The 2022 WWD Apparel and Retail CEO Summit, titled “An Era of Agility: The Path Ahead,” is ready for Oct. 25 and 26 and encompasses a lineup of speakers from retailers, brands, and solution providers who’re leaders in innovation and future-ready strategies. 

Speakers are taking the stage at Cipriani South Street in Latest York City at a critical time for the industry. As retailers and types ready themselves for the height holiday shopping season, firms are challenged with latest consumer demands, a stepped-up competitive landscape, workforce shortages, inflation and a looming recession. 

However the promise of a greater future is in sight with the metaverse, progress on the sustainability front, and advances in technology.

Click here to register for this event.

Speakers on the summit include Michael Burke, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton; Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe; Winnie Burke, head of fashion and wonder partnerships at Roblox; Kelly Coller, chief marketing officer at Haus Labs; Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify; Kevin Fried, industry director of retail at Google; Sandrine Gadol, chief innovation officer at L’Oréal USA; Todd Kahn, CEO and brand president at Coach; Michelle Gass, CEO of Kohl’s, and Karlie Kloss, supermodel, entrepreneur and philanthropist, amongst many others (the speaker lineup is subject to alter). 

Themes this yr include: 

Sustainability: the brand new age of sustainability and what does it mean now? 

Managing through Crisis: how can firms thrive despite changes? 

Creativity: how are designers and creators and the world of tech working together to push forward? Where are the roadblocks, and the way do you stay creative in a world dominated by machines and data? 

Technology and Innovation: prioritizing innovation has never been more critical, but because the world has been thrust into conversations across the metaverse, it’s value considering: what does innovation seem like today? 

Next Generation: fashion’s next generation and the creative forces — from design through technology — that may drive the industry’s future 

Finance and Business: how are we empowering and supporting the entrepreneurs of tomorrow? 

For Day One, the event begins with breakfast and registration from 7:30 to eight:30 a.m., with the opening session set for an 8:30 a.m. start. There are three sessions throughout the day, with networking breaks in between in addition to lunch. The summit closes with a cocktail reception. Later that evening is the WWD Honors Program and Dinner. The honorees include Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Burke of Louis Vuitton, Alessandro Sartori of Zegna, and Jonathan Anderson of Loewe. For day two, there are two sessions and a networking break. 

Sponsors of the event include AlixPartners, Crisp, First Insight, Google, Impact Analytics, Infor, Katten, Klarna, Maker Sights, Meta, Neiman Marcus Group, Perfect, Saratoga Spring Water, Shoprunner and Snap Inc.