Architect Spilios Gianakopoulos is one of the founding directors of Building Fashion.  He balances a wide range of professional involvement in architecture, photography, performance, fashion and journalism.  Based in New York City, Spilios has designed and collaborated with Herzog & de Meuron, Fischerspooner, MoMA, Vogue Greece, PaperMagazine, Neil Denari, Pandiscio Co., Piero Lissoni, Winka Dubbeldam, Jacques Grange, the Museum of the City of New York and more. A native of Athens– Greece, Spilios holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology with additional architectural studies at the Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus in Germany

Todd is the Director, Exhibition Funding for MoMA, Director of Development of MoMA PS1 and the Secretary of the MoMA PS1 Board of Directors. Todd also serves on the Board of Trustees for Performa, CEC ArtsLink, and Blook Moutain Foundation Budapest. Todd received a BA in Art History and German from Colby College, and received an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

Combining a deep passion for creativity and a sharp talent for business, Ms. Carmi has been helping conceptualize, launch and grow design and retail businesses, specializing in the fashion and apparel space. Ms. Carmi began her career in the art world, working for several contemporary art galleries including Deitch Projects, and held positions in marketing, communications and brand management at Banana Republic and Avon Products before founding Launch Collective in 2005.

Launch Collective is a management firm for fashion and lifestyle businesses. Offering an array of strategic services including launch and growth strategy, merchandising and production, marketing and sales, and eCommerce, the company has quickly developed an extensive network of clients in the fashion, design and retail space. Launch Collective was also a founding partner of Save Fashion, a pop up store concept, with Refinery29.

Ms. Carmi graduated Summa Cum Laude from New York University with a BA in Visual Culture, and holds an MBA in Marketing and Management from Columbia University. Ms. Carmi is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma National Business Honor Society and lectures about fashion and entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, FIT and Parsons The New School of Design.

Brian spent much of his childhood immersed in the world of hospitality, often spending time on new hotel sites. Suitably, he began his career at BBG-BBGM, a leading global architecture and interior design firm with extensive expertise in the design of hotels and resorts. More recently, as VP of Business Development at SHVO, Brian secured several real estate and hospitality contracts worth over USD 10 Billion in under 3 years, while serving as a key contributor to brand development, helping to achieve premium positioning and sales for SHVO clients. While at BBG-BBGM and SHVO, he worked with world-class hospitality brands such as Aman Resorts, GHM, W Hotels, St. Regis, Peninsula, Morgan’s, Ian Schrager, Thompson Hotels, Marriott and Kempinski on various initiatives including project management, design, branding, marketing and sales. Brian’s broad experience in real estate and hospitality prepared him with the knowledge, capabilities and relationships essential for his role as Chairman of LORDS. In 2010, Brian successfully launched his first Lords Hotel in South Beach, Florida. He currently oversees the branding, operations, marketing and sales for Lords South Beach.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Brian maintains a leadership role in various organizations, including the Carnegie Real Estate Council, Carnegie Hall Notables, Guggenheim Young Collectors Council, and The Gay Real Estate Group, among others, and is an active supporter of several charitable organizations dedicated to helping others overcome adversity, including the Bailey House, as well as a variety of LGBT-related causes including GMHC and Point Foundation. He has spearheaded hugely successful fundraising efforts to help those in need, including raising $30,000 to support Architecture for Humanity’s efforts in creating affordable housing in the Bronx, NY, and $25,000 for the Global Opportunity Fund to build an orphanage in Ghana. At Lords South Beach, Brian most recently established an innovative charitable program that supports five leading LGBT organizations via a donation of room proceeds.

Meaghan is an associate at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP in New York City. Meaghan has worked there since 2008. Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, Meaghan worked as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ursula Ungaro, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida from 2006-2008. From August of 2007 through May of 2008, she worked as a Legal Research and Writing Instructor at the·University of Miami School of Law. She worked as a summer associate at Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP in Miami, FL, in the summer of 2005 and at Kenny Nachwalter PA in Miami, FL, in the summer of 2004. Before attending law school, Ms. Gragg worked as a Copy Editor & Editorial Intern at Bomb Magazine in New York, NY. Ms. Gragg is a member of the New York Bar (admitted 2009), the Florida bar (admitted 2007), and the California bar (admitted 2009). She received a JD from the University of Florida and an AB from Dartmouth College.

Michelle born in Colombia in 1978, attended the Lycée Français de New York, the Spence school, Aiglon College in Switzerland, and NYU’s fine arts program. Ms. Harper is the co-founder of a multi million dollar multi brand cosmetics holding company, CB LLC. Ms. Harper sits on the board of directors for FIT’s Couture Council and Tata Harper Beauty, as well as sitting on the Casita Maria young members board. She actively supports amfar, el museo del barrio, aid for aids, and nutrir. Ms. Harper is passionate about philanthropy, design, art, film and fashion. Her previous work experience includes internships and employment at MoMA, Malborough Gallery, MUSE Film and Television, VMS Associates, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Ms. Harper’s focus is on the intersection of business, the arts, and philanthropy.

Spencer is a principal at RAL companies and affiliates, one of the leading development firms in New York City. RAL is a nationwide development company specializing in urban development and architectural revitalization. The projects range from luxury apartment, condominium and resort communities. Mr. Levine is also the founder and principal of Creative Design Associates, which is a full service architecture and landscape architectural firm with a new York City focused practice. He has received his BS in Landscape Architecture and an MLA from Harvard Design School.

Lisa has been working in real estate and related fields for over 30 years. Ms. Rosenthal began her real estate career early working in her family properties in California and Florida while still in high school. These early experiences have given her a broad prospective about the importance of understanding local economies and site specific locations. Ms. Rosenthal studied geography at the University of Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in the field. Currently Lisa is working with Donna Karan, Jodi Arnold and Pylones on their national strategies. In the 1980s and 1990s Lisa worked for the real estate developer Harry Macklowe. In 1995 Lisa joined the 34th Street Partnership and Bryant Park Restoration Corp., two of midtown Manhattan’s largest business improvement districts. Lisa worked to improve the quality of life within the BID boundaries, successfully changing the perception of the districts from run down, has been neighborhoods to the dynamic, much sought after, commercial communities they are today. She did this by working with landlords, lenders, appraisers, brokers and the press. She also directly recruited commercial and retail tenants. Since 2005, Ms. Rosenthal has worked as a commercial real estate broker. Ms. Rosenthal joined Lansco in 2008 and is Director of Lansco.

Cator is a journalist for a variety of magazines and websites. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia Mr. Sparks attended the College of Charleston where he majored in French and later the American College in London where he graduated with honors with a Fashion Marketing degree.  Since moving to New York City in 1999 Mr. Sparks has worked in both beauty and fashion PR, which lead to his transition to a full time journalist. Currently Mr. Sparks writes for FullFrontalFashion.com, 1stdibs.com, Elle Décor, T Magazine, Huffington Post, Acne Paper and Nowness.com and is the U.S. Editor of WeAr magazine. His focus is men’s fashion and design.  He also contributes his time to the Hetrick Martin Institute and The Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House where he volunteers regularly.

Winka is a native of the Netherlands, is the principal of Archi-Tectonic NYwhich was founded in 1994. The firm just recently opened an office in Shanghai. Archi-Tectonics has been featured in several professional journals and in the two monographs “Winka Dubbeldam Architect” by 010 publishers (1996) and “AT-INdex” (2007) by Princeton Press, NY.

Archi-Tectonics has been a finalist in several invited design competitions including the recent Staten Island Sustainable Housing Competition (winner) and the Houthaven Competition in Amsterdam. Among others, Dubbeldam received the “Emerging Voice” award from the Architectural League NYC in 2001 and was nominated as “The Best and Brightest” by Esquire Magazine, Dec 2004.

Bjarke is principal of BIG, based in Copenhagen. An alumnus of Rem Koolhaas' OMA practice, Ingels takes a similar approach: experimenting with pure space, but never losing sight of the building as a solution to a real-world problem. His deeply-thought-out and often rather large works — including several skyscrapers and mixed-use projects in a developing section of Copenhagen, plus a project for a new commercial harbor-island —  work to bring coherence to the urban fabric and to help their occupants and users lead better lives.

D,B is an award-winning designer, a conceptual and constructive practitioner, a commentator on creativity, and a world traveler and citizen. Born in South Korea, he built a professional career that has taken him all around the globe. His work spans hospitality, architecture, interiors, product design, and associations with leaders in these industries. His convictions, humor, and intellect drive a strategic imprint on the business of design and creativity

As a co-founder of L+S, James directs a range of communications programs across the agency’s diverse client roster.  With a nimble approach, he blends his business savvy with an insatiable interest in the trends and personalities of the ever-changing media landscape. LaForce was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and studied English Literature and writing at Columbia University.  For five years, he was mentored by the legendary fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, who is often credited with putting American fashion on the global map. As his career in communications developed, with a number of multi-year stints at top P.R. firms, he managed programs for a range of prominent brands, from consumer packaged goods to fashion and luxury products.  LaForce and his partner of twenty years, writer Stephen Henderson, live in Manhattan and spend weekends on Long Island. But, he is happiest at his office sending out emails and “calling around to bug people.”

Jürgen is founder and principal of this crossdisciplinairy studio. He studied at Stuttgart University, The Cooper Union and at Princeton Universtiy. His work was published and exhibited worldwide and is part of international collections like the MoMA New York and SF MoMA. His work was awarded with numerous prizes, i.e. the Mies-van-der-Rohe-Award 2003 Emerging Architect and Winner Holcim Awards 2005 Bronze Europe for Metropol Parasol. Jürgen Mayer H. tought at Princeton University, University of the Arts Berlin, Harvard University, Kunsthochschule Berlin, the Architectural Association in London and is currently teaching at Columbia University in New York.

Farshid is an architect, founder of Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA) and Professor in Practice in Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. She was co-founder and co-principal of Foreign Office Architects (FOA) until June 2011.

Farshid Moussavi has served on numerous design committees including the Mayor of London’s Design for London Advisory Group and LDA International Design Committee, the RIBA Gold and Presidents Medals, the Stirling Prizeand the Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2004, she was Chair of the Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and has been a member of the Award’s Steering Committee since then. A fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Moussavi is also a trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery and Architecture Foundation in London.