la vie après l’amour, CEO

HVSFW, CEO + Founder

Originating from a small town in the Hudson Valley, Kaitlyn moved to New York City to pursue her career in fashion, studying merchandising at the Fashion Institute of Technology. For eight years she worked as a merchandiser for a luxury fashion brand.

Though she is grateful for her time and experience there, she quickly witnessed the incredible amount of waste created. The fashion industry is the second leading polluter in the world. Relocated back home in the Hudson Valley, she feels that now, more than ever, we need to think twice about how we consume and be a part of the solution.

Thus, la vie après l’amour was born. Inspired by her work and study travels to France, après is Kaitlyn’s upcycled interpretation of the effortlessly chic style all Parisians seem to have.

Beyond her sustainably-designed pieces is a desire to change how we engage with our world, one choice at a time. She hopes to accomplish this through the longevity of HV Sustainable Fashion Week.

Spring Valley Placemakers, Founder

HVSFW, CCO

A native of Rockland County, Joanne is in love with our beautiful region. She is an environmental entrepreneur and community engagement specialist passionate about building bridges between people, ideas, and sustainable solutions.

She spent a year-long climate justice fellowship researching the needs of her hometown of Spring Valley and exploring the concept of creative placemaking as a tool for social and climate resilience. From it came the Spring Valley Placemakers, a working group of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds focusing on the ecological and social revitalization of Spring Valley’s 28-acre Memorial Park.

Joanne is excited to be a part of HVSFW’s mission to restore the earth’s richness through circular decisions and simple changes.

So Vicki, CEO

HVSFW, COO

Annie McCurdy is a designer who fell in love with fashion while hunting for gems in Hudson Valley thrift stores. This led her to earn her BFA in women's sportswear design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2015. Annie draws inspiration from classic American sportswear, art, and fashion history.

Working in a factory building that was once the home of the Vicki Clothing Company in her native Newburgh, New York, Annie is inspired by the industrial history of her hometown and the stylish residents that strolled up and down its streets back when it was known as the “All American City.” Annie began her brand So Vicki, using deadstock and found materials to create men's and women's ready-to-wear ranging from outerwear coats, jumpsuits, shirts, pants, accessories, and more.

Annie was part of HVSFW’s inaugural runway show lineup in the fall of 2023 and, due to her enthusiasm and experience, was invited to join the board the following spring. She hosts mending workshops and clothing swaps free to the community.