Stefanie Dorfer

Stefanie Dorfer is a highly accomplished professional in the fashion industry, currently serving as Creative Strategy Director and Cultural Research Lead at Zalando Fashion Studios. Her background includes a diverse range of experiences that have shaped her expertise in creative strategy, trend forecasting, and cultural research.

Background

• Education: Stefanie holds an MA in Fashion Retail Management from the London College of Fashion (LCF), part of the University of the Arts London (UAL). She completed her course in 2014 after previously earning a bachelor's degree in economics and a diploma in womenswear.1

• Career Path: Before joining Zalando, Stefanie worked at Stylus, where she was involved in trend forecasting. Her role focused on analyzing intersections between technology, consumer behaviors, and retail trends.1 At Zalando, she leverages her skills to drive strategic initiatives that align with cultural shifts and consumer preferences.23

Professional Expertise

• Trend Forecasting: Stefanie has extensive experience predicting future trends across various sectors within retail. Her work involves dissecting consumer lifestyle developments and design trends to inform strategic decisions.14

• Cultural Research: As Cultural Research Lead at Zalando Fashion Studios, Stefanie explores how brands interact with culture. She emphasizes that brands are becoming "culture coders," highlighting their role beyond mere product providers to influencers of societal norms.5

Future Plans

In addition to her current role at Zalando, Stefanie has expressed interest in launching her own sustainable retail business featuring rotating pop-ups for lesser-known brands. This venture reflects her passion for sustainability and ethical buying practices within the fashion industry.1

You can find more about Stefanie Dorfer on LinkedIn under the username "stefaniedorfer" or follow her updates on Instagram @stef.dorfer.