KCD

A good agency can feel like an extension of a brand and bring fresh expertise towards telling its story. But picking the right partner is growing more complex as the definition of PR rapidly evolves.

The fashion PR powerhouse has promoted the agency veteran to global CEO as president Julie Mannion becomes chairman of the board, opening a new era for the firm.

Industry insiders, from buyers to editors, are weighing whether or not it makes sense to attend live events this fall. But the real question is, should they ever bother returning?

The full-service fashion communications firm and entertainment agency will retain their own businesses while pooling resources to pursue new projects together.

Some argue that, in their role as gatekeepers, fashion’s powerful public relations agencies keep doors closed for people of colour. What are they doing to rethink their practices?

A group co-founded by Lindsay Peoples Wagner and Sandrine Charles will partner with companies to advance Black professionals and release a yearly index score measuring diversity.

As clients cut budgets, the public relations firms that serve them are considering everything from reduced fees, salary cuts and layoffs to pivoting services and joining forces in order to stay afloat.

The escalating coronavirus pandemic has further exposed fashion's reliance on fuel, as mandatory travel bans require executives and creatives alike to rethink everything from staging far-flung events to hosting in-person meetings.

While print and digital media strategies are still part of the industry’s approach to brand building, firms are beginning to offer non-traditional services and specialities in order to survive the PR evolution.

The sought-after producer is responsible for some of the most opulent and over-the-top fashion shows of the last 30 years. Now he’s going public with efforts to radically reduce the impact of the industry’s most important marketing moments.