Girls In Tech

If you’re planning to be in New York during Fashion Week, February 11-18, make sure you don’t miss the Chictopia10 Social Influence Summit.  The half-day conference will focus on social media trends that are radically changing the traditional landscape of fashion taste makers.  Chictopia10 will bring together fashion bloggers, social media influencers, media buyers, designers and brand executives to discuss the secrets to social media marketing and its affect on consumers’ interaction with fashion and brands.  What was mostly a one-way ‘we-make-it, they-buy-it’ relationship, is growing into a two-way conversation as fashion bloggers increase in popularity and influence, and social media sites like Chictopia give individuals a platform to celebrate and share their individual style.

Helen Zhu, CEO of Chictopia notes, “We are entering into a new decade where the traditionally exclusive fashion industry will be revolutionized by social media.  This gathering will discuss the changes that will shape the future of this industry.”

The Social Influence Summit will close with a fashion showcase from five independent designers from their upcoming lines, followed by a cocktail party giving everyone a chance to mingle and network.  Representatives from Teen Vogue, Nylon Magazine, The New Yorker, The Gilt Group, Polyvore, Style Bubble, and others will be in attendance.

Saturday, February 13 (2pm – 8pm)

Venue:
Allegra Laviola Gallery
179 East Broadway
New York, NY 10002

View the AGENDA, and REGISTER HERE.

Tags: Chictopia, fashion, Helen Zhu, new york fashion week, Social Influence Summit, social media, Tina Tran
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What happens when fashion and personal style meets social media?  You get Chictopia, a fashion destination website and social network for fashionistas.  I recently met Helen Zhu, co-founder and CEO of Chictopia, while on the Geeks on a Plane tour in Asia, and her combination of style and substance struck me straight away.  While on a late-night, post-club stroll home in Shanghai, we bonded over our shared passion for the start-up life.

Although Helen had always wanted to combine her talents and personal interests to launch a company, it was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2006 cover article that struck a nerve.  Time Magazine’s 2006 person was You.  Time applauded people’s creative contribution to changing the landscape of global media and social interaction through blogging, social networks and sites like YouTube and Wikipedia.  2006 was about the power of individual contribution in the new digital democracy.

Helen and her two co-founders launched Chictopia in April 2008 as a place for trendsetters and fashion devotees to connect and share their personal style with others.  The site allows people to rate styles and encourages users to upload photos of themselves in their favorite outfits so that others with similar shapes and taste can learn from and be inspired by real people like themselves, rather than get ideas for fashion from what supermodels are wearing in magazines.  Ranked as a top 4 style site by Nylon magazine, Chictopia is already profitable, thanks mostly to their focus on revenue and growth.  Rather than start from scratch, Chictopia looked to sites like Facebook, Yelp, and Catster for inspiration when they started building the site.

Jump into the world of Chictopia – and while you’re there check out the newly launched fashion contest sponsored by Forever21, including a 10% off Forever21 promotion available exclusively to Chictopia members.  Congratulations to Helen and her founding team for delivering a unique offering and inspiring us to follow our passions!

Tags: Chictopia, fashion, Helen Zhu, social media, Tina Tran
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