Geren Ford

I spoke with the advertising exec-turned-designer Geren Lockhart last week about why she has decided shutter her label—and what's next.

First, Chris Benz announced that he'd be sitting out the Fall 2013 shows. Soon after, Peter Som decided to forgo the traditional runway for one of KCD's nifty digital fashion shows, following in the footsteps of See by Chloe and Pierre Balmain, amongst others. Then last week's Wall Street Journal article about designers forgoing New York Fashion Week hit the real nerve, highlighting several up-and-coming (as well as established) labels choosing not to stage runway shows or presentations. Suddenly, it's okay—even respectable in certain circumstances—not to show at Fashion Week.

Fact: We've been fans of Geren Ford ever since they became a regular on ShopBop. Fact: We really don't like knock offs, especially when they're of des