Dee Rivera, the founder of Hamptons Fashion Week, talks about the show’s journey.
Tell us about how you got your start in the fashion industry.
My career is by accident. My plan was to work in fashion as an editor and create beautiful fashion shoots as I did when I started in Modern Bride Magazine, Latina, and continue that path. I worked as a freelancer for several PR companies and had amazing mentors. Then, something bit me when I started attending the shows at Bryant Park. This is when I would say I got a calling to think bigger. Life is funny that way, and this is what has led me in a different direction.
What inspired you to launch Hamptons Fashion Week?
I’ve been coming to the Hamptons for over 20 years. I always loved the vibrancy and attended many, many events. I felt there was something missing. I asked myself this question, “If I am going to an event in the Hamptons, what would I like to attend?” Boom, Hamptons Fashion Week popped into my head, and the rest is history. This said, I want to thank Justin Mitchell, who graciously offered to collaborate on my first launch in 2019. He was super cool and saw my vision.
Can you talk about the element of tech at Hamptons Fashion Week?
Hamptons Fashion Week has teamed up with MetaBurnett for the launch of a first-of-its-kind innovative marketplace, ushering in a new era of experiential retail. Emily Burnett and I have been working together for two years on DCG Media Group experiential events and it has been the perfect partnership. This collaboration introduces an e-commerce platform where attendees can directly purchase from a curated selection of fashion items, each linked to exclusive digital activations and experiences, leveraging a unique Innovation Vault, powered by Vaultik technology. By connecting physical products with unlockable content and VIP event access, the MetaBurnett Hamptons Fashion Week Marketplace aims to enhance brand visibility, drive deeper consumer engagement, and provide unforgettable experiences, maximizing ROI for participating brands and delivering unparalleled value to the fashion-savvy community of the Hamptons. The Hamptons Fashion Week Wallet is going to blow your mind!
Who are some of the designers showcasing this year?
DCG has curated new luxury and sustainable brands to connect with the Hamptons audience. Our runway will be shoppable through QR codes, allowing the audience to experience and shop in real-time. We are introducing Tracy Marcus, Snow Xue Gao, Stella and Luna Boutique, celebrity Hollywood stylist and designer Phillip Bloch, swimwear from Johhny Was, and our Italian shoe sponsor debut, moon d’elle.
Tell us about the awards being presented this year.
This year, we want to highlight the fashion brands that have been here and, of course, are trendsetters in fashion. So, we are having the Retail of the Year Awards presented by Hamptons Fashion Week. We will be honoring Alice + Olivia [East Hampton], and Michelle Farmer [Southampton], and key retailers in Westhampton, to name a few!
How has Hamptons Fashion Week grown since the beginning?
We have a new team which I’m super grateful for and they are keepers. Maiana Rose is our New Partnership Liaison, Sandy Cohen Alpert is our Account Manager, Agraja Bhonsle is our New ECommerce Account Executive, Lindsay Higgins is our Event Producer, including Emily Burnett our Marketplace developer. This team is made of all alpha females. I have seen this brand grow each year, and you learn how to gather the right partners around you and create a group of advisors who want to grow with you. I have made many mistakes along the way, but I now see the importance of having the right people in your circle. This year, we added Hamptons Super Saturday, which we are relaunching and rebranding. Also, Hamptons Swim Week is becoming a brand on its own. There is more to come.
What can guests look forward to at this year’s event?
I am so happy to honor Phillip Bloch as our Style Icon for 2024 and Snow Xue Gao, a CFDA Designer, and we are giving her the Emerging Designer of The Year. It is an amazing feeling to recognize talent on the runway to hundreds of people. This is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.
What’s next for Hamptons Fashion Week?
For 2025 — yes, we are planning that as well — our team will be bringing Hamptons Fashion Week to each town: East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Westhampton, Southampton, and Hampton Bays. So, anyone interested in 2025 should start contacting us in August. Then, of course, we would like to build this brand and have some investors in 2025.
For tickets to Hamptons Fashion Week, starting July 26, visit hamptonsfashionweek.com.
