CPHFW Official Talk Program: 20 Years On – What is Ahead for the Future of Fashion
Our AW26 talk series with Vogue Business as media partner make up a vital element of the official schedule each season, representing an opportunity to dig deeper into wider issues facing fashion.
Copenhagen Fashion Week will bring the AW26 talk program to a live audience, with a dedicated talk being held each day in the Copenhagen Fashion Week Talk hub hosted in Mater, right in the center of the city.
Attendance to the talk program is open to the public and will be on a first come first served basis and will include a 30-minute panel talk followed by a 15-minute Q&A. The talk will activate the global network of Copenhagen Fashion Week, inviting industry leaders from a variety of organisations and practices to speak across the topics at hand.
Furthermore, Copenhagen Fashion Week is excited to announce Vogue Business as an official media partner, who will use their global audience to amplify the reach of the talks that will be launched as podcasts post release.
20 Years On – What is Ahead for the Future of Fashion
In light of CPHFW's 20th anniversary, this talk will explore what the future of fashion will be like and what obstacles we must overcome to cultivate a positive industry for future generations.
To explore the topic, Moderator Lucy Maguire brings together Mara Hoffman, Founder of Mara Hoffman, Omoyemi Akerele, Founder & CEO, Lagos Fashion Week & Style House Files, and Stephany Goncalves, Strategic Advisor, Academic Lecturer & Founder of FÉ.
Moderator:
Lucy Maguire, Senior Trends Editor, Vogue Business
Lucy Maguire is senior trends editor at Vogue Business. Alongside her focus on fashion consumer trends, digital strategies, and youth culture, Lucy leads the Vogue Business Next-Gen Edit, spotlighting emerging brands and startups across the fashion and beauty industries. She has previously worked with the Vogue Global Network, Suzy Menkes and British Vogue.
Panelists:
Julie Gilhart, Founder, Gilhart & Co.
Fashion industry veteran Julie Gilhart is a creative business consultant whose clients range from Amazon to luxury group LVMH. She has also worked with labels including Goyard, Jil Sander, and Prada, and is recognised as a pioneer of sustainability and the circular economy.
She helped launch the inaugural LVMH Prize for Emerging Talent, supporting designers worldwide. In 2024, she founded her consulting firm, Gilhart & Co., dedicated to nurturing new talent and advancing responsibility through innovative partnerships.
Gilhart advises several organisations and serves on the boards of Parsons The New School, Closely Crafted, and Fashion Girls for Humanity, the nonprofit she co-founded. Focused on ensuring a legacy of creativity and craftsmanship while building profitable, responsible businesses, her pragmatic approach to innovation and deep commitment to sustainability position her as a vital voice in fashion’s future.
Mara Hoffman, Founder, Mara Hoffman
Mara Hoffman is an artist, designer, and creative visionary recognized for helping to evolve the conversation around sustainability in fashion. For over two decades, her namesake brand led with a deep commitment to environmental and social responsibility, transparency, and the belief that beauty and integrity must coexist. In 2023, the brand was honored with the CFDA Environmental Sustainability Award for its pioneering leadership in shaping a more conscious industry. In 2024, Mara consciously closed her brand to honor the cycle of transformation and to explore new expressions of creativity through photography, writing, and guidance. Rooted in a lifelong devotion to nature and consciousness, she remains committed to seeing the fashion industry transform toward systems that nurture both people and planet.
Stephany Goncalves, Strategic Advisor, Academic Lecturer and Founder, FÉ
Stephany Goncalves is a strategic advisor, academic lecturer, and social impact voice whose work sits at the intersection of fashion, governance, and leadership. She brings over a decade of international experience with brands including H&M, Gucci, Zalando, and Levi’s. Her practice focuses on future-proof fashion governance and people-centred leadership, shaped through advisory work, research, and public dialogue. She is the founder of FÉ, a mentoring platform expanding access to meaningful mentorship across industries. She also leads Reimagining Fashion Leadership, her platform exploring leadership through access, alignment, and advocacy. In 2024, she was recognized as a University of Amsterdam Impact Maker and has recently contributed to Vogue Poland’s Business Fashion Environment Summit and Harper’s Bazaar Netherlands.
