Agency CEO Keela Starr Gives Industry Insight

Please provide a brief intro on yourself and your agency?

My name is Keela Starr and I'm the CEO of K. Starr Management and Co-Owner of The Oui Agency. 

K. Starr Management's a management/mother agency that scouts, develop and manage models in the fashion industry. 

The Oui Agency is a full-service commercial talent agency. We represent models and actors for print, commercials, voice-over and TV/Film. 

What has been the immediate effect on your business?

Well, our clients/talent have definitely been placed on an unexpected stay-cation--that's for sure. However, in all seriousness, everything has been pretty much halted. There are no shoots or productions taking place at this time. Some companies are trying to find ways to do virtual shoots through social media.

How do you see peer agency's in other markets being affected?

The world is affected. There's not a market/location in this industry that's not affected. Right now,  a lot of my peers in the industry are zooming A LOT.  Planning and strategizing for when things turn around for the better.  

What do you see for the future of the fashion industry, both with its designer and fashion houses as well as agency futures?

Fashion is a resilient industry. There is always innovation and constant change. I believe this time of quietness will bring out new, fabulous designs for the upcoming seasons and cause some designers to shift gears within their brand. For the agency's there may be some downsizing to cut cost, but that's an obvious decision that needs to be made. We are all being called for change and this is the most monumental way of doing it. 

Do you think things will go back to normal? And do you believe this may inspire " slow fashion " trends more for the future?

What is normal in fashion?? :) Yes I think it will get busy again- the question is when?

Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Rag and Bone and Mara Hoffman are a few designers that already follow this approach. Slow fashion is here to stay, however a little sparkle and bling like Tom Ford, Michael Kors, and Brandon Maxwell will always be in style in my personal opinion. Because I believe they cater to the fabulousness of a woman. They celebrate us.