From Runway to Revenue: How DTC Brands Can Scale

The day after New York Fashion Week, 99 YARDS partnered with Aimerce to shift the conversation from visibility to viability.

While NYFW celebrates creativity on the runway, this event focused on what happens after the show, how brands translate attention into measurable, scalable revenue.

The evening brought together founders, operators, and investors to unpack the real infrastructure behind DTC growth: data ownership, distribution strategy, retention systems, paid media efficiency, and operational discipline.

Moderator:
Sreya Halder, Founder & CEO of The Mall
Panelists:
• Yiqi Wu — Founder & CEO of Aimerce
• Drishti Gangwani — Founder of Closr.
• Alise Trautmane-Uzuner — Founder & CEO of doors.nyc

We also featured a brand showcase by Not A Word, highlighting how creative identity can translate into commercial structure when supported by the right ecosystem.

Key themes from the conversation:
• First-party data is no longer optional — it’s infrastructure
• Email and owned channels outperform vanity metrics
• Distribution strategy must align with brand positioning
• Retail partnerships and community platforms accelerate credibility
• Sustainable growth requires operational clarity, not just creative momentum

At 99 YARDS, we believe fashion needs better systems — not just better campaigns.