In Conversation with Abbey Cook
Tell us about your background:
I’ve been a trend forecaster in fashion and design in NYC for over 15 years. My job entails predicting the colors and silhouettes you will be wearing 2 years in advance. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin (just 700 people!) and never thought I would one day work in fashion, let alone live in NYC. I went to UW-Milwaukee and studied textile and costume design to get as close to fashion as possible. I had never heard of trend forecasting. It was during a design internship in Paris at the textile atelier, Malhia Kent, known for creating the famous Chanel tweed fabrics, when I first learned about the industry. I was given a book with strict instructions to follow the color palette it provided while I was literally weaving my textile collection at a loom. Fast forward a couple years to NYC when I was passing the Bergdorf Goodman windows and I actually saw my fabric made into a stunning cropped jacket on a Chanel mannequin. The mysterious book worked and I was intrigued.
When my wife and I moved to NYC, it was without jobs or a place to live. Through a meandering path, I got my first trend job as the Associate Director at the Color Association of the US (also the oldest forecasting agency in the US) and eventually landed a trend forecasting position at Cotton Incorporated. It was there that I really honed my forecasting skills. During my time at Cotton Incorporated, I was lucky to travel to over 50 countries, to far-off places, from Jaipur to Kyoto to Buenos Aires and back, in order to conduct trend research and seek out culture and fashion trend concepts. I was a cultural sponge, acting as the eyes and ears of the world to absorb where we were headed culturally. This would trickle down into fashion staples like skinny jeans and athleisure. My team and I met with every major retailer to get everyone on the same page. For example, I would present denim forecasts to Levis in San Francisco and Levis in Hong Kong.
My forecasts have been seen by hundreds of brands and retailers, and I am proud to say that my former team and I had a big hand in creating the cult color that defined a generation, Millennial Pink. Little did we know at the time just how big and influential the color would be, but it represented so much more than a color. It was based around the reversal of gender roles and unisex dressing and so much more.
After 11 years of working for trend agencies, I decided to become a trend and creative consultant and now work with fashion and marketing companies across the country.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
Be patient! Good things take time, especially becoming well versed in your chosen career path. We want to be experts right off the bat, but I am constantly learning new things, which only makes my work richer and more interesting.
Best career advice you've ever received?
Listen to your gut, pay attention, and work hard.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
For me, leadership is about being curious and open to new ideas. Curiosity leads to so many opportunities and I think when a leader is open-minded it helps others to be honest and not afraid to speak up or give their input or ideas.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
Working for myself is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It is not for the faint of heart and I underestimated how much self-promotion I would have to do. I overlooked the obvious such as telling everyone when I was open for business. I assumed that only social media would do the trick and I quickly learned what I wasn’t good at marketing myself. You can’t do it all and as soon as you discover what your weaknesses are will you become more successful in the long run!
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
Even though I work with color and fashion trends every day, my black blazers are what keep me feeling put together and chic. I think because I’m too involved with fashion trends I need to feel classic at the end of the day. I got lucky a few years ago and found a stunning Calvin Klein blazer from a Barneys sale that when I put it on with a slouchy white t-shirt, denim, and a pile of my costume jewelry, I know it’s going to be a good day. Find that piece that gives you the feeling of stepping into your power and all will be right in the world.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbey-cook-119a7b54/
@abbeylcook & @the_taste_curators
