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Ian Gerard

Ian Gerard (he/him) is the co-founder of The Curio (2022-), a fashion events organization with a mission to "bring together and champion the Chicago fashion industry, and to showcase and elevate the best local fashion talent".[1] He was also the co-founder of Gen Art and was the company's CEO (1997-2010).[2] Gerard also founded Syndicate-5[3] and worked for IVY, as its chief partnership officer.[4]

Career

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Gerard first attended Vassar College after which he attended NYU School of Law. In 1993, he founded Gen Art with his brother, Stefan Gerard.[5] Gen Art focused on producing fashion shows for emerging designers, film festivals for independent film-makers, exhibitions for visual artists, live music productions and custom programs.[6][7] It was described by the New York Times as such: "With an advisory committee of blue-chip artists, press representation to rival any profit-making organization, a promotional video that could have been the trailer to the film 'Reality Bites' and a phalanx of no-nonsense assistants at the tables by the door, it was perhaps the most professionally run event for a fledgling charity in the history of civilization".[8] During his tenure, the company opened additional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami, and produced over 100 events each year.[9] The company showcased talent including Jennifer Lawrence, Zac Posen, Adrian Grenier, Rooney Mara, Rebecca Taylor, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Renner[10] as well as visual artists including Gary_Baseman and Dalek (James Marshall). [11]

In May 2010, Gen Art shut temporarily due to the economic ramifications of the great recession.[7] It was sold to Sandow Media and relaunched in January 2011[12] with Gerard acting as a consultant until his departure in March 2012.[3]

In October 2011 Gerard founded Syndicate-5,[3] a lifestyle consultancy that claimed to help align brands with consumers through their arts & entertainment interests. Clients included Cadillac who presented the music and fashion program called "Sound Waves" in Montauk[13] and the IVY Innovator Awards.[14] Additionally, they launched the inaugural "Underground Fashion Weekend"[15] in partnership with their client, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau's Office of Film, Music, and Entertainment, a three day fashion event including industry leaders Nicole Miller, Nina Garcia, and Susan Bartsch.[16][17]

In the fall of 2017, Gerard joined his client, IVY - The Social University, for whom he had consulted since its launch in the spring of 2013. He became its Chief Partnership Officer overseeing partnerships, external communications, and its content division, IVY Media.[18] Gerard secured partnerships with brands including The Macallan.[19]

Gerard's most recent venture is with The Curio, co-founding it[20] in January of 2022 with entrepreneur Matt Woodburn and quickly including fashion designer and writer, Maggie Gillette.[1]The organization has produced multiple events in Chicago including their launch party,[20] "Fashion Holiday Soiree",[21] "Panel Discussion on Fashion & The Metaverse",[22] and multiple "Fashion Socials".[23] Their most notable event was "A Celebration of Chicago Style" which was co-hosted by Nigel Barker and Cynthia Rowley, and showcased designs by Maria Pinto along with emerging Chicago designers as well.[24][25][26]

In 2024, Gerard and Gillette partnered with John Leydon,[27] the holder of the trademark for Chicago Fashion Week,[28] to create a city-wide fashion week focused on fashion oriented consumers.[29][30]  On May 28, 2024, Chicago Fashion Week was officially announced to take place from October 9-20, 2024,[31] at a media event at The Four Seasons[27] with speakers including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson who stated, "Amplifying Chicago fashion events through Chicago Fashion Week creates an opportunity to elevate our city’s status as a fashion capital.”[32]

Gerard and Gillette hosted their own events at Chicago Fashion Week through their organization, The Curio. Programming included the opening night show on October 9th at the Chicago Cultural Center,[30] "A Celebration of Chicago Style" presented by Abercrombie & Kent.[33] It featuring Chicago based designers including Maria Pinto and Barbara Bates.[33] The Curio also co-hosted a photography exhibition produced in partnership with the Park Hyatt's NoMI Gallery.[34] It ran from October 9 - November 15, 2024 and featuring 5 Chicago based fashion photographers including Sandro Miller.[35]

Accolades

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Gerard has been mentioned in various publications including Crains New York Business "40 Under 40"[2] In 2005, Gerard was personally asked to join Klaus Schwab's "World Economic Forum of Young Global Leaders" [36] in preparation for Schwab's Great Reset and Build Back Better campaigns.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Second to None: The Curio's Mission to Rise the Chicago Fashion Scene to the Top | Newcity Design". 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  2. ^ a b "40 UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2004: Ian Gerard". Crain's New York Business. December 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Demystifying the Process of Securing Corporate Sponsorship". Yahoo Finance. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  4. ^ "IVY Expands Beyond Its Seven-Market Experiential Base, Launches IVY Media to Deliver Free, Actionable Lessons to a New Generation of Leaders Worldwide" (Press release). IVY. October 30, 2017 – via PR Newswire.
  5. ^ Morris, Bob (1999-04-18). "All The World Loves A Runway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  6. ^ "Gen Art - New York Fashion Designer - Full Frontal Fashion". nymag.com. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  7. ^ a b Ryzik, Melena (2010-05-06). "Gen Art Folds, Victim of Recession". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  8. ^ Morris, Bob (1994-03-06). "THE NIGHT; DeMille Would Have Applauded". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  9. ^ "Mixing Art and Profit". BizBash. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  10. ^ Pinson • •, Laurel (2009-06-24). "Tonight! Gen Art's 15th Anniversary Benefit". NBC New York. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  11. ^ "Gen Art Vanguard – Basel Party « Arrested Motion". ArrestedMotion. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  12. ^ Cheney, Alexandra (February 23, 2011). "Gen Art Returns For A Second Act". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Marketers Invade Montauk This Summer (Published 2013)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-06-16.
  14. ^ "IVY and Cadillac Host Second Annual IVY Innovator Film Awards Presented by Actor/Director Josh Radnor". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  15. ^ "Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend to feature Nicole Miller and Susanne Bartsch". Sun Sentinel. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  16. ^ Feitelberg, Rosemary (2016-12-14). "Nicole Miller Plans Buy-Now Runway Show for Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend". WWD. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  17. ^ "Underground Launderdale Weekend Pictures and Photos - Getty Images". www.gettyimages.no. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  18. ^ University, IVY: The Social. "IVY Expands Beyond Its Seven-Market Experiential Base, Launches IVY Media to Deliver Free, Actionable Lessons to a New Generation of Leaders Worldwide". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  19. ^ "Macallan Taps Ivy For 'Rare' Live Event". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  20. ^ a b Giallorenzo, Isa (2022-05-25). "Hats off to the hats". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  21. ^ "Holiday Fashion Soiree". The Curio. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  22. ^ Law, Saper (2023-04-12). "Recap of Saper Law's Fashion in the Metaverse Seminar". Saper Law Offices. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  23. ^ "Chicago Reader print issue of May 4, 2023 (Vol. 52, No. 15) by Chicago Reader - Issuu". issuu.com. 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  24. ^ "Cynthia Rowley, Maria Pinto Help Celebrate Chicago Design". Yahoo Life. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  25. ^ Giallorenzo, Isa (2023-07-21). "Fashion show celebrates Chicago's diverse style". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  26. ^ Publisher, Candid Candace Jordan, Associate (2023-06-03). "A Celebration of Chicago Style: Runway fashion at its finest". Chicago Star Media. Retrieved 2023-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ a b Publisher, 'Candid' Candace Jordan, Associate (2024-05-29). "Sew exciting! Chicago Fashion Week will debut this fall". Chicago Star Media. Retrieved 2024-12-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Lipinski, Gavin. "Chicago's first fashion week kicks off". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  29. ^ Ntern, NCrew (2024-06-04). "Mark Your Calendars for Chicago's First Official Fashion Week!". Just N Life. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  30. ^ a b "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  31. ^ Bossi, Andrea (2024-08-08). "Local Fashion Weeks Are on the Rise. Why Now?". Fashionista. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  32. ^ "Chicago Fashion Week will turn the city 'into a runway' this fall". Chicago Sun-Times. 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  33. ^ a b Giallorenzo, Isa (2024-11-01). "Chicago Fashion Week events highlighted local designers". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  34. ^ "NoMI Gallery x The Curio: Chicago Fashion Week". Choose Chicago. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  35. ^ "Events". Chicago Tribune. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  36. ^ "World Economic Forum - Home". www3.weforum.org. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
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