Raymond Nadeau –
We often have a tendency to look within, discounting  what the world is telling us.  At very least, let us at attempt to understand what the world is telling us - and only then react to it what it means .  Collectively and individually, we must become a creative and scientific community that is more generous and less self-absorbed.

So, what is the world telling us? We are not at the beginning of a new millennium, but on the threshold of a new civilization. The Gutenberg millennium was the kingdom of the left-hand side of the brain, of reason and logic. In the new millennium the right-hand side of the brain will prevail, together with intuition, paradox and freedom. The consumer society is becoming the information society, our mass society is shifting towards a society of individuals, and our standardized society is moving toward a hybrid society.

 
With soon (2050) two more billion inhabitants on our planet, almost all of them from Asia, Africa and Latin America, the most formidable challenge of all times face us: food scarcity, climate, immigration, etc. The relative demographic weight of the population in the richest countries (most particularly Europe and the United States) will drop by about 25% - to 12% of the total world population by 2050. At the same time, the unprecedented transfer of wealth from West to East now under way will accelerate in the foreseeable future: emerging markets will outstrip a number of mature ones.

Traditional economics are challenged: the American model of a credit consumption-led economy may be coming to an end. So too has the Chinese model of an economy built on export-led growth and an undervalued currency. The two main pillars underpinning the western world democracies - (1) robust economic growth raising living standards for all in the US, and (2) the welfare state and income redistribution in Europe - are shaking; and the scale of the challenge now facing most Western countries is of monumental proportions.

The combination of too much debt and too little growth is pushing countries into a classic debt trap. Fiscal pressure will stress economic conditions for an extended period of time. And policy-makers will face difficult trade-offs between the need for fiscal restraint and the demand for maintaining social safety nets: Political volatility will prevail.  As a result, the worldwide phenomenon of “indignation” which seems to be brewing everywhere can only increase.  2011 will be remembered as the year of rising global indignation.

The connectivity and the complexity we have engendered in the global landscape transcend our ability to comprehend, model or manage events. Many limitations constrain our ability to interpret complex issues, particularly as we tend to attribute single causes to interconnected events. This is literally overwhelming the capabilities of politicians and business executives to make sensible and well informed decisions…it’s very, very tough.

To summarize, we have a remarkable central tension underway – on the one side, a very positive trend, huge innovation and technological advancement - human innovative capacity is at an unprecedented height - and on the other hand rapid social change and transformation.  And this tension is occurring within a very complex environment, where many of our traditional structures and assumptions are eroding. 

If you translate all of this and what it means for our industry, the summary is simple: The main challenge for the fashion and apparel industries is to adapt to austere financial conditions while serving more sophisticated customers asking for more and different, with a shrinking pool of talented, courageous artists and designers.

What is the answer? Innovation through Imagination.

 
This is going to be the focus of my advice. How can our industry face all those challenges through innovation, and can we use imagination to become more innovative?

I believe that true innovation means not only questioning the consumer, but also sharing an idea; an idea you think is good for you and may be meaningful for others. Innovation does not stem from experience, but from a vision of what we wish to experience tomorrow. That is how the companies I have been associated with were founded and manage to retain to their relevance in societies that are changing more quickly than they are.  Yes, I strongly believe that the path to follow is imagination.

To use our imagination, we should never move in a straight line. We should get off the highway and take the side roads, even if we don’t know exactly where they lead. An encounter, a discovery, a new idea, or simply a moment of happiness may await us there. We should bring our own reflections to things, rather than simply doing what the market is telling us to do.

“Imagination rules the world.  The vice of our modern institutions is that they do not speak to the imagination.” The author?  Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815.   Are art and design speaking enough to the imagination?

“Innovation through Imagination.” Nothing could be more exciting for Art 2 Wear  . We will make sure that the agenda reflects this excitement.  So many difficult things around us, a difficult environment, a challenging world, so much uncertainty…it is time for imagination!

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.  I can only imagine the results.   

 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 

North Carolina State University’s College of Design Art2Wear Program Attracts NYC Fashion Expert – Creating A New Hothouse for Fashion Design and Innovation
 

’s creative director. “I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to share my experience with eager and talented students at NC State University. Previous events have been ground-breaking and I expect nothing less in April.” 

Nadeau will work closely with students and faculty to direct this year’s entries with additional personal insights and perhaps a few surprising contributions from notable designers and other industry luminaries.
 
Chandra Cox, the head of the Art + Design department [which directs A2W] said, ”We are honored to have Raymond on board. He brings a tremendous level of knowledge, exposure and energy through his extensive experience working with some of the greatest fashion brands in the world, which gives our students a significant jump-start as they begin their careers in the field of clothing design and fashion.”
 
With the addition of Raymond Nadeau, the program will expand beyond the annual event to create more opportunities for student designers to market and sell their own work.
 
Carol Nix, brand director for NC State

’s College of Design, explains, “The A2W program is more than fashion design; it is invaluable exposure for students to learn to how to market themselves and create real value for future employers. I’ve seen this program grow exponentially and with it, the expansion of many new opportunities for our students. It puts the College of Design on the map.”
 
The program is sponsored by some of the best-known fashion houses in the nation, including V.F. Corporation, which is based in North Carolina.  V.F. corporation, the #1 jeans maker worldwide boasts a bevy of denim brands, such as Lee, Riders, Rustler, Wrangler, 7 For All Mankind, and Rock and Republic with other holdings in: JanSport, Eastpak, The North Face, Eagle Creek and Nautica.
 
This April 24, 2012 marks the program’s eleventh year. The highly-attended show will be held this April 24th in Reynold Coliseum on NC State

’s campus.

 
 
About Art2Wear [A2W]
A2W is a collaborative event held annually between the College of Design and the College of Textiles. Over the past decade Art2Wear has grown to become a major fashion event. Students produce works ranging from ready-to-wear to couture garments. The A2W show is a student-lead, professionally-juried competitive enterprise. As a non-profit show, A2W is organized and run with limited financial support from the NC State Foundation, The College of Design and The College of Textiles. As an established North Carolina State University legacy, A2W has increased in both attendance and publicity every year. With more than 4,000 people in attendance last year, A2W has become one of the largest fashion shows in the country. The show has gained national attention through press outlets including the News & Observer, ABC News, Worth Global Style Network, Fiber 2 Fashion, and Textile World.

 
About Raymond Nadeau