Online Exclusive: CIBS’ Innovation Committee Hosts Second Event

Jamie Thomas, Markets Editor – Stylesight.com, speaks on latest packaging trends

(L-R): Jamie Thomas, speaker, Stylesight.com; Charles Marchese, president, CIBS; Kelle Jacob, committee member/Estee Lauder

The CIBS Innovation Committee recently hosted its second event at a new venue, La Pomme, 37 West 26th Street, New York, NY. The networking evening featured Jamie Thomas, Markets Editor for Stylesight.com, a search engine tailored to streamline the latest trends for creative and product development professionals.

The RSVP list more then doubled in size due to the success of the event at Metro 53. Guests started to arrive at 6pm and were greeted by committee members, then directed to the main room to mingle and network with their peers. Co-chair Ukachi Anonyuo gave a warm welcome to the group and summarized the mission of the newly established Innovations Committee within CIBS. Fellow committee member Kelle Jacob introduced speaker Jamie Thomas as “an amazing talent in the fashion and trend industry.” She went on to say Thomas’s presentation would discuss the upcoming trends in beauty and fashion through hair, clothes, and most important to the group—packaging trends.

(L-R): David Greco (HCT); Ukachi Anonyuo, committee co-chair/Clinique; Tristan Mollet (Qualipac); Chris Tarling (HCT)

Thomas began her presentation with several large screens overhead that provided the audience with visuals to accompany her detailed descriptions of the fall and winter trends for 2010. She explained the four driving themes that shaped the upcoming trends: shadows, silence, noise, and montage. An animated Thomas continued giving vivid references of big hair, vampires, moonlight versus sunlight, and strength. Admittedly, her favorite theme was noise because she says she loves the crazy wild hair and jungle influence under this theme. However, she did say that montage was important because, “it takes many global images and puts them into one place.” For each theme, she tied in the packaging aspect of each trend saying that we should expect to see layers, lace, nature references, and animalistic packages.

The Innovation Committee members were happy with the turnout as well as the enthusiasm from the attendees. 2010 CIBS president Charles Marchese was especially pleased with the success of the event, saying, “Everything seemed to go off perfectly. I’d also like to thank our speaker for the evening, Jaime Thomas, for an interesting view into the world of coming trends. The multimedia presentation was perfectly integrated with the venue to create a trendy and congenial atmosphere for networking.”

The committee’s next event will take place at the end of April, and will feature another educational topic, providing industry members with a casual fun way to network and learn. More info: www.cibsonline.com