Stefan Siegel facts for kids

Stefan Siegel is known for starting Not Just a Label. This is an online place where new fashion designers can show their work. He was born in 1978.

Stefan Siegel's Early Life and School

Stefan Siegel was born in 1978. He grew up in South Tyrol, a part of northern Italy where people speak German.

After high school, he went to the Francesco Morosini Naval School. Then, he moved to Vienna. In 2004, he earned a master's degree. He studied International Business Administration and Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Stefan Siegel's Career Journey

From Modeling to Finance

Before starting his own company, Stefan Siegel worked as a fashion model. He modeled for famous brands like Prada, Gucci, and Calvin Klein. He also worked for companies like BMW and K-Swiss.

After finishing his studies, he worked in finance. He was employed by companies such as Ernst & Young. He also worked for a private bank called Sal. Oppenheim in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 2017, Siegel joined the Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Group. He worked as a Senior Analyst in London and New York. His job was to advise large fashion companies.

Sharing His Knowledge

Stefan Siegel used all his experience to create Not Just a Label. He has given talks at over 100 major conferences. These include the Condé Nast Luxury Conference in 2017 and 2018.

He has also appeared on TV shows. You might have seen him on the BBC, Arte Euromaxx, or Bloomberg TV. He is a guest lecturer at many universities. These include Parsons, London College of Fashion, and Central Saint Martins.

In 2012, he gave a TED talk. He spoke about "The World in the Next Ten Years." This talk was at United World College of the Atlantic. He also works with groups like the European Union and The British Council. He has advised cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Dubai.

Not Just A Label: A Platform for Designers

How NJAL Started

Stefan Siegel started Not Just A Label (NJAL) with his brother, Daniel. They thought of the idea for a global website. This site would help new fashion designers show their work. They came up with the idea at Stefan's home in East London.

Stefan had experience in the fashion world. Daniel was good at web development. NJAL officially began in 2008. The brothers used their own money to fund the business. It started making a profit in its second year.

NJAL's Global Reach

Today, NJAL helps over 35,000 designers. These designers come from more than 150 countries around the world. NJAL has opened temporary stores in different cities. These include Dubai, New York City, Berlin, and London.

For four years, NJAL also hosted a special fair. It was called Origin Passion & Beliefs. This event took place in Venice, Italy.

Siegel also wanted the fashion industry to support designers. He focused on those from lesser-known countries. He also helped designers from politically challenging areas. He traveled and organized events in places like Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Lebanon. He did this as a representative of NJAL. In March 2014, he attended fashion week in Ukraine. He was the only Western fashion industry representative there. This was during a time of political unrest.