When Stacy M. Igel, founder and creative director of the fashion brand Boy Meets Girl, spoke to students at the Fashion Institute of Technology [FIT] recently, one woman asked, “How have you navigated, and how are you navigating, your way through this economy?”

Oh, let the impossible-to-keep-up-with Igel count the ways. Just since July, her brand has changed hands, she pulled together a Starbucks-sponsored show for Fashion Week in New York, made a deal with the Rate My Professors blog (a property of MTV networks) for a Web series and created an eco-friendly work environment.

This new chapter began when a majority stake of Boy Meets Girl was bought by The Moret Group (from Oved Apparel) in July. Igel is over the moon.

“Moret was looking for an iconic brand, a young, contemporary brand,” Igel said of the company that also includes on its roster brands like Everlast, Danskin, Jockey, DKNY Sleepwear, and Hello Kitty. “Not only did I bring my brand, but my platform from online”

Boy Meets Girl, with a logo that shows a boy and girl in silhouette, fit the bill. It was already well-established as a go-to for young celebrities. It’s been featured in most prominent fashion magazines and has popped up on television on shows like Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and Beverly Hills 90210. Igel has been smart about leveraging all of that exposure on Facebook, Twitter and through working relationships with fashion bloggers.

“Bloggers are hot, so I had bloggers in my fashion show,” Igel said. “Now big designers say bloggers are hot. I’ve been trying to keep up with what’s happening in pop culture. I try to be an out-of-the-box thinker. What’s next?”

Igel is all about next. That’s not to say she isn’t focused on the now, but the key to her success has been a balance of doing good work in the present and simultaneously staying savvy in her vision. That’s why it was delightful, but not surprising, that our interview was conducted in Igel’s new Times Square office on a couch made of cardboard surrounded by a cardboard chair, coffee table, palm tree and even cardboard room dividers, all courtesy of Design Cycle.

“Look at the wish wall,” Igel said, pointing to what looked like a cardboard beehive. Some of the holes were filled with colored paper that held, you guessed it, wishes.

She hadn’t even had time to wish for a splashy presence during 2010 Fashion Week when Starbucks came knocking just a day after she arrived at Moret. Her team pulled together a terrifically energetic show that included actor Jenn Proske and bloggers known as Saucy Glossie and Late Afternoon walking the runway. It even tied in a cause dear to Igel, as it was dedicated to the late Kristen Martinez who died of breast cancer at age 36. Igel collaborated with Martinez’ former employer, Urban Outfitters, and created a bag to benefit the Young Survival Coalition.

Igel has also worked with Bloomingdale’s and teen celeb Sammi Hanratty to fight bullying in schools. Even in that, she was ahead of a developing trend that has attracted much-needed attention because of bullying episodes in the news over the last month.

On a more upbeat note, the Web series she created, "Behind the Seams," will be featured on Rate My Professors beginning next week.. In the first episode, viewers will see her cardboard office come alive. Episode No. 2 is about prepping for the Fashion Week show and No. 3 is the show itself. Each one runs 3-4 minutes.

The spring 2011 collection featured in the show was inspired by the “intrepid traveler” in the spirit of richness of experience. Women who wear Boy Meets Girl tend to “know who they are” because, well, its creator knows who she is. Mum’s the word, but her recent trip to London and Paris has already inspired her fall 2011 collection. And the beat goes on.

What Moret has added is a dimension of stability that frees up Igel to create and execute “what’s been going on in my head.” That includes things like surf wear and cologne, but also that ‘what’s next’ vision in all forms of media. In the office, she loves when she sees notices for retirement parties for long-time employees because she knows that signals loyalty. 

“I always dreamt of having a brand where people are with me for a long time,” Igel said. “It showed me I’m in the right place.”

In the first episode of “Behind the Seams” Igel laughingly recalls starting out her career with a cardboard box as a desk.

“It’s sort of funny to be back to a cardboard desk,” she says.

With decidedly more flair.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.