Finding Focus, Setting the Pulse Together: CLO Summit New York 2026 Recap

The future of fashion feels somewhat clouded right now. Innovation is accelerating faster than anyone can comfortably keep up with, and the real challenge for the industry is cutting through the noise to focus on what truly transforms their day-to-day work. That's why we brought the community together in New York City for CLO Summit 2026, asking our clients and users to find their focus and set the Pulse for what we can build together.

And boy, did they answer! More than 350 of the fashion industry's brightest and most innovative joined us, from brands, fashion schools and small businesses to suppliers and vendors from all over the world. We shared ideas, traded expertise and simply helped each other out. We made connections that will carry us further along the journey, and we left inspired, with a stronger sense of CLOmmunity.

Real momentum, built on strong data foundations

3D and digital are gaining real momentum, powered by solid data foundations and fast-moving advances in AI, and the day's keynote presentations showed what that looks like from the inside. Lacoste's Jérôme Triquet and Elisa Pelizza opened with their blueprint for making CLO and 3D a cornerstone of how they work, now reaching the majority of the products they design and produce. Carhartt's Deana Clarke and Rachel Harmon followed with a reminder that success is not a straight line: years of building trust with internal stakeholders, plenty of detours and trial and error, and a journey that is long but worth it with the right team and the right approach.

Tapestry's Torazo Karagiannis and CLO's Emily MacLeod showcased how CLO is partnering with industry heavyweights to grow its footwear capabilities. It's new and complicated, but CLO is committed to building the best possible solution with the people who actually have to make it work. A panel of 3D leaders, including Elicia Wiltschko of Varsity Spirit, Geoff Yohn of Canada Goose and Karina Ochoa de Baker of High Life, then took the conversation to the front lines, where the repetitive, mundane work of endless re-entry stood out as something that can easily be addressed. That lined up with what Jaden and Alex shared from CLO's side.

"Fashion is notorious for being secret. So having the opportunity to be here together and learn from each other is just amazing."

Elicia Wiltschko, Director of 3D CAD Technical Design, Varsity Spirit

On the show floor, the CLO 3D to Physical Gallery was a highlight, showing the tangible impact of digital workflows across outerwear, workwear, performance fan gear and costumes. Supply chain partners on the Expo floor reinforced that digital transformation is an end-to-end partnership between brands and their suppliers.

You asked, we delivered, and more is coming - faster

Later in the day, Founder Jaden Oh and Senior Product Manager Alex Kim took the stage to share CLO's vision and roadmap, and the message was clear: CLO is committed to bringing the innovations that help design teams get better, quicker and faster. Rather than chasing hype, the focus is on practical, workflow-first upgrades that lighten the load on creative and technical teams, from idea to image, BOM, 3D, tech pack and photoreal.

Much of what they showed came straight from our community. Users told us they need to get to market faster and in a more streamlined way, all the way to production. Alex went in depth on what CLO set out to deliver in response: where we shipped the features users told us they wanted and needed, and where we went further, with capabilities that help brands go straight to production. Highlights include improved seam allowances, improved grading review, knit editing and material costing, to name a few. They asked, we delivered.

And more is on the way. We are adding a range of new features to bolster CLO's capabilities, including a parametric pattern drafter, turnback and smart ironing, better functionality with leathers and the CLO agent, among others.

AI is one way we get there faster. The goal is to streamline everything CLO touches, move teams past today's "prompt-and-pray" approach to AI, and automate the work around product development so designers can keep their focus on crafting exceptional products.

"We're trying to do our best to meet each clients' needs... CLO Summits are a great way to help us hear their voices."

Jaden Oh, Founder, CLO Virtual Fashion

Looking Ahead

Progress in digital fashion is driven by community, partnership and steady execution. Our renewed focus is to serve the whole fashion team, not just one design seat. We are accelerating too, getting faster at harnessing the tools available to build what works for our users, and building systems that work for them, not the other way around. The result is fashion teams that are faster, more agile and more effective in their day-to-day, and we will keep building alongside the industry with its interests at heart.

Our thanks to every speaker, partner and attendee who made CLO Summit New York 2026 what it was. We're excited to build what's next with all of you.