There is no color more freighted with meaning than red. The color of anger, of passion, and less metaphorically, of blood, red is arguably the color of life itself.

From Dior to Valentino, from Yves Saint Laurent to Lanvin, red is an expression of joy, of jubilation, and of passion. (So much for the undisputed primacy of the little black dress.) In the hands of others (and in very different contexts), it is among many other things the color of authority, of courage, and of liturgy. It is also a pre-eminent color of body ornament: red lipstick and nail polish are never out of style.

The 13th Annual New York Fashion Conference, RED, will explore the innumerable facets of this color without peer.

A variant of red was among the first colors used in addition to carbon black. We will consider the history of this color, and that of the materials from which it has been derived, as well as its symbolism, as a color in and of itself and integral to patterns such as paisley and tartan. We use vintage as a lens through which to study this vibrant hue and the important roles it has played at all times and in all cultures; we trace these roles as well as their evolution over time.

Not least, we explore the legacies of Diana Vreeland and others, for whom red was not just a color, but a signature.

Red has also become the emblem of social responsibility, and commitment to the support of various causes, among them HIV / AIDS awareness and women’s health, as well as social sustainability. And no exploration of this color would be complete without considering this intertwining. We will consider red (and black) as metaphor in examining the shifting intellectual property and economic concerns of the fashion industry. We will also consider red stones, from diamonds and rubies to spinel, tourmalines, and garnets, addressing the aesthetics and metaphoric implications of their use in jewelry.

For more information, go to: //www.artinitiatives.com/public/