Fashion Forward Is Building the Cultural Conversations Shaping Fashion’s Future

Fashion has always been influenced by the world around it. Its most defining ideas have emerged not in isolation, but through conversations with art, music, film, philosophy, business, and the cultural movements that shape society.

That belief is the foundation of Fashion Forward, the invitation-only global community founded by Jordana Guimaraes and Christopher Hunt. More than a networking platform, Fashion Forward is creating a year-round cultural institution where leaders across fashion and the broader creative landscape come together to exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, and inspire collaborations that will influence the industry’s next chapter.

Ahead of the official launch of the House of Fashion Forward on August 10, the organization has introduced its global founding community—a carefully curated group of advisors, honorary members, and founding voices who share a common vision: that fashion’s future will be shaped through its conversations with culture.

The founding advisors reflect the breadth of that vision. They include Sara Sozzani Maino, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia and Fashion Director of VOGUE Talents; Oskar Metsavaht, Founder and Creative Director of Osklen, UNESCO Ambassador, and BoF 500 member; and Gabby Gabriel, Founder of Gab China Marketing and Co-Founder of Second Wind Media.

Joining them as Honorary Founding Members are Eno Polo, CEO of the ATP Tour; Carry Somers, Co-Founder of Fashion Revolution; Model-Actress Juana Burga; and Emanuele Borini, Global CMO of Soccerment and Former Nike and The Coca-Cola Company. Sarah Quinn, Founder of My Charity Runway, and Dale Noelle, Founder and CEO of TRUE Model Management have also joined the organization as its Founding Voices.

Unlike traditional membership organizations, Fashion Forward is intentionally selective. Invitations recognize not only professional achievement but also the unique perspectives members bring and their willingness to contribute to an evolving dialogue across disciplines. The result is a community designed to foster curiosity, trust, and the kind of relationships from which meaningful innovation often emerges.

“Fashion has always evolved through its dialogue with the world around it,” said Co-Founder and Chief Curator Jordana Guimaraes.

“Fashion Forward was created to bring together extraordinary people from different industries who challenge one another’s thinking, inspire one another’s work and build meaningful relationships that ultimately move our industry forward.”

For Co-Founder and Creative Director Christopher Hunt, those intersections are where the industry’s greatest opportunities lie.

“The most meaningful ideas rarely come from staying within our own industry. They emerge when different perspectives collide. Fashion Forward is designed to create those moments.”

Beginning August 10, members will gain exclusive access to the House of Fashion Forward, the organization’s year-round digital home for curated conversations, introductions, and collaborative experiences. Beyond the platform, Fashion Forward will host private dinners and gatherings in major cities across North America, Europe, Latin America, and beyond, extending those conversations into thoughtfully curated in-person experiences.

At a time when the fashion industry is increasingly influenced by technology, entertainment, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and global culture, Fashion Forward is positioning itself as more than a community. It is cultivating a space where ideas can move freely across disciplines and where creative leaders can build relationships that outlast a single event or season.

Rather than asking what the future of fashion looks like, Fashion Forward is asking a more compelling question: Who should be part of the conversation? By bringing together voices from across industries and cultures, the organization is betting that fashion’s next era will be defined not by a single discipline, but by the ideas that emerge when many disciplines come together.