Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Initiatives in Art and Culture's 21st Fashion Conference, Blue, Launches a Fresh Conversation on the Cultural Significance Behind the Color

This November blue--a potent color most often used in branding, the preferred hue of colored gemstones, and a visual metaphor for purity and creativity--the color and its power are the focus of IAC's annual fashion and design conference; its history and use fuel consideration of contemporary issues including fashion's relationship to sustainability, the sources of the color that we see, and the reasons for blue's centrality in garb and adornment.


News provided by

Initiatives in Art and Culture

Oct 25, 2019, 05:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Cameron Silver and Dita von Teese; photo reproduced in Cameron Silver, Decades: A Century of Fashion. Bloomsbury, 2012, page 253.
Cameron Silver and Dita von Teese; photo reproduced in Cameron Silver, Decades: A Century of Fashion. Bloomsbury, 2012, page 253.

NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Blue is primary. It is primal. Blue are the waters that cover our beloved planet, which require far more responsible use of its sources. Blue is the color of lapis lazuli, ground for the pigment of Old Master paintings. It is the quintessential base of denim, the beloved all-American fabric, and the hue of the "extra something" a bride needs on the big day. In all cultures, blue materials are revered and fashioned into objects of desire. From Thursday, November 14th through Saturday, November 16th, 2019, Initiatives in Art and Culture will host its 21st fashion, jewelry and design conference, entitled "Blue," celebrating the hue, at Parsons The New School.

Lisa Koenigsberg, president, Initiatives in Art and Culture, says, "Like music experienced directly and requiring no translator, color is one the most powerful signifiers producing visceral responses embedded deeply within us. For this reason, blue, one of the most elemental colors, is the focus of Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC)'s 21st Annual Fashion, Jewels + Design Conference. Blue sits astride the entirety of fashion. Uniquely resonant, and thus the preferred color of branding, the color, with its many hues and variations, is central to the work of the great designers, artisans, jewelers, design pioneers, and authorities whom IAC is honored to welcome. We also express our gratitude to our project partner, The New School, for its engagement and to all other entities playing a role in making this metaphorically mixed deep dive impactful for all attending."

Blue sits astride the entirety of fashion. Uniquely resonant, and thus the preferred color of branding, the color, with its many hues and variations, is central to the work of the great designers, artisans, jewelers, design pioneers, and authorities whom IAC is honored to welcome.

Post this

With materials at the forefront, IAC's Blue conference begins Thursday evening with introductory remarks by Koenigsberg, followed by the talk "On this day: Blue," given by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, fashion historian, journalist, and author of "Worn on This Day: The Clothes That Made History." Cameron Silver, director, Halston, and founder, Decades, a vintage couture boutique in Los Angeles, follows in conversation with celebrity stylist, Andrew Gelwicks in "It's Chic to Repeat." The history of the color and the assorted materials used to realize its many hues in garments of historical significance will be chronicled, contextualized, and assessed for continued relevance, as will blue's use in today's fashion iconography. Further delving into making, on Friday morning, Rowland Ricketts, professor and associate dean at Indiana University's Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, reflects on his history of indigo farming and natural dye use in textiles in "Growing Blue: An Artist Reflects on Material, Color, and Process."

Mined from the earth, and beloved as jewels, vibrant blue gemstones set into jewelry also captivate. Grant Mobley of the Diamond Producers Association, will explore the wonder and uniqueness of natural blue diamonds. Michael Peters, CEO, Trusted Gems & founder, Panjshir Valley Emeralds, and Elle Hill, CEO, Hill & Co. Fine Jewelry Launch and Growth Experts, discuss the extraction and transformation of precious blue substances, as well as their translation into treasures to be worn. Delving into the experiential, attendees will view "The Protagonist," an exhibition of sustainable fine jewelry organized by Vogue Italia, held at the Park Avenue Armory. A dazzling array of gemstone pieces, created with better stewardship of our planet in mind, will be on view; attendees will be welcomed by remarks from creative director, and haute joaillerie designer, Alexandra Mor.

In addition, an ever-growing call for sustainability is at the forefront of the fashion industry, prompting designers to rethink their creations, and challenging brands to take a stand on corporate social responsibility. Jessica L'Abbe, senior director of Color, Materials and Graphics, Converse, explores this concept in "Chuck Taylor: An Icon and the Embrace of Sustainability," addressing how a commitment to the planet changed Converse's business model and company culture. Sergio Guadarrama and Kade Johnson, the designers behind the bespoke Celestino, discuss their signature style, office to red carpet glamour, made of repurposed materials and textiles. Johnson says, "We are participating with Initiatives in Art and Culture because of their focus and integrity to shed light upon influential and prominent companies in the industry making a difference in the world today. Sergio and Kade nurture Celestino to be a sustainable, eco-conscious, and politically charged company that successfully educates and makes positive impacts on the world." Regarding sustainable fashion on a macro level, Dana Thomas, award-winning journalist, and the author of "Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes," explores the reclaiming of traditional craft, sustainable technologies, and how both are used to improve the quality of the fashion industry today. On Saturday afternoon, attendees will visit Scott Morrison, founder and creative director of 3x1 Denim, at his showroom, for a discussion of and look at the crafting of a new type of transparency in the denim industry.

Leading fashion authorities and luminaries will discuss career highlights, their personal relationship with the color blue, and the color's use in branding. Cocktails and a conversation with Benoit-Louis Vuitton, entitled, "The Spirit of Travel Through Sea and Sky," will be hosted at Louis Vuitton; the Maison represents a heritage brand that marries timeless style with craft and artistry. In addition, two icons, each with a major museum show—acclaimed British designer and colorist, Zandra Rhodes ("Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous, Fashion and Textile Museum) and beloved American designer and Made in USA advocate, Anna Sui ("The World of Anna Sui," Museum of Arts and Design), will be in conversation about Zandra Rhodes' 50 years in fashion. Both powerhouses of creativity in their own right, their examination of blue is not to be missed.

The color's sartorial importance will also be explored during the conference. Why are so many uniforms blue? Why is so much fashion blue? Stan Herman, fashion designer, will discuss this with Bridget Foley, executive editor, Women's Wear Daily (WWD). Herman designed uniforms for many well-known companies, such as Amtrak, Federal Express, JetBlue, TWA, and United Airlines. He says, "Blue has been the dominant color of my uniform design life. It cuts across all boundaries and instills a sense of confidence in the wearer. No other color comes close -- I wonder why? I look forward to exploring this topic in conversation with Bridget Foley in Initiatives in Art and Culture's Conference, Blue, which is devoted to this primary color and is the preferred color of branding because of its unique resonance.

During the talk "Blue Notes," Arthur Elgort, world-renowned fashion photographer, whose work is informed by his lifelong love of jazz, and photographer, author, and jazz musical impresario Hank O'Neal will be in conversation about the influence of music and the image with blue. Elgort observes, "Blue is a color that uniquely resonates as we know from music, and it will be an honor and a pleasure to talk with my dear friend, Hank O'Neal, about the role of this color in jazz, the most singularly American art form, and in photography, the creative medium in which I have expressed myself, at Initiatives in Art and Culture's Conference, Blue."            

Mickey Alam Khan, editor in chief, Luxury Daily, says, "IAC's Blue conference promises a feast of ideas, insights and inspiration on fashion, jewelry and design. This 21st edition, like its predecessors, stands out for its stellar lineup of speakers, all of whom are subject-matter experts and industry observers without parallel. This is a must-attend event for those involved in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and design."

"Blue" has been developed and organized by Initiatives in Art and Culture, and is hosted in partnership with the School of Fashion at Parsons School of Design. The Lena and Louis Minkoff Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for its generosity. Additionally, IAC expresses sincere thanks to Diamond Producers Association, Piaget, JCK, Salon Art + Design, and Trusted Gems Inc. and Panjshir Valley Emeralds to for their generous sponsorships.

Register for "Blue: 21st Annual Fashion, Jewelry + Design Conference" directly on Eventbrite by clicking here. To learn more about Initiatives in Art and Culture, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, visit http://artinitiatives.com, call 646-485-1952, or email [email protected]. For press or media coverage inquiries, images, additional speaker quotes, or interviews, contact Pietra Communications at 212-913-9761 or email [email protected].

About Initiatives in Art and Culture
Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC) educates diverse audiences in the fine, decorative, and visual arts. Our primary activities are conferences, publications, and exhibitions that take an interdisciplinary approach, considering issues related to fabrication, connoisseurship, cultural patrimony, cultural preservation, and the future of culture. Particular areas of emphasis include American painting, precious substances, the history of frames, the Arts and Crafts movement, the influence of Asian cultures on American fine and decorative art, and the history and future of fashion. IAC's projects have been supported by a wide array of individual, corporate, and foundation funders.

SOURCE Initiatives in Art and Culture

Modal title

CELESTINO, Couture, 2018. Photo: Lindsay Adler; courtesy, CELESTINO.
CELESTINO, Couture, 2018. Photo: Lindsay Adler; courtesy, CELESTINO.
Arthur Elgort, Illinois Jacquet, New York City, 1991.
Arthur Elgort, Illinois Jacquet, New York City, 1991.
Photos: courtesy, 3x1 Denim.
Photos: courtesy, 3x1 Denim.
Dakota Scoppettuolo, Zandra Rhodes, Grace Sui, Anna Sui at The World of Anna Sui Exhibition Opening: at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo: David X Prutting / BFA.com
Dakota Scoppettuolo, Zandra Rhodes, Grace Sui, Anna Sui at The World of Anna Sui Exhibition Opening: at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo: David X Prutting / BFA.com
Piaget. Piaget, Altiplano Stone Dial Watch, diamond and sapphire bezel. Photo: courtesy, Piaget.
Piaget. Piaget, Altiplano Stone Dial Watch, diamond and sapphire bezel. Photo: courtesy, Piaget.
Stan Herman Poses with Models Wearing the TWA Hotel Uniforms. Photo: Isak Tiner, courtesy: The New York Times.
Stan Herman Poses with Models Wearing the TWA Hotel Uniforms. Photo: Isak Tiner, courtesy: The New York Times.
Dana Thomas, Fashionopolis The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes. Penguin Press, New York, 2019. Cover design: Evan Gaffney. Cover art: Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Dana Thomas, Fashionopolis The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes. Penguin Press, New York, 2019. Cover design: Evan Gaffney. Cover art: Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Hope Diamond, 52 ct. blue diamond. In a pendant featuring 16 white diamonds. National Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian Institution.
Hope Diamond, 52 ct. blue diamond. In a pendant featuring 16 white diamonds. National Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian Institution.
Sportswear by Sheinberg, Dress Worn by Carlotta Walls LaNier in September 1957. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture,  2012.117.1ab.
Sportswear by Sheinberg, Dress Worn by Carlotta Walls LaNier in September 1957. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 2012.117.1ab.
Left: Indigo Leaves. Center: Indigo Dyeing. Right: Rowland Ricketts , I am Ai, We are Ai – Returning Indigo, installation, 2012 National Cultural Festival, Tokushima Japan. Courtesy, Ricketts Indigo.
Left: Indigo Leaves. Center: Indigo Dyeing. Right: Rowland Ricketts , I am Ai, We are Ai – Returning Indigo, installation, 2012 National Cultural Festival, Tokushima Japan. Courtesy, Ricketts Indigo.
CELESTINO, Couture, 2018. Photo: Lindsay Adler; courtesy, CELESTINO. Arthur Elgort, Illinois Jacquet, New York City, 1991. Photos: courtesy, 3x1 Denim. Dakota Scoppettuolo, Zandra Rhodes, Grace Sui, Anna Sui at The World of Anna Sui Exhibition Opening: at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo: David X Prutting / BFA.com Piaget. Piaget, Altiplano Stone Dial Watch, diamond and sapphire bezel. Photo: courtesy, Piaget. Stan Herman Poses with Models Wearing the TWA Hotel Uniforms. Photo: Isak Tiner, courtesy: The New York Times. Dana Thomas, Fashionopolis The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes. Penguin Press, New York, 2019. Cover design: Evan Gaffney. Cover art: Michelangelo Pistoletto. Hope Diamond, 52 ct. blue diamond. In a pendant featuring 16 white diamonds. National Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian Institution. Sportswear by Sheinberg, Dress Worn by Carlotta Walls LaNier in September 1957. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture,  2012.117.1ab. Left: Indigo Leaves. Center: Indigo Dyeing. Right: Rowland Ricketts , I am Ai, We are Ai – Returning Indigo, installation, 2012 National Cultural Festival, Tokushima Japan. Courtesy, Ricketts Indigo.

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.