What are some highlights of the new collection?
RM: The collection was designed pre-COVID, but the ethos is our customer — that free-spirited bohemian rock aesthetic. There's a lot of comfort, but also great pieces that hopefully you'll be excited to wear when the weather turns — anything from a sweatshirt jumpsuit to a fringe leather jacket. We also have some incredible new handbag silhouettes. There's a half-moon shape called the Florence as well as some new iterations on classics like the Edie Crossbody. We also did a collaboration called Sunny Days with a designer who's been working for me for 14 years. We've really been successful during the pandemic at giving you the cosy, but still the fashion.
PS: What's your feeling about spring trends? Where do you think fashion is headed?
RM: I think it's going to be about the mix. You're going to wear your sweatsuit and throw on a leather jacket and have the calling card of your bag. I don't think that comfort is going to go away; I think that people who haven't put on jeans in nine months still might not want to put on jeans. The high-low is only going to continue. Your bag and your outerwear is going to become more important if your under layer is going to be pure comfort.
PS: Now tell me about this partnership with Verizon Media's Yahoo Ryot Lab. Your new collection will be an immersive augmented-reality experience?
RM: As a brand, we're always looking to widen that [technology] sphere. At past presentations, we've had up to 500 consumers in attendance. With COVID restrictions, we're only allowed 100 guests, and most of that is industry, so it was important that we give the customer [the experience of being] as close [to in-person] as possible. Having five outfits in AR is the closest they can get to touching and feeling the clothes.
"There's something to be said about having the opportunity to connect with your die-hard, truest fans."
PS: You're also partnering with OnlyFans. Why that platform specifically?
RM: I read an article about [OnlyFans] a couple months ago, and it was interesting to me that more influencers, musicians, etc. were moving toward that platform. There's something to be said about having the opportunity to connect with your die-hard, truest fans. If you can capture an audience of 10,000 who want to see [your collection], why not give it to them? For us, the platform is going to be free — there will be some add-on opportunities if you want mentorship or a one-on-one. I think future designers should monetize some of this content and aren't necessarily able to do the partnerships that influencers can do. For example, a designer could sell content on OnlyFans to even get the budget to do a show. It's a great way to get closer to your rabid fan base and potentially monetize things to get a collection off the ground.
PS: OnlyFans has become known for democratizing the sex-work industry, but its uses obviously extend beyond that. What will your brand offer exactly?
RM: There will be a lot of stuff from past events that never saw the light of day. We shoot a lot of content, so there's always extra. We've been shooting content this whole week that we wouldn't want to show on a bigger, more public platform, because we want to maintain a sense of excitement for the show.
PS: As a New Yorker, do you think the city will bounce back?
RM: I definitely believe in New York. You've seen it recover in the past, whether it was the recession in the '70s or after 9/11. It will be forever changed, but New Yorkers are resilient people. When things loosen up again and all the rules are lifted, you'll see it come back. You already see it in other states where governors have been less strict — the economies are starting to recover at a fast rate. The sooner things open up, the closer we'll be to the New York that we used to have.
Look ahead to get a closer look at Rebecca Minkoff's spring 2021 collection.
Image Source: Rebecca Minkoff