MEET OUR TEAM
FOUNDERS
Doris Domoszlai-Lantner
Doris Domoszlai-Lantner is a New York-based fashion historian and archivist. She holds an M.A. in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and a B.A. in History and East European Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University. She is a regular author for academic journals and publications, as well as speaker at international conferences, including Oxford University, and the University of Lille, France. Doris has founded and developed several private and corporate fashion archives, and is currently the Archives Manager at one of the world’s largest manufacturers of trims and accessories.
Sara Emilia Bernat, Ph.D.
Sara Emilia Bernat is a sociologist brand strategist. She graduated with a B.A. in Communications from the American University of Paris. Subsequently she earned an M.PS. in Branding from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and a Ph.D. from the Humboldt Universitat-Berlin in Sociology. She is an expert in sustainability in luxury and fashion, splitting her time between Europe and the United States. In tandem with her research, Sara holds a Senior Strategist at global innovation consultancy, Gemic, advising private and public organizations on strategic branding and development.
OUR TEAM
Eleonora Dal Bosco, Fellow
Eleonora Dal Bosco is a fashion writer and researcher from Venice based in London. She just earned an MA in Fashion Critical Studies from Central Saint Martins. In her dissertation she analyses the work of Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga and Vetements, in light of the theory of the grotesque. Eleonora comes from a literary background and holds a degree in English and German culture from the Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia. Her work understands fashion as a complex cultural phenomenon, whose codes can be used to interpret our contemporary society.
Vanessa Kovacs, Project Manager
Vanessa Kovacs is the founder and designer of the conscious womenswear brand, NESSANA. She holds a BA degree in Fashion Design with Fashion Branding specialization from Erhvervsakademi Sydvest (Denmark) where she’s assisting in the fashion research group at the moment. She’s currently finishing her MA degree in Art and Design Management at Budapest Metropolitan University (Hungary). She’s developing a circular business model for fashion brands as part of her dissertation. Vanessa is dedicated to sustainability and the slow fashion movement.
Jane Handorff, Fellow
Jane Handorff is a fashion and art historian from New York City. She earned her BA in art history from Dartmouth College, and her MA in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art in the special option “Documenting Fashion: Modernity, Films and Image in America and Europe, 1920-1960.” In her dissertation, she examined Iris van Herpen and her creation of new femininities through the lens of feminist new materialist thought. She additionally works on media strategy for brands and entrepreneurs doing environmental and social good.
ADVISORS
Clint Beharry
Clint Beharry is a VR & AR interaction designer with a background in research, stories, product, and engineering. Currently he’s a Product Design Prototyper for Facebook’s Oculus VR Media team where he designs and builds new types of immersive stories and empathic social experiences. Previously he designed VR apps for The Wall Street Journal, Within, and Emblematic, as well as three interactive documentaries that earned Emmy & Webby nominations. As a researcher he spent 5 years with scientists studying how stories change the world, then designed products to help stories impact social issues. Clint holds degrees in Interaction Design and Computer Engineering.
Dan Formosa, Ph.D
With a background in design and ergonomics, Dan Formosa has long been at the forefront of the “design for all” movement. His design recognitions include Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award (on behalf of Smart Design), and IxDA’s first annual Interaction Design Award (in the “Disruptive” category). His work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Dan consults with companies and organizations worldwide on design and innovation. He holds an undergraduate degree in product design, and a Masters and Ph.D. in ergonomics and biomechanics. A special focus is design and gender, identifying opportunities for brands to better connect with females. He also co-founded the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, the first program of its kind, where he conducts a class on design research and its impact on brands and brand equity.
