We Are Wearables Toronto and Best Buy Canada have teamed up to present "Back to the Future of Fashion: A Wearables and Fashion event".
Join us as we discover, discuss and demo innovations exploring the intersection of fashion and tech featuring presentations, panels and an expo featuring Fossil, Myant, Sensoria, Garmin, Proto3000, Muse, InkBox, Klothed, Daniel Christian Tang, Modiface, and STEFANAKOU.
PLUS a Ready-to-Wear Fashion Tech Showcase presented by Electric Runway featuring Fossil, WiseWear, Oura Ring, Vinaya, Electric Styles, Tespack, Cat Clutch, Nanotex, Myant, Sensoria, Muse, Lina Wassong and more.
PLUS get your Power Glove ready as its our 80s costume party with wearable tech prizes going to those dressed totally rad.
Beer from Lake Wilcox Brewery, Wine and Pizza from Pizza Pizza will be served courtesy of Herscu & Goldsilver.
Agenda
6:30-6:50PM: Doors open & networking
6:50-7:00PM: Opening Remarks by Tom Emrich - We Are Wearables & Super Ventures
7:00-7:15PM: "Fashion Tech – Quantified Expression of Oneself" presented by Sharlene Sternberg - Marketing Manager, Sensoria
7:15-7:30PM: Fossil presentation by Aram Hamparian, Director of Sales for Fossil Canada
7:30-7:45PM: Presentation by Tony Chahine - CEO, Myant
7:45-8:15PM: Panel discussion on fashion & wearables with:
- Aram Hamparian, Director of Sales for Fossil Canada
- Tony Chahine - CEO, Myant
- Zayn Jaffer - Director of Emerging Businesses, Best Buy Canada
- Amanda Cosco - Founder, Electric Runway
- Sharlene Sternberg - Marketing Manager, Sensoria
- Moderated by Tom Emrich - We Are Wearables & Super Ventures
8:15-8:30PM: Fashion Tech Ready-to-Wear Showcase hosted byElectric Runway featuring designs by:
Fossil, WiseWear, Oura Ring, Vinaya, Electric Styles, Tespack, Cat Clutch, Nanotex, Myant, Sensoria, Muse, Lina Wassong and more
8:30-10:00PM: Networking and demo area including:
- Myant - makers of VX360, the world's best visibility jacket
- Sensoria - artificial intelligent sportswear including Sensoria Smart Socks
- Klothed - a fashion and style planning app for Men
- Modiface - augmented reality virtual technology makeover leader
- Fossil - an American lifestyle brand creatively rooted in authentic vintage and classic designs and makers of the Fossil Q smartwatch
- Garmin - Delivering innovative GPS technology across diverse markets, including aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking and mobile apps.
- Muse - brain-sensing headband to help you find your calm
- Best Buy Canada - your shopping destination for wearable tech and more
- Daniel Christian Tang - 3D printed fine jewellery
- InkBox - A Real Tattoo Look & Feel for 2 Weeks. 100% Organic Ink.
- Proto3000 - 3D printing and rapid prototyping
- STEFANAKOU - 3D printed and interactive garments
A big thanks to our event partner, Best Buy Canada and our sponsors for making this event possible including MaRS Discovery District Centre, Super Ventures, Proto3000, Extreme Innovations and Herscu & Goldsilver.
About our Speakers
Aram Hamparian - Director of Sales, Fossil Group Canada
Aram Hamparian has worked for Fossil Group Canada for the last 6 years and is currently the Director of Sales, Wholesale. Aram’s first exposure to great design and fashion lasted 10 years in various sales and marketing positions at Lancaster Group LLC, manufacturer and distributor of prestige fragrance and cosmetics. Armed with a delirious passion for great looking watches, clever design and great fashion, Aram and his team have fun bringing the best products and the best brands to consumers with one goal in mind; to offer products that make people look good and feel good. Before arriving at Fossil Group, and vowing never to consume bags and bags of Lindor chocolate balls at one sitting, Aram worked in national sales at Swiss Chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli.
Tony Chahine - CEO & Founder, Myant
Tony is the founder and CEO of Myant He is a true visionary with an inspiring talent to turn ideas into reality with proven success. With a background in Electrical Engineering, Tony’s natural entrepreneurial gift transformed his one-store business start-up to a 100+ store chain before the age of 30. He has subsequently acquired, restructured, and turned-around many more businesses of much larger scales. He has been quoted in the industry as a veteran in the areas of retail, M&A, and restructuring. With his passion for innovation, he has pioneered movements in sustainable clothing, spearheaded many research and development projects in smart fabrics, and founded Myant – a design and technology hub created for inventors, start-ups or established companies and brands to advance in the wearable technology market. Tony’s extensive knowledge, experience, and motivational spirit pose a positive and monumental impact on any business or project he is involved in.
Sharlene Sternberg - Marketing Manager, Sensoria
Sharlene has over 10+ years of strategic marketing and marketing communications experience. She has an MBA from Texas Christian University as is a former adjunct professor at Western International University.
Zayn Jaffer - Director of Merchandising for Emerging Business, Best Buy Canada
As the Director of Merchandising for Emerging Business at Best Buy Canada, Zayn is responsible for developing the growth strategy for the categories of Wearable Technology, Smart Home Control, and Musical Instruments. Leading a team of merchants and product managers, Zayn is focused on driving key product launches, diversifying the product mix, optimizing the in-store experience and creating strong vendor partnerships. Zayn started his career at Best Buy Canada as the Senior Merchant of Laptops in 2005 and quickly grew through the ranks to become the Director of Merchandising in the business categories of Digital Imaging, Computing Solutions, Home Theatre, Home Audio and most currently Emerging Business. Most recently, Zayn’s strategic direction and steadfast leadership were integral in the successful execution of two of the biggest new category launches this year for Smart Home and Wearable technology. An avid sports fan, when he’s not hard at work, Zayn can be found playing or watching sports and cheering on his favourite Vancouver team – Go Canucks Go!
Amanda Rebecca Cosco - Founder, Electric Runway
Amanda Rebecca Cosco is a multimedia journalist focused on the intersection of fashion and technology, and the force behind Electric Runway. Amanda has reported on cyborgs, wearable technology, smart fabrics, and future fashion for the CBC, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail, among others. She has moderated panels on hacking hardware, wearables for women, and next-gen retail. She also served as a foreign correspondent covering Silicon Valley’s first-ever fashion week. Fashion is in her very fabric: Amanda’s father heads the made-to-measure department for luxury menswear brand Harry Rosen, and her grandfather made some of TV personality Don Cherry’s most eye-catching suits.
Amanda boasts degrees from three of Toronto’s four universities: she holds a Master’s of Arts from Ryerson University, a Bachelor of Arts from York University, and a certificate of digital media skills from the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Currently Amanda divides her time between Toronto and San Francisco.
Tom Emrich - Founder, We Are Wearables & Partner, Super Ventures
Tom Emrich is on a mission to help drive innovation and adoption in wearable tech, augmented reality and virtual reality. He is the founder of We Are Wearables, the largest wearable tech community of its kind in the world and partner at Super Ventures, the first incubator and fund dedicated to augmented reality. He also co-produces the Augmented World Expo (AWE) a conference dedicated to AR, VR and wearables which takes place in the US, Europe and China.
Interested in speaking, or demoing at this event or helping out as a volunteer, contact Tom at Tom@WeAreWearables.com.