Eva Platini-Hernandez is the Vice President of Business Development at WHP Global. For 15+ years, she built, repositioned, and scaled fashion and lifestyle brands across North America, Europe, LATAM, and Asia. Before WHP, she worked seven years at Lagardère leading Brand Strategy for ELLE Magazine and ELLE Decor across the Americas.
What originally drew you to the fashion industry?
It started with figure skating. I competed at a high level, and I was fascinated by the costumes — each program had multiple looks, each one a character, a mood, a story told without words. I would sketch them obsessively. That obsession led me to haute couture, and then to understanding fashion as what it truly is: a form of art. My mother, who worked closely with the art world, was a huge influence — she taught me to see the connection between creative expression and cultural meaning. Fashion, for me, has always lived at that intersection. And it remains one of the most powerful tools for self-expression and empowerment that exists.
What is one shift or challenge shaping the fashion industry right now that leaders should pay attention to?
The brands winning today are the ones that have stopped chasing trends and started building conviction. In a saturated, noisy market, clarity of identity is a competitive advantage. Consumers — especially younger ones — can smell confusion from a mile away. The leaders who will shape the next decade are those who know exactly what their brand stands for, and are willing to say no to everything that dilutes it.
Where do you see the most interesting opportunities for technology or AI in fashion?
Two layers, actually. The glamorous one: generative AI unlocking new creative possibilities — from design ideation to hyper-personalized consumer experiences. And the less glamorous, but arguably more transformative one: edge AI, supply chain optimization, demand forecasting, inventory intelligence. The brands that quietly get the infrastructure right will outperform the ones chasing the creative headlines. Both matter. Most brands are only paying attention to one.
What advice would you give to founders building fashion or fashion-tech companies today?
Solve for brand before you solve for distribution. Too many founders build the product, then try to bolt on identity afterward — and it shows. Your brand is your moat. Build it like you mean it from day one.
One book, one leader, and one quote that inspire you
Book: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer.
I work across markets constantly, and this book should be required reading for anyone building global brands. Understanding how culture shapes communication, decision-making, and trust isn’t a soft skill — it’s a competitive advantage.
Leader: Andrew Rosen.
He has quietly built some of the most enduring brands in American fashion — Theory, and most recently Rag & Bone, now part of the WHP Global portfolio. What I admire most is that he doesn’t just build brands, he builds the people around them. Emma Grede is proof of that.
Quote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” — Peter Drucker.
I’d add: in fashion, culture is the strategy.
