future careers in the retail, fashion, or business industry.
