VFiles Launches V2 Academy
Its mission is to demolish the opportunity gap, build open-source creativity and invent a creative democracy.
VFiles, a community and cultural initiative, has reimagined its VFiles
Runway and the VFiles Collection and has launched V2 Academy.
Helmed by its founder Julie Anne
Quay and Leonardo Lawson, the former president of YZY, the collaboration looks to introduce a new model for creative expression, commerce and education.
The venture is being funded by private investors. VFiles is based in New York.
"Fashion, music and sport are three global languages that define culture, but are rarely offered together under one umbrella. With the newly reimagined
VFiles Runway program we see concept stores, e-commerce and, of course, experiences that unite and connect creative talent across disciplines," Quay said.
The VFiles Collection will drop this summer with the "permanent" collection, with further collaborations dropping at the end of the summer. They will be designed by their team in collaboration with celebrity talent (musicians, athletes
and designers), with the base being the permanent collection.
This summer, VFiles Runway will transform its Mercer Street boutique into a multibrand store. The shop, which has been inactive of late, will feature new designers they discover through VFiles Curation and the VFiles Collection. The VFiles Collection will launch both at the store and at vfilesrunway.com. The plan is to sell wholesale partners this summer, so it will be in those stores for holiday.
Accompanying this will be the launch of a global e-commerce platform, aimed at supporting emerging designers, musicians, athletes, diverse global artists and the VFiles Collection. Tying it together will be global experiences both virtual and
IRL. This expansion will extend to pop-up locations and experiences in key global fashion hubs including Tokyo, Seoul, London, Paris and Berlin.
The last VFiles runway show was in September 2019. The last VFiles Collection was the VFiles Yellow Label for fall 2018.
The permanent VFiles Collection embodies modern design and lifestyle and transforms key wardrobe staples into timeless pieces, according to the company.
A percentage of proceeds from the VFiles Collection and VFiles runway will be dedicated to V2 Academy, which is an educational institution dedicated to nurturing talent across fashion, music and sports and educating them in entrepreneurship and business.
"Joining forces with Julie Anne
Quay in the VFiles venture represents a harmonious convergence of my professional journey: a blend of fashion, education, entertainment, management consulting, and retail expertise. The components of VFiles Collection, VFiles Runway and V2 Academy synergistically work towards our commitment to cultivating and elevating the cultural leaders of the future," Lawson said.
Submissions are open for brands to join the VFiles Runway platform with in-person meetings available for select designers on Wednesday in New York. Global applicants can submit until Feb. 29 using the link at vfilesrunway.com. On Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m., VFiles will be hosting a private cocktail party to celebrate the relaunch.