Leanne Elliott Young.
is the CEO and Co-founder at Institute of Digital Fashion.
Young is an industry lead, innovator, highly sought-after commentator recognised globally, on the topics of fashion futures, digital innovations, inclusivity in tech, sustainability, fashion-tech and industry disruption.
Young has spent 15 years within the fashion and tech sphere, building creative concepts and strategies for future-facing living, fusing the established with progressive, youth-centric points. Spearheading experiential marketing and strategy for notable global clients.
2015, Young co-founded, CommuneEAST with fashion designer Richard Nicol, using a STEAM narrative to bridging the gap between IRL and URL, forging solutions and activations in the worlds of AR and VR, directing live events, debates and strategic cultural partnerships.
2020 amidst the global pandemic, Young joined forces with Cattytay founder of Digi-gxl a community of womxn, trans, intersex and non-binary digital designers, this merger launched IoDF.
Co founder and CEO of Institute of Digital Fashion: An emblem for change in a broken system. Young's work is noted globally as’ the key voice mining the vein with critical depth of how to build a new inclusive, diverse and sustainable IRL x URL reality’.
IoDF acts as a platform to restructure how technology and digital are used from creation to consumer, pushing tech-use towards a more democratic and sustainable future. IoDF offers innovative world-class digital solutions as progressive alternatives to old paradigms and worn-out fashion cycles, merging IRL and URL experiences created to democratize digital fashion and the fashion arena.
The dynamic duo pledged to build an institute that could solve archaic structures. Pushing technology as a solution to not just sell more clothes, but to disrupt the way the system concepts, produces, creates, broadcasts, educates and demands. IoDF is changing the system, asking questions and forging new solutions.
Notable clients include: Condé Nast, Lexus, Samsung, Dazed, Adidas, Nike, Kenzo, British Council, Frieze Art Fair, The Selfridges Group, The V&A Museum, British Fashion Council.
Young has had notable features and written for: Dazed, i-D, BoF, Vogue, Vogue Business, Guardian, BBC, GQ, Wallpaper, SHOWstudio, culted, Jing Daily.
SHOWstudio - “A notable force leading what fashion will look like within the next decade.” Highsnobiety - “One of 50 creatives who are shaping the next 50 years.”
Accolades :
Honorary patron at OUTSET and the ICA.
Judge on the Vogue x TAFF innovation prize.
Committee/advisory board member at 50m, AUCart, Soho House, Young Women's Trust and Her Stories.
Educator and public speaking : Cambridge University, UAL: London College of Fashion, Innovate UK, CAFDA, Fashion revolution, London Tech week, Conde Naste, London Fashion Week and SHOWstudios.