Shows
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsOrchestrating Change in Concert Attire For Classical Musicians with Mercedes Smith of BlackstradClassical music is rooted in rich history, formality, and tradition - but does the musicians’ concert attire still have to be? Blackstrad founder and professional flutist Mercedes Smith thinks it is time for a change of pace in performance wardrobes. In episode 110, hear how she is designing new concert black attire that resonates with the individuality of modern musicians while keeping the harmony of a unified ensemble.
Mercedes Smith has served as the Principal Flutist of the Utah Symphony since 2012, having previously held the same position with the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet Orchestras.
She...
2025-02-1159 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsQuestions To Ask Your Fabric Supplier To Ensure Quality & Consistency with Thomas Oviedo of Carr TextileSourcing fabrics that fit their design, values, and budget is one of the biggest challenges designers face in making their designs a reality. It is such a relief when you can find a fabric supplier you can count on to grow your business. In episode 109, meet Thomas Oviedo, the Sales Manager at Carr Textile. In our conversation, he breaks down Carr’s fabric offerings, printing services, and rigorous quality testing process. Thomas also shares a list of questions to ask fabric suppliers to determine which fabric is the right fit for your project. Whether you are looking for 1yd or...
2025-01-281h 02
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Adventures Of Outdoor Apparel Entrepreneurship with Suzi Zook of Alta ReinaWhich is the bigger adventure: alpine skiing or starting a fashion brand? For Alta Reina founder Suzi Zook, they each provide their own set of thrills and challenges. In episode 108, Suzi tells of the peaks and valleys of starting her outdoor apparel brand made to fit tall women. From navigating sustainable sourcing of performance fabrics to overcoming pre-production self-doubt, Suzi is gearing up (in fun colors) for the long run.
Suzi Zook is the engine behind Alta Reina, a clothing brand focused on high-quality, responsibly sourced materials and U.S. manufacturing. Tailored for tall women, Alta Reina...
2025-01-1452 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWith Aging and Fashion Business, The Only Constant Is Change with Julie Corwin of Birdie & ClaireWith age, comes wisdom - and also change. Women 50+ years old are often overlooked by the fashion industry, but Birdie & Claire founder Julie Corwin celebrates style at every age. As these women go through transitions in their lives and bodies, Julie’s business has changed as well. In episode 107, Julie shares how her brand has stayed flexible and draws inspiration from the experience of women who have come before her.
Julie is the founder and owner of Birdie & Claire, an independent women’s apparel brand dedicated to timeless, elevated style for women at every stage of life. The...
2024-11-1952 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsHow Customer Conversations Become Actionable and Empathetic Insights with Erin Cavanaugh of See ROSE GoIn episode 106, Erin shares how conversations have shaped their brand and how she turns those insights into empathetic action. It was after decades in the industry at big-name brands like Nike, Converse, and Nordstrom that Erin and her co-founder realized just how hard it is for plus-size women to find clothes that fit after an elevator conversation with a co-worker. That conversation sparked others that began Erin and Yi’s entrepreneurial journey as the founders of See ROSE Go.
Accomplished Chief Merchandising Officer with over 20 years of industry experience leading innovative strategies across fashion and retail, Erin’s ca...
2024-11-0554 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsExpectations Vs. Reality of Fair Trade Manufacturing with Ari Louise of Glean & GraceIn episode 105, hear the step-by-step timeline that Ari took to design, launch, and produce her first product for her historically-inspired maternity brand Glean & Grace. In our conversation, she reveals the ways the process didn’t go as planned, but how it has been rewarding and encouraging nonetheless.
Ari is a trained tailor turned sustainable clothing designer. Ari and her husband have 2 kids, a 3 year old and an 18 month old. She uses historic patterning and modern design to create beautifully functional clothing for mothers who want to feel like themselves again.
In this episode, you’ll learn...
2024-10-2257 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsValuing The Longevity Of Clothing with Aiste Zitnikaite of DevintoIn episode 104, hear how Aiste designs for longevity, how she’s learned to do better when it comes to sustainability over the years, and what still needs to happen to make ethical fashion brands viable in the long-term. With over a decade in business, Aiste knows what works and what doesn’t and openly shares her knowledge.
Aiste Zitnikaite is a Lithuanian born designer based in Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA. Aiste studied fashion design at Lasalle College in Montreal, Canada and spent several years working in Montreal’s fashion industry. This is when she became more aware of som...
2024-10-0957 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMaking The “Right” Next Move For Your Brand with Kristen Chester of Casa DanuIn episode 103, Kristen Chester shares the beautiful moments and the uncertain realities of growing a fashion brand. She started Casa Danu after surviving breast cancer which transformed the way she thinks about clothing. Her mission with the brand is to help women feel more alive and more like themselves no matter what they are going through. Tune in to hear how Kristen makes decisions about production, materials, and profitability in alignment with this mission.
Kristen is the founder of Casa Danu, a sustainable womenswear brand focused on vibrant, chic, and print-forward clothing (think caftans, kimonos, and coordinated...
2024-09-2451 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWhat Women Really Think About Pockets According To Research with Aditi Sinha of Point of View LabelIn episode 102, women’s workwear brand founder Aditi Sinha speaks out against pocket inequality for women in the workplace. Hear how she is leveraging extensive research and customer feedback to close this gap - not just with the size of pockets - through her brand Point of View Label.
Aditi Sinha is the founder & CEO of Point of View, a Seattle based functional and designer workwear brand on a mission to end pockets inequality for women through smartphone pockets in everything they make. POV has started the 'Pockets Pledge' movement, a change.org petition where women all over...
2024-09-1059 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThis Fit Is Not For Everybody (and that’s okay) with Kalia Carter of BodyCon The BrandIn episode 101, Kalia Carter gets real about the challenges she’s faced creating BodyCon The Brand exclusively to fit full-bust women. She’s faced pushback from factories and internet trolls alike for her unwavering focus on full-bust fit, but she’s also created the pieces she’s always wished she could wear and has a growing community of women in her niche that get it and support what she’s building.
Kalia started BodyCon the Brand as a fuller-bust clothing brand. Growing up she had always struggled to find pieces she was comfortable in, that flattered her, and that a...
2024-08-2753 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsHow These Listener-Favorite Episodes Have Shaped Your Fashion BusinessIt’s episode 100 of How Fitting®! Each of these conversations with fashion designers and business owners has explored how they create clothing and grow a business that fits their customer, lifestyle, and values. I have enjoyed getting to know each of these people and seeing what drives their decisions and it has been a privilege to share their stories with you on this podcast over the past four years. Fashion has meaning and significance far beyond the superficial look.
To celebrate this 100-episode milestone, I asked you, the listeners, which episodes and guests have stood out to you...
2024-08-1358 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsPrioritizing The People (While Still Being Profitable) with Kat Williford of PamutIn episode 99, Kat Williford recounts how her brand Pamut has shifted over the years to sustain her and now her team through cross-continental moves, hard times, and new family priorities. Kat puts people first, but doesn’t miss a beat on the creative or the financial aspects of her business either. Hear how her thriving business model works in this episode.
Kat is the owner and designer behind the slow fashion brand Pamut. After completing her BFA in Fashion at the Savannah College of Art and Design and working for years at a mall brand, Kat took a c...
2024-07-3047 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsRethinking Braless Coverage, Comfort, and Clothing with Keona Moy of VktoriIn episode 98, hear how Vktori founder Keona Moy is challenging societal norms as well as her own self-limiting beliefs as she grows her braless, bandless, neuro-inclusive clothing brand. Women are told so many shaming messages about how they should dress their boobs, but Vktori is setting a new example of embracing comfort on your own terms.
Keona Moy, with her 13-year healthcare background, founded VKTORI in response to the discomfort of traditional bras and the stigma of going braless. Her firsthand experience with sensory sensitivities at work fueled the creation of VKTORI, a revolutionary women’s wear br...
2024-07-1649 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsInnovating Textile Prints For Fashion & Home with Heather Rose Rauscher of PatternierIn episode 97, Patternier founder and designer Heather Rose Rauscher gives us a tour of the intricate layers of her innovative artwork and business. Working in the industry for over a decade, she’s learned the rules of textile design. Now, with her own brand, she breaks them. Her luxury fashion and home pieces juxtapose vintage with new and minimal with maximal to create a deeply creative story.
Patternier, the brainchild of Master Textile Designer, Heather Rose Rauscher, is a unique Art, Fashion, and Home company rooted in Textile Design. With a deep passion for vintage fabrics, which sh...
2024-07-0256 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Price Of Making Sustainable Fashion The Norm with Selina Ho of ReclosetedIn episode 96, we ask the question: is it possible for fashion brands to be both sustainable and profitable? My guest, Selina Ho, the founder and CEO of sustainable consultancy Recloseted, paints a picture of what a renewed fashion industry could look like and what it would take to get us there. She shares practical steps that brands can take now to improve their sustainability efforts at each stage of business and how to communicate those efforts in specific and honest ways.
Selina is the Founder & CEO of Recloseted and she's on a mission to transform the harmful f...
2024-06-1854 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Underrated Skills That Will Get You Far in Fashion Business with Madison Powers of Madison VictoriaIn episode 95, Madison Powers speaks about the story, the underrated skills, and the business plan that have helped her “effortlessly creative” business go far in just a few years. Madison is strategic with her decisions, and crystal clear on her customer and business values, and shares so many little-talked-of realities of fashion business in this interview.
Madison was born and raised in Greensboro North Carolina, obtaining her bachelor's degree from NCCU in Business Administration and Marketing! After a year in Corporate America, Madison decided to put her love of business and fashion into something meaningful. Thus, creating her...
2024-06-041h 03
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsFashion As Skincare And Self-Awareness with Freya of SolpardusIn episode 94, Freya challenges the assumption that synthetics are better for swimwear with her sensitive-skin-focused brand Solpardus – which means ‘sun leopard’. With natural-fiber swimwear and apparel, Freya cares for her skin and the community of other women living with psoriasis, eczema, and sensitive skin that she’s met through running her business.
Solpardus makes all natural bamboo swimwear and linen clothing with skin comfort at the forefront of our design. We marry style with comfort to bring 100% natural, British made, ethical and sustainable swimwear and relaxed tailoring that is perfect for psoriasis and eczema.
The idea for...
2024-05-2150 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsCreating A Size Chart with Representation with Og Ajibe of Oge AjibeIn episode 93, Oge Ajibe talks about what she’s learned (and where she’s learned) about inclusive fit and fashion business. After 6 years and multiple pivots in business, Oge has slowly created her own way to make sustainable, comfortable clothes that fit no matter your size. She’s uniquely created Oge Ajibe’s size chart, figured out pricing, stayed visible online, and she has big plans for the future of her brand.
Oge Ajibe is a company that educates consumers on portraying themselves across all aspect, of fashion. Our inclusive, sustainable apparel, all handcrafted in Canada, provides our cust...
2024-05-0758 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsReaching Profitability In Fashion Business with Laura Briggs of The ShortlistIn episode 92, The Shortlist founder Laura Briggs gives us a detailed look at how her fun and cheeky petite-only brand has reached profitability. From pricing and production to business operations, Laura describes the growing pains she’s gone through and the huge milestones she’s reached as she’s scaled her 3-year-old business.
Laura was also my guest two years ago on How Fitting episode 37 where she talked about how she first started The Shortlist and what her first year of entrepreneurship looked like.
The Shortlist is a premium, limited edition petite fashion brand.
In...
2024-04-2350 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsTaking The Stage Boldly For Inclusive, Slow Fashion with Suzanne Vinnik of By VinnikIn episode 91, hear how former opera singer Suzanne Vinnik designs bold, inclusive fashions that make women “feel seen” and encourage them to take up space for who they are. Knowing first hand what it is like to be exploited working in the arts, Suzanne runs her business differently. Her secret to success both on and off the stage is prioritizing community and personal relationships and paying everyone she works with living wages.
Suzanne Vinnik, a distinguished figure in both classical music and the fashion world, boasts a richly diverse career path. Originally traveling the world as an oper...
2024-04-0956 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsPrioritizing Customer Research and Values To Shape A Modest Activewear Brand with Aja Cohen of Transcendent ActiveIn episode 90, hear how Aja Cohen left her big corporate fashion career for a lifestyle - and fashion business - that put relationships and her values first. Transcendent Active is helping women embrace who they are and move confidently toward their goals. Her modest activewear designs aren’t just covering, but also comfortable, sustainable, and functional and are worn by more than just the modest community.
After designing fast fashion for over a decade, Aja Cohen launched an activewear brand for the woman she believed was not being spoken to in the marketplace - the modest woman. At...
2024-03-2651 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsResortwear That Benefits The Natural World with Janet St Cyr & Diana Kerins of Bambina SwimIn episode 89, hear how Janet St Cyr & Diana Kerins have created a swim and resort brand inspired by nature and travel. Learn what this mother-daughter partnership did to land a dream collaboration with a luxury resort and how they are growing their business slowly and steadily.
Bambina is a women’s swim and resortwear brand owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Janet St Cyr and Diana Kerins. Their creations blend bold, vibrant aesthetics with unparalleled comfort to ignite confidence and happiness in those who wear them.
They’re committed to keeping production right here in the...
2024-03-1254 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsHow To Source Fabrics As An Independent Designer with Jay Arbetman of The Sourcing DistrictIn episode 88, textile sourcing rep Jay Arbetman of The Sourcing District walks us through how to source wholesale fabric for your independent fashion brand - even in low quantities. Jay shares insights on fabric quality, sustainable fibers, and how to not spend months on your fabric search. With decades in the business, Jay knows what questions designers should ask and what has helped his longest-standing clients be so successful.
Jay has been in the garment and textile business since he was a teen. He spent the 1980's in NYC selling to department stores and specialty stores throughout...
2024-02-2754 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMaking Fashion Fit Your Way with Rivky Itzkowitz of Impact FashionIn episode 87, life-long lover of fashion and modest dresser, Rivky Itzkowitz, shares how she makes fashion work for her and other women like her through her brand Impact Fashion. Rivky seamlessly weaves her Orthodox Jewish values, skillful design and patternmaking, and fashion sense into each piece for sizes 2-28.
Rivky Itzkowitz is a fashion designer living in NYC. As a practicing Orthodox Jew, she was frustrated at not being able to find modest clothes that actually fit, so she set out to create her own. Her company, Impact Fashion, is among the only size-inclusive modest fashion lines o...
2024-02-1357 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Future of On-Demand Production with Kirby Best of Bespoke Manufacturing CompanyIn episode 86, Kirby Best, the CEO & President of the innovative on-demand factory Bespoke Manufacturing Company, talks about what on-demand production is and what it means for the future of fashion. Learn the pros and cons of an on-demand model and how to know if it is a good fit for your fashion business.
Kirby is currently the President & CEO of BMC.Fashion, iCreate.Fashion, and 3100 West.
His main focus is on creating value to the customer through "on-demand" and fully customizable products using the finest technical material possible.
He is the past President...
2024-01-3051 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Intimate Details of Lingerie Design And Start-Up Life with Kristen Anderson of KRSTN NDRSN and IterationIn episode 85, design agency founder and intimate apparel brand co-founder Kristen Anderson reveals the inner workings of the lingerie and swim industry. Kristen speaks from her experience as an in-house designer, freelancer, intimate apparel design agency owner of KRSTN NDRSN, and co-founder of the intimates brand Iteration sharing the lessons she’s learned and the new innovations she’s excited about.
Kristen has been designing apparel for over 13 years and has built a strong reputation for her innovative products, technical and fit expertise, and deep understanding of the end user. Her wide-ranging design skills have been sought out...
2024-01-1655 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsFilling The Gap In Smart, Sustainable Closets with Sophie Kissling of UPPERCASEIn episode 84, UPPERCASE founder and designer, Sophie Kissling, tells us what she’s learned, the mistakes she’s made, and the smart choices she’s made throughout her career as a designer and personal stylist. She now weaves her experience seamlessly into smart closet services - including wardrobe edits and the UPPERCASE line that fills the gaps in sustainable wardrobes.
UPPERCASE was born as an expression of freedom. We created a collection for you to either fill in the gaps in your wardrobe or create an easy wardrobe. So you have the time to do whatever matters most t...
2023-12-0558 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsPowerful Impact Beyond the Clothes with Sadie Burton of FRST JohnIn episode 83, Sadie Burton shares her story about starting her fashion brand, FRST John, with a focus on real women, real life, and real impact on her community. Hear what she’s learned about designing, marketing, and wholesaling and the big plans she has for FRST John’s impact in the future.
FRST JOHN is a purpose-driven brand focused on designing feminine yet functional womenswear. Each collection gives you a tailor-like fit as if it were made specifically for you. Beyond the fit, our Texas-based founder and designer knew it was necessary to create not only a beau...
2023-11-2153 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsStyle Fit For The Petite Professional with Sopi Mitil of The Sopi Mitil Co.In episode 82, hear how attorney-turned-designer Sopi Mitil turned her frustration with the lack of well-fitting petite professional attire into a business: The Sopi Mitil Co. The brand offers short (but not just small) women stylish, professional attire that fits curves like a glove without a trip to the tailor.
The Sopi Mitil Co. is a fashion brand that has emerged as a beacon of empowerment and style for petite and curvy women. Founded by Sopi, a former attorney turned fashion entrepreneur, the brand was born out of her personal struggle to find stylish and professional clothing tailored t...
2023-11-0755 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Basics of Timeless Slow Fashion with Emily Bracey of JuuneyIn episode 81, hear how Emily Bracey took what she learned in fashion school in a whole new direction that focuses on timeless, slow fashion, and ethical fashion in her brand Juuney. Inspired by her grandma June’s purposeful and resourceful closet, Emily creates basics that can go from a wedding to naptime and are made to be meaningful for generations.
Juuney was born out of the founder, Emily Bracey’s vision to bring the timeless elegance of her Grandma June’s dress collection to a new generation. Grandma June’s reverence for beauty and fashion imprinted on Emily an...
2023-10-241h 00
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsAdding Color (and A Twist) to Midwestern Basics with Joie LaFrentz of JolaIn episode 80, Joie LaFrentz shares all the thoughtful decisions that go into designing for Jola, her line of colorful basics with a twist . Learn how she balances design, production, sales, and admin for her business all from remote Iowa.
Joie LaFrentz was born and raised in Iowa and has always had a love for design, color, and fashion. She studied both fashion merchandising and design before ending up with an art history degree. After living all over the country, Joie settled back in Iowa to raise her family amongst hard-working people and open spaces. The idea of h...
2023-10-1059 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThoughtful Style that Petite Women Want to Wear with Jenna Loyal of Pro Hac ViceIn episode 79, hear how Jenna Loyal, the founder of Pro Hac Vice, has created a fashion-forward brand that petite women actually want to wear - all while working a full-time day job. With thoughtful fit, feminine details, and quality fabrics, Pro Hac Vice serves style in just the right proportions.
Jenna Loyal is the founder of Pro Hac Vice, a New York City based clothing brand for petite women, 5’4” and under. Pro Hac Vice makes well-fitting clothing with feminine silhouettes, unexpected details, and high-quality fabrics. Jenna's greatest passion for the brand is to make clothes that petite wome...
2023-09-261h 02
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsUniversal Design for All Abilities with Stephanie and Mary Cayten Brakefield of BrakefieldsIn episode 78, mother-daughter duo Stephanie and Mary Cayten Brakefield share their passion for universal design that is fun, comfortable, and accessible. Their brand, Brakefields, is built on the idea that designing accessibility is better for people of all abilities and that fashion should be functional without sacrificing style.
It’s funny how the sum of all your experiences come together to create opportunities. Stephanie Brakefield learned to sew before she started kindergarten, making clothes and blankets for her dolls alongside her mom who was making beautiful garments for herself and her two daughters. In high school, Stephanie sp...
2023-09-1254 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Fat Success of Comfort and Good Fit with Marina Hayes of Peridot RobesIn episode 77, hear how Marina Hayes has grown her successful robe and lounge brand and a community of “fat activists” to provide more comfortable and well-fitting clothing options to plus size people. After selling out the first production run in less than two days, Peridot Robes has expanded their styles, fabrics, and the difference their clothes make for people that wear them.
Marina's entrepreneurial life began with reading The Babysitters Club at age 12 and was inspired to begin her first small business that very same year. Marina currently lives and loves in Chicago and owns 38 bathrobes. She stil...
2023-08-291h 03
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSetting a New Standard for Short-Stature (under 4’11”) Fashion with Chamiah Dewey of Chamiah Dewey FashionIn episode 76, Chamiah Dewey shares how she has built the UK’s first brand for short-statured (under 4’11”) people with empathy, diversity, inclusivity, and style at the forefront. Hear how she’s overcome the challenges of creating a whole new standard for fit and sizing – and the difference it has made in peoples’ lives.
Chamiah Dewey is the founder and CEO of Chamiah Dewey Fashion, the UK’s first clothing brand for short stature people, measuring under 150cm tall. She is an advocate in the disability, equality and inclusion conversation and freelance as a disability trainer and keynote speaker in the...
2023-08-151h 07
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsOutshining Skin Cancer in Style with Erica Sullivan Feggeler of Low UltravioletIn episode 75, Erica Sullivan Feggeler dives into how the sun-protective apparel brand idea she put together for a university business pitch competition her senior year has expanded its mission, product line, and impact. 2.5 years later, Low Ultraviolet is making waves in the UPF50 clothing market and creating a community that outshines skin cancer.
Erica is the founder and CEO of Low Ultraviolet (L.U.V.), a safe and fashionable UPF 50+ clothing brand on a mission to educate and protect the public from skin cancer. L.U.V. was founded in December 2019, a year after Erica's mom was d...
2023-08-0156 min
The Ultraviolet Tide25. How to Design UPF 50+ Apparel w/Alison HoenesWelcome back to the Ultraviolet Tide! In today's episode, Erica sits down with Low Ultraviolet's pattern maker, Alison Hoenes. Subscribe to stay up to date - thank you for listening! 💛 #OutshineSkinCancerABOUT TODAY'S GUEST:Alison Hoenes is a freelance womenswear pattern maker who helps brands overcome technical unknowns and get a design to production with confidence. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion/Apparel Design from Lindenwood University and founded Alison Hoenes Designs in 2017. In addition to Alison Hoenes Designs, she was also the Regional Director of The Fashion Group Int...
2023-08-0132 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsIdentifying and Connecting with Your Ideal Customers with Jane Hamill of Fashion Brain AcademyIn episode 74, drawing from decades of running her own successful fashion and retail business and coaching other fashion product brands to do the same, Jane Hamill shares practical strategies and lessons on identifying and connecting with the ideal customers for your brand. She shares what’s working and what’s not in today’s fashion business landscape.
Jane Hamill is the founder of Fashion Brain Academy which offers online classes and coaching for apparel and accessories designers on the BUSINESS side of things. Her goal is for every designer to make a living using their creativity while becomi...
2023-07-1850 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSEO For Fashion Brand Websites with Glynis TaoIn episode 73 - the second episode in our summer fashion business series - apparel business consultant and SEO expert Glynis Tao of Chase Your Dreams consulting demystifies SEO for fashion brands. She explains how SEO works, why fashion brand owners should care, and how an optimized e-commerce website helps you serve your customers better (and make more sales).
Glynis is a clothing brand owner turned Business Consultant & SEO Specialist with 20 years apparel industry experience. She helps fashion entrepreneurs and clothing brand owners launch, build and grow their fashion e-commerce business. She’s the founder of Chase Your Dr...
2023-07-041h 02
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSelling Your Products Without Selling Your Soul with Elizabeth StilesThis week we kick of a summer mini-series diving into the business side of fashion!
In episode 72, fashion brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles shares her expertise on selling your fashion products without selling your soul. We talk about getting into a sales mindset that isn’t sleazy and practical tips on how, when, and where to sell so that you can make money doing what you love.
Elizabeth Stiles is a fashion & textiles brand consultant with 15 years experience in the retail industry working with the likes of Next, New Look, River Island & Urban Outfitters as a bu...
2023-06-201h 00
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsReal Style (And Happiness) Has No Size with Patricia Luiza Blaj of Loud BodiesIn episode 71, Patricia Luiza Blaj shares how her own relatable struggle to find clothing in her size led her to start Loud Bodies - an ethical, sustainable, and inclusive brand that offers sizes 2XS-10XL. Patricia believes that you too deserve to be happy, to wear beautiful clothes, and to be respected and represented by brands – and the Loud Bodies clothes and business reflect that.
Patricia Luiza Blaj is the Founder of ethical, sustainable & inclusive brand Loud Bodies, Patricia is passionate about social justice, sustainability and building a business that brings value by putting people at the hea...
2023-06-0659 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsScaling a Lifestyle Brand for Millennial Moms with Leah Longueville of Polished PrintsIn episode 70, hear how Leah Longueville grew the onesie screen printing hobby she started in her spare bedroom when her daughter was a newborn into a thriving lifestyle brand for millennial moms. Over five years later, Polished Prints now sells retail and wholesale plus has its own brick and mortar shop with multiple employees. Leah shares practical tips on how it all happened and how her mindset has shifted over the years in this episode.
Leah Longueville is the Founder + CEO of Polished Prints, a lifestyle brand dedicated to creating products that bring positivity to you, your...
2023-05-2357 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWhen Fitting Your Lifestyle And Values Means Closing Your Apparel Brand with Crystal Cave formerly of Poppy RowIn episode 69, Crystal Cave gets real and honest about her decision to close Poppy Row - the inclusive and sustainable apparel brand she started in 2018. She shares what changed over the years in the business and in her personal life and why closing the brand is NOT failure, but growth.
Crystal Cave is a celebrity stylist turned style educator and fashion designer. She is the Founder + Creative Director of Poppy Row, a size-inclusive, eco-conscious clothing line.
Following her employment in branding + marketing, Crystal decided to follow her dream of becoming a celebrity stylist and worked b...
2023-05-091h 28
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSustainable Underwear To Wear Slow, Compost Fast with Stacy Grace of KENTIn episode 68, Stacy Grace shares how being frustrated with the overabundance of synthetic underwear options available, she set out with her husband and co-founder Jeff to create Kent - a fully compostable, natural underwear brand. Three years after launch, Kent offers underwear and basics for women and men that are soft and breathable and you get to “plant your pants” when you are done with them.
Stacy Grace is the founder of KENT, the compostable underwear brand that’s on a mission to help save the planet, one super natural basic at a time. A Canadian living in LA...
2023-04-2552 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsExperiencing Fashion As Art And Creativity with Emma RubinsonIn episode 67, Emma Rubinson takes us behind the scenes of her namesake label and shares how she designs artful fashion and experiences that encourage people to be their most authentic selves. Hear her creative perspective on design and what it took to produce her recent NYFW collection.
Hailing from the planet Neptune, Emma Rubinson is a rare species of light that only travels in prime numbers. She is fascinated by the human consciousness, and the connections we form with one another.
Emma’s work explores the human experience. Inspired by dreams, alternate realities, and psychological phe...
2023-04-111h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Raw Truth Behind Fuller-Busted Sports Bras with Lizzie Gordon of B.X.M.In episode 66, hear how Lizzie Gordon started a fashion brand making sports bras for bigger boobs after years of thinking “some bigger brand will be the one to make this”. Personally understanding the challenges women face trying to find sports bras in larger cup sizes, Lizzie set out to solve those challenges and she shares what she’s learned about being a business owner in the fashion industry in this episode.
Lizzie started working on B.X.M in 2020, with absolutely zero experience in both running a business and fashion/manufacturing. Meaning she had a steep learning curve/cr...
2023-03-2859 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Impact Of An African-Inspired Brand with Kahindo Mateene of KahindoIn episode 65, Kahindo Mateene shares the inspiration, ethics, and inside entrepreneurial journey of her namesake label Kahindo. With a focus on African textiles, her business is built to empower the women who wear her clothes and the women who make them.
KAHINDO is a New York based ethical fashion brand that is inspired by our founder’s Congolese heritage and African upbringing and ethically Made in Africa using fair trade practices. KAHINDO is a celebration of the legacy and natural beauty of Africa. Our one-of-a-kind prints and dynamic color palettes are an ode to the continent’s rich...
2023-03-1455 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWorthiness, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Fashion with Amanda Toy of Nicole & RoseIn episode 64, Amanda shares how she started a sustainable fashion brand, Nicole & Rose, with the goal of making all women feel worthy, powerful, and included. From starting with just a dream of working in fashion to now running her own brand, Amanda’s journey is relatable and affirming.
Amanda has loved fashion for as long as she can remember and has always dreamed of starting her own clothing brand. For so long this dream felt like it could not be a reality, and so she followed a more traditional career path… but in the back of her mind...
2023-02-2856 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsBeing Called To Create “Decidedly Elegant” Workwear For Petite Women with Tigist Ketema of Tigist PetitesIn episode 63, Tigist Ketema recalls the demoralizing fitting room experiences trying to find workwear that fit her curvy, petite frame and shares how she felt called to solve that for herself and other women by creating something that didn’t exist before: a luxury workwear brand designed and made just for petite women.
Tigist Ketema is the founder and designer behind Tigist Petites, the luxurious new designer ready-to-wear label for women under 5' 4". The eponymous brand is a true labor of love for its founder, Tigist Ketema, who has long struggled to dress her own 5' 1" hourglass fig...
2023-02-1459 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsGrowing Sustainably From Designer to Business Owner with Bianca Bellantoni of BELLANTONIIn episode 62, hear how Bianca Bellantoni has built her sustainable fashion brand, Bellantoni, to be kind to animals and the planet - and how she’s grown as a designer and business owner in the process.
Bianca Bellantoni is a Canadian designer and the founder behind the sustainable and cruelty-free clothing brand, BELLANTONI, which she started in 2017. She has her Bachelors of Design from Toronto Metropolitan University and completed her studies with a focus on zero waste sustainable fashion. Her passion to become a sustainable fashion advocate started in 2012 when she learnt about the devastating effects the fas...
2023-01-3154 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsAchieving Big Dreams with Danny Burke and Brandon Winslow of MADE FOR ALLIn episode 61, longtime friends and Co-Founders Danny Burke and Brandon Winslow talk about how they dream big and work to achieve it. They share the story of their 7-years-in-the-making luxury streetwear brand MADE FOR ALL, the wins and challenges of running a brand, and what they’ve learned about entrepreneurship and each other along the way.
MADE FOR ALL Co-Founder and Head of Strategy Danny Burke is a proud, disabled United States Army veteran and gay, black professional with a passion for building meaningful, disruptive businesses. Danny holds a MBA in Organizational Behavior and Marketing Management from Cla...
2023-01-1759 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMaking Launching A Sustainable Fashion Brand Easier with Shannon Lohr of Factory45In episode 60, sustainable fashion business school founder & CEO Shannon Lohr shares insights, practical tips, and marketing and mindset wisdom for starting a sustainable fashion brand based on her years of experience coaching successful fashion entrepreneurs through her Factory45 program.
As the Founder & CEO of Factory45, Shannon Lohr works with idea-stage entrepreneurs to launch fashion brands that are sustainably and ethically made.
Shannon got her start in 2010 when she co-founded {r}evolution apparel, a sustainable clothing company for female travelers and minimalists that was featured in The New York Times, Forbes.com and Yahoo! News.
...
2023-01-0357 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsExploring Dreamy Fashion For Everyday Moments with Natalia Pavanelli of WandwoodsIn episode 59, Natalia Pavanelli brings us into her poetic exploration of the whimsy of little moments through her romantic, cottagecore brand Wandwoods. Her storytelling, industry experience, and purpose weave a captivating tale in this episode about chasing dreams and the realities of fashion entrepreneurship.
“I am a Brazillian-Canadian fashion designer with a passion for prints, beauty and old-times-everything. As a child I would move around the world with my parents, collecting new stories, cultures and languages from the old world. As an adult, I continued to live abroad, and worked in France, Brazil and finally, moving to Ca...
2022-12-201h 04
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsPerfecting The Craft of High-End Tailoring with Keti McKenna of KetivaniIn episode 58, master clothing craftsman Keti McKenna tells the story of her fashion career from recently-immigrated geophysicist in NYC in the 1990s, to seamstress, to patternmaker at designer brands, and finally founder of her own high-end suiting brand Ketivani.
Keti's original career was as a geophysicist, but she always had a love of fashion and sewing since she was a little girl growing up in Tbilisi, Georgia. She immigrated to New York City in the early 90's and soon began selling her designs to local boutiques in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the city. At the same...
2022-12-061h 10
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsFocusing On The Basics, But Adding Flair with Allison Kittle of Betty x BowIn episode 57, the owner of Canadian slow fashion brand Betty x Bow, Allison Kittle, shares how she combines comfort, versatility, and feminine flair to create thoughtful, elevated basics. Her pieces do it all, and so does she - Allison balances a full-time nursing career with operating Betty x Bow.
“My name is Allison Kittle, I am the owner and operator of Betty x Bow (pronounced Betty and Bow) a slow-fashion womenswear brand based out of Ottawa, Ontario Canada. We create timeless, effortless, classic silhouettes with a feminine flair that help women build a conscious capsule wardrobe. I was...
2022-11-2254 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsFinding Belonging In A Wool Coat with Anna Dougherty of Anna Gray CollectionIn episode 56, Anna Dougherty shares her story of belonging as she developed - and recently launched - her NYC-locally made wool outerwear collection - Anna Gray Collection. Hear how her background in outerwear wholesale and the street she grew up on as a child came together in her launch collection.
Anna Dougherty is a New York City based designer who founded Anna Gray Collection, a women's outerwear brand for those looking to add a little merriment, joie de vivre, and color to their lives. Anna Gray Collection pieces are ethically made in NYC.
Anna had a...
2022-11-0855 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSlowing Down To “Revive All Clothing and Materials” with Laura Fisher of RevivallIn episode 55, Laura Fisher of Revivall Clothing encourages us to slow down and get in touch with our values, our clothes, and the land around us. She shares the windy path (including a degree in Animal Science) that led her to start Revivall in 2009 and how she’s built the brand to “revive all clothing and materials”.
From Laura: “I am inspired by the women of the Wild West and the bygone era of durable clothes, warranties, and American manufacturing. I believe we can do fashion better...better for the planet...better for the people making the clothes...
2022-10-2557 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMerging Fashion And Tech To Build A Custom-Made Fashion Marketplace with Dana Todd of BalodanaIn episode 54, Dana Todd, the founder of custom-made fashion marketplace Balodana, shares how she started the business after a successful career as CMO and tech start-up founder. Dana talks about how tech-based, made-to-measure, on-demand clothing is the bright future of apparel manufacturing and our closets.
Dana Todd is a 3-time founder, recovering CMO, and digital innovation pioneer with 20+ years making digital experiences for humans, including a patent for SEO technology. In 2019 she launched Balodana, the first multi-brand marketplace that is exclusively women's made-to-measure clothing. Balodana brings the skills of independent tailors and designers worldwide to US consumers w...
2022-10-111h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMaking Slow Fashion From Recycled Flowers with Melissa Hargus Pierce of Soul StudioYou’ve heard of fashion made with recycled polyester, but have you heard of fashion made with recycled flowers? In episode 53, Melissa Hargus Pierce gives us a glimpse into the creative and scientific natural dyeing process of Soul Studio - the sustainable, slow fashion brand she started with her mom.
Soul Studio is a Natural Dye House and Slow Fashion Label founded by Melissa Hargus Pierce and her mother Carol Hargus. They are known best for their ethereal and feminine silk fabrics created using plant based dyes and floral waste (Fashion Made from Flowers.) All wearable/functional art...
2022-09-2756 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsTelling an Imaginative Story Through Specialty Childrenswear with Claire Thomas-Morgan of Vivi Design StudioIn episode 52, discover how Claire Thomas-Morgan weaves exploration and imagination into her high-end childrenswear line Vivi Design Studio and how her business has grown into its unique identity over the years.
Claire Thomas-Morgan started out in fashion in the early 2000s, earning her BFA in fashion design from Washington University in St. Louis and MFA in fashion merchandising from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Thomas-Morgan has worked as a women’s wear designer and buyer, visual merchandiser for J.Crew, and currently has her own children’s wear line, Vivi Design Studio.
Vivi was l...
2022-09-1349 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSewing Clothes to Keep Short Women From Being Overlooked with Miranda Sam of ShortlistedIn episode 51, Miranda Sam walks us through her decision to discover a new side of fashion by learning industrial sewing before starting her fashion brand made specifically for short women - Shortlisted. Discover how the experience is changing the way she views fashion!
"When we talk about body inclusivity these days, we’re most likely talking about normalizing plus size. What tends to be left out in conversation is a need for diversity in height-appropriate clothing, as well as body shapes. Miranda Sam is the founder of Shortlisted, a responsible clothing brand for women measuring 5'4 and unde...
2022-08-3055 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsDeveloping Fashion That Fits Your Customer, Lifestyle, and Values with Ellie Wilcox, Xochil Herrera Scheer, Connie Bourgeois, and Alison HoenesJoin me for this special episode 50 as I chat with three of my fellow patternmaker and product developer friends about how you can develop fashion that fits your customer, lifestyle, and values. We share our best industry tips and expert advice on making clothes that really fit - and building best practices for your brand and business whether you are just starting out or are leveling up an established brand.
Ellie Wilcox - Digitech Design
Ellie Wilcox helps fashion entrepreneurs bridge the gap between design and technology by way of 3D prototyping.
Xochil...
2022-08-1659 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsConnecting Culture, Creativity, and Community with Erika Neumayer Ehrat of Rare DirndlIn episode 49, Erika Neumayer Ehrat shares how she’s built a niche business - Rare Dirndl - creating fashion-forward styles that still honor traditions to help American women celebrate German culture.
"I started Rare Dirndl in 2010 because, as an active member of the German community in Chicago, I was so disappointed to see that Germany's dirndl designs were lightyears ahead of the designs coming out of the US. So, I decided to change that! Today we are a small team of women dedicated to bringing the world high-quality & fashion-forward dirndls, blouses, bloomers, and accessories."
In thi...
2022-08-0256 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Power of Getting Dressed with Ashley Alt of ValtIn episode 48, Ashley Alt shares her story of how getting dressed helped her feel more like herself after a time of difficult mental health, and how she’s now started a fashion brand, Valt, to help other women do the same and find joy in dressing up.
Ashley is a writer + fashion designer based in Connecticut. Her written work has been featured in Forbes, POPSUGAR, and many more, where she discusses trends in mental health and wellness. She started her clothing line — a vibrant collection of one-piece wonders for the posh socialite — to show women the incredible power...
2022-07-191h 00
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsElevating Casual Classics with Morgan Shapero of ShaperoIn episode 47, Morgan Shapero shares how after over 20 years working as a designer in NYC, she relaunched her own brand Shapero in 2021 - and how that experience provides both freedom to design and do business her own way as well as new skills that help her in her day job.
Morgan Shapero is an industry veteran, working as a fashion designer for over 16 years in New York. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Morgan learned to sew at a young age from her late grandmother.
Upon graduating high school, she enrolled in a local fashion...
2022-07-0558 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsDesigning with Compassion and Empathy with Sharae Averhart of MoraRaeIn episode 46, Sharae Averhart, the designer and business owner behind the plus-size petite fashion brand MoraRae, shares the role fashion has played in her life and career and how through all her experience, she has learned to approach fashion design with compassion, empathy, and problem solving.
Hi! I'm Sharae, the owner and designer behind the petite plus size, sustainable womenswear line, MoraRae. I am a designer of all trades & have been designing and sewing from the moment I first jammed up my mother’s sewing machine at 8 years old.
Since then, my innate creativity has pro...
2022-06-211h 11
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsConnecting Women To The Tailor-Made Wardrobe of Their Dreams with Nathalie of Dressarte ParisIn episode 45, Nathalie, the founder of Dressarte Paris, shares how a busy lifestyle and an appreciation for custom-made clothes sparked the idea for a virtual atelier built on modern technology that connects clients all over the world with quality materials and bespoke designs.
Having worked as an international corporate auditor for a French company and lived across 5 different countries, Nathalie created Dressarte Paris, the first sustainable virtual atelier after realizing there might be other women out there like her, who had no time to visit a tailor but who wanted clothes customized and cut to their body...
2022-06-071h 02
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsAfter 5 Years In Business, Here’s What I’ve Learned About Working In FashionIn this special solo episode, I (Alison Hoenes) share five things I've learned about running a fashion business on the 5th anniversary of Alison Hoenes Design.
I’m celebrating AHD's 5th birthday the whole month of June with some exciting updates, new products, and more to help you get your designs to production with confidence and grow a fashion business that fits your customer, lifestyle, and values! Sign up for my newsletter to join the party, get first dibs on new resources, and receive exclusive 5th birthday discounts.
Do you want fashion business tips and re...
2022-06-0108 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsDesigning for Function and Form with Olivia Mason of Olly DesignsIn episode 43, Olivia Mason of Olly Designs talks about how her background as a ballerina and her love of fashion combine to create functional yet beautiful fashion that does it all.
Olivia has a degree in Ballet, Minor in business, and an associates degree in Fashion design. All of these things have led her to create her line Olly, which caters to women on the go who love fashion and feminine details.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How being a dancer influences how Olivia views fashion
The gap in the market that Olivia sa...
2022-05-2452 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsCrafting A New Industry Future Through Artisan Fashion with Nazia Siddiqui of TranscendIn episode 42, Nazia Siddiqui of Transcend shares her vision for a new normal for the fashion industry focused on ethical, sustainable, and artisan crafted clothes that puts the people at every level of the production chain at the forefront.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How growing up in India influenced how Nazia sees fashion
The regional differences between fashion industry skill-sets and textile arts
The importance of long-term thinking
How Nazia met the factories and artisans who make Transcend’s clothing
How factories responded to Nazia’s request for pre-sale only orders
The values that Transc...
2022-05-1054 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsLearning to Be Yourself and Make Sustainable Fashion with Lucy Murray of LulunaIn episode 41, Lucy Murray of the streetwear brand Luluna shares how a stressful job and complete hair loss led her to start sewing - and then start her own fashion brand.
Lucy is the Founder, Designer and Creator of Luluna - an ethical brand for fun, quirky clothing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why Lucy started sewing as a hobby when she was a full-time nurse
How her hobby turned into a business
How Lucy discovered (and is still discovering) what her niche is
The challenges of sourcing sustainably and ethically and but wh...
2022-04-2649 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsBringing Vintage Beauty to Modern Peculiar Souls with Victoria Cates of Potion23In episode 40, Victoria Cates gives us a peek into the creative dollhouse of her whimsical, vintage-inspired slow fashion brand: Potion23.
Victoria Cates, Owner and Designer of Potion23, was born and raised in New York, earned a degree in fashion design at the Beverly Hills Design Institute in Los Angeles, and now calls St. Louis home. Victoria’s love for vintage fashion and passion for art and history has led to the birth of her own fashion line–Potion23. Victoria is driven to create by her desire for wearable silhouettes, unique prints, and her very particular taste.
Poti...
2022-04-1252 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsKeeping It Cute, Comfortable, And Socially Conscious For Teen Girls with Rachel Thebault and Neda Talebian Funk of Woodley + LoweIn episode 39, Rachel Thebault and Neda Talebian Funk, the co-founders of Woodley + Lowe, talk about how they keep it cute, comfortable, and socially conscious for their inclusive and sustainable Gen Z fashion brand.
Neda Talebian Funk comes from a background in start-ups, fitness and retail companies. She began her career as an equity research analyst for Bear Stearns, covering the retail industry with a focus on teen apparel retailers. She then transitioned into direct roles at several retail companies until she decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge and start her own business.
In 2011, she co-founded...
2022-03-2952 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsUsing Your Gifts To Create A Brand Image with Marquita Chanel L’Vena CollectionIn episode 38, Marquita Chanel of L’Vena Collection shares how she curates her brand image and makes a statement with her handmade jewelry and refashioned vintage creations while staying true to who she is.
Marquita Chanel is the owner of Intended Images, LLC which focuses on bringing out the very best in women in regards to image, self-presentation, and personal style. Her clientele consists of women in leadership, C-suite, entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, etc.
Marquita is also the owner of L’Vena Collection, LLC, a custom handmade jewelry business named after her late sister LaVena (Angel) Gate...
2022-03-1553 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Fun & The Reality of Fashion Entrepreneurship with Laura Briggs of The ShortlistIn episode 37, Laura Briggs talks about the fun, work, challenges, and rewards of starting her petite fashion brand, The Shortlist, without any fashion industry experience.
The Shortlist creates gorgeous, limited edition fashion exclusively for petites.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Laura went from not even knowing how clothes were made to running a fashion brand
What Laura did before she even began thinking about design
Why branding is so important
How Laura found a designer to work with and how she knew she’d found the right one
Tips for communicating with a des...
2022-03-0151 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsFor The Love Of Design and Custom Bridal with Janna Volmert of JM CouturièreIn episode 36, Janna Volmert of JM Couturière walks us through her journey in custom bridal and how the experience is special and significant for both her and her clients.
JM Couturière is a bridal and formalwear design service offering custom gown design, re-design, and intense alterations. Utilizing couture and commercial techniques, JM Couturière can make your dream gown a reality or perfect an existing gown.
Janna, owner/designer, holds a Fashion Design and Product Development Degree from Stephens College and has been creating gowns for 10+ years for a wide range of clients.
2022-02-151h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsCreating Meaning As A Mission-Based Small-Batch Factory with Terri Stipanovich of The Collective ThreadIn episode 35, Terri Stipanovich, founder and CEO of small-batch manufacturing factory The Collective Thread, shares how her background in the non-profit world and mission to empower women to earn a living wage led her to start The Collective Thread as a resource for emerging designers, training ground for industrial sewing, and a place for all to find meaning in creating something beautiful.
In 2010 the founder of Faith that Works, now The Collective Thread, Terri Stipanovich traveled to East Africa on a vision trip. Terri was heartbroken when she saw refugee Somali women facing severe poverty and oppression...
2022-02-011h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsGrowing a Slow Fashion Brand in an Online World with 22yr Old Designer Natalia Trevino Amaro of NTAIn episode 34, Natalia Trevino Amaro shares how she’s grown her slow fashion namesake label from a side project out of her parent’s midwest home to her full-time job since graduating from FIT in 2020.
Natalia is a 22 year old fashion designer & content creator focusing on slow fashion and sustainability.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Natalia got interested in sustainable and ethical fashion
How Natalia started her brand out of her parent’s house right after graduating in the middle of a pandemic
Why sustainability is important to Natalia and how she incorpora...
2022-01-1855 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWorkwear Designed for Community with KaLeena Thomas of J. Margaret WeaverIn episode 33, KaLeena Thomas talks about what was missing in her career wardrobe, how entrepreneurship and community go hand in hand, and the meaning behind her brand J. Margaret Weaver.
After more than a decade of struggling to find classic, high quality, and easy-to-care for professional work clothing and accessories, KaLeena Thomas decided to stop shopping and start the solution. In January 2021, she launched J. Margaret Weaver, a brand specializing in simple and smart work clothing and accessories for women. J. Margaret Weaver is committed to promoting ethical, US-based production, size inclusivity, and easy-to-care for pieces. Her...
2022-01-0450 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsLessons Learned as a NYC Sleepwear Startup with Elizabeth Frenchman of Fichu BedwearIn episode 32, Elizabeth Frenchman shares what worked and what didn't about starting a sleepwear brand in her home town of NYC after retiring from a career in graphic design.
Elizabeth Frenchman is an apparel designer who adheres to the “less is more” philosophy as well as G-d being in the details. She was born and raised in Ohio but escaped to earn a BA in printmaking from Rutgers in New Jersey. This led to a long varied graphic design career in Boston and New York. An MLS from Pratt facilitated a switch to architectural materials librarianship. Many cour...
2021-12-2159 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsEmbracing the Bodies of Strong-Shouldered Women with Daron Linton of Broads the LabelIn episode 31, Broads the Label founder Daron Linton shares how she turned a life-long clothing struggle into a fashion business.
Daron Linton spent most of her life thinking that sleeves are bullshit. A sleeved shirt, dress, or jacket has meant a day of tugging, puckering, and restriction all because genetics (and a love for being active) handed her a pair of wider-than-average shoulders.
Having lived in 4 season climates her whole life, cutting sleeves out and only wearing tank tops was not an option, so living with uncomfortable and unflattering clothing was inevitable – that is until Bro...
2021-12-0755 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsAdjusting Your Swimsuit Not Your Body with Alexa McNeal of Cedar & Sand SwimIn episode 30, Alexa McNeal of Cedar & Sand Swimwear (now Bold Beach Swim) shares why and how she launched a swimwear brand in October 2020 where every suit is made to adjust to your body - not the other way around.
Alexa has been designing adjustable swimwear for every body type since October 2020 when she launched her brand Cedar & Sand Swimwear.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The frustrations with swimwear that led Alexa to start her own swimwear line
How she gauged interest in her designs and brand idea with an Instagram story
How she fo...
2021-11-2358 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsEquality, Power, and Functional Pockets For All with Kimberly Borges and Miriam McDonald of PWR WMNIn episode 29, best friends and PWR WMN co-founders Kimberly Borges and Miriam McDonald share how they started a blazer company to “decorate the confidence” of working women - no matter what that work looks like - and to encourage women to wear their femininity with power and, of course, plenty of pockets.
PWR WMN was created by two best friends who wanted a simple thing: pockets in our blazers. We grew tired of never having the tools we needed to be 100% ready for business at all times, because we never had the pockets for those tools. We want...
2021-11-091h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsHow Tee-shirts Can Change Lives with Meghan Forest Farmer of The Bright FactoryIn Episode 28, Meghan Forest Farmer shares her journey as a stylist turned ethical factory owner and how she founded The Bright Factory to restore dignity to formerly incarcerated women.
Meghan Forest Farmer has woven her way through the fashion pipeline over the past 10 years, but currently works as a fashion stylist, both on photo shoot sets, and in the wardrobes of her personal styling closet. After learning of the unfortunate, darker side of the fashion industry, specifically within garment manufacturing, she made sustainability and ethical fashion a mission for her personal life, and to educate her styling...
2021-10-2653 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWearing Clothes (and Running a Business) Out Loud with Julia Navarro of wear cOLorIn Episode 27, I talk with Julia Navarro of Wear Color about the life motto that inspired her brand and how she’s created a business that fits her creativity, strengths, and values.
Starting in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, wear cOLor is a clothing brand that allows for everyone to break the fashion rules. Wear white after Labor Day, black with brown, neon in the winter, pastels in the fall. We are all fighting the good fight, and we're in this together. Let's do it together, Out Loud, in cOLor.
In this episode, you’ll l...
2021-10-121h 01
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsInspiring Wanderlust for the Petite Romantic with Nics Asawasudsakorn of LovanieIn episode 26, Nics Asawasudsakorn shares about launching her petite-focused brand Lovanie and what inspired her to start a slow fashion brand inspired by wanderlust.
Nics is the founder of LOVANIE, a slow fashion brand for petite women. Lovanie pieces are designed to fit women 5'4" and under and are made locally in Seattle from eco-friendly materials.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Nics’ journey from shopping fast fashion to starting a slow fashion brand
The accelerator program that helped Nics launch her brand
Nic’s vision for Lovanie at the start and how it evolved...
2021-09-2849 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMaking Loved Clothes Last with Alexis Giger of Little CliffIn episode 25, Alexis Giger talks about her career in fashion from design school, to working for fashion brands big and small, to starting her own mending business during the pandemic in order to make loved clothes last.
Alexis Giger is a fashion designer and textile mender based in St. Louis, MO. She graduated in 2013 from Washington University in St. Louis with a BFA in Fashion Design. She gained industry experience while working for Anthropologie, the St. Louis Fashion Fund, and Summersalt. During the 2020 pandemic, she focused her energy into mask making, which evolved into her sustainable fashion...
2021-09-1450 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsEmbracing Your Unique Heritage and Creativity with Bhavana Jain of BHAVIn episode 24, Bhavana Jain shares about her entrepreneurial journey and how she celebrates and shares her cultural heritage through her women's fashion brand BHAV.
Bhavana Jain is CEO and lead designer of BHAV. BHAV is a women's contemporary clothing brand based in Chicago, IL. The line is inspired by the rich diversity of South Asian heritage fabrics, and features sophisticated and flattering ready-to-wear pieces tailored to fit the daily lives of real, modern women. She also practices pharmacy as a Clinical Pharmacist at a local hospital outside the city. In her spare time she loves to explore...
2021-07-2053 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsCreating Reciprocal Relationships As A Vertically Integrated Brand with Rachel Faller of tonléEpisode 23 is an honest and insightful conversation with Rachel Faller, co-creator and Creative Director of tonlé, about changing the incentives of the traditional fashion system, zero-waste design, and building reciprocal relationships that are equitable for all involved.
Rachel Faller is an entrepreneur by trade and a creative at heart. She dedicates most of her time to rectifying harm within the garment industry using a systemic approach- encouraging people to think about the root of systemic injustice and tackling these issues at their core rather than simply treating the symptoms. Rachel is a co-creator of tonlé – a zero wast...
2021-07-061h 00
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsConstructing Fashion From Costumes To Coats with Elizabeth Williams of Coat Check ChicagoIn episode 22, I talk with Elizabeth Williams - founder, designer, and patternmaker behind the outerwear brand Coat Check Chicago. Elizabeth shares her journey from costume seamstress to New York fashion designer, to fashion professor and how the skills she gained through all these experiences now help her run her own brand.
Elizabeth Williams resides in Chicago with her husband and three children. She studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design and Theatre at the University of Colorado. Much of her early career was spent behind the sewing machine re-creating historical garments for the stage. During those...
2021-06-2254 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsVersatile, Camera-Ready Clothing You Could Sleep In with Xi Chen of SonderlierIn episode 21, Xi Chen, the founder and designer of Sonderlier, shares how she started her fashion brand on the idea that comfortable clothes should still be cute. She's not alone in that belief as shown by the Kickstarter campaign for her first collection that reached 212% funding.
Xi Chen is the Founder and Designer of Sonderlier, a sustainable clothing brand offering women camera-ready clothing they could sleep in. Even though Xi dreamed of fashion design since she was a little girl, she initially pursued a “more practical” career as a professor in engineering. After struggling for years to find...
2021-06-0848 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsSustainable Style For Every Day with Ashley Klein of AkalaAshley Klein, the founder of sustainable brand Akala, joins me for episode 20 to talk about how and why she started her own brand after working in the fashion industry across varying roles from design to e-commerce.
Ashley lives in Seattle with her husband, with baby on-the-way! Akala is currently her side hustle, as she works full time in addition to being an entrepreneur, in hopes of growing Akala to a full time operation.
Ashley studied Fashion Design at Purdue University and the Fashion Institute of Technology, and she has spent close to a decade across t...
2021-05-2543 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsGiving Yourself Grace As A Fashion Business Owner with Bria Evans of 31|25 the LabelBria Evans, the owner and designer of 31|25 THE LABEL, joins me in episode 19 to share what she’s learned about running a fashion business, staying grounded in her purpose, and how she’s giving herself grace in the process.
31|25–THE LABEL is a Women’s clothing brand where all garments are made-to-order. Bria's been designing since the age of 10 and went on to pursue an educational career at the Art Institute of Dallas. She graduated in 2016 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design.
In 2017, Evans launched Dignified Women’s Apparel where she primarily catered to...
2021-05-1153 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsMade-To-Order Classic Cocktail Dressing with Sheri Turnbow of Bespoke SoutherlySheri Turnbow, the entrepreneur behind Bespoke Southerly, joins me in episode 18 to talk about how she built the women's made-to-order special occasion brand to provide women with the personalized experience, quality finishes, and investment pieces that they’ll want to wear to countless events.
Sheri Turnbow is the Founder of Bespoke Southerly, a collection of customizable cocktail and special occasion wear that enables women to co-create their apparel by choosing the colors and details they want, like adding pockets, trims and hem length in one-inch increments. Women can personalize timeless silhouettes to truly reflect their individual style.
2021-04-271h 09
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsThe Quest For The Perfect Night’s Sleepwear with Alessandra Corona of River LeftIn episode 17, Alessandra Corona, founder and designer behind the sustainable sleepwear brand River Left, shares how her personal search for the perfect nightgown snowballed into a full-fledged fashion brand and how that sometimes-messy process has stretched her knowledge, grown her network, and even landed her in major publications less than half a year after the brand launched.
Alessandra founded River Left after realizing that the options for women’s sleepwear were either overtly sexual or unflattering. She set out to design classic sleepwear meant for women who see themselves as empowered, intellectual and discerning. The environment is at...
2021-04-1352 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsEmpowering Women Through Clothing Manufacturing with Krystle Marks of Lev ApparelIn episode 16, Krystle Marks, the founder of Lev Apparel, shares about how she started her clothing brand as part of her mission to empower women and restore dignified work to women most at risk for human trafficking.
Krystle Marks is a fashion stylist turned clothing designer. She became passionate about fighting human trafficking and saw the direct link between poverty and exploitation. The ethical production of Lev Apparel creates job opportunities for at-risk women living in New Delhi, Chicago, Vietnam, and East Asia . Each purchase restores hope, dignity, and freedom that creates a life-changing ripple for generations.
2021-03-3049 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsDressing Modern Mommas with Magda Lasota Morales of MLM BrandIn episode 15, Magda Lasota Morales - mom of two and founder of MLM brand - shares her story of starting a fashion brand and designing the "Little Breastfeeding Dress" after failing to find breastfeeding-friendly clothing that met her standards and worked for her lifestyle as a modern mom.
"I live in Los Angeles with my husband and our two boys — Adrian and Julian. My husband and I met in college and fell in love head over heels. We got married near my hometown in Poland, surrounded by both of our families and friends from around the world, dr...
2021-03-1655 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsGrowing A Fashion Brand Where Representation Matters with Vanessa Acosta of Wasi ClothingIn this episode, Vanessa Acosta - the Bolivian-American business woman behind Wasi Clothing shares about why representation in fashion matters, the importance of some underappreciated aspects in the industry, and how she’s overcome challenges and grown Wasi dramatically in the past year.
Vanessa is the founder of the clothing brand Wasi Clothing. She is a Bolivian American designer living in Los Angeles and trying to better the industry by bringing more diversity, more sustainability and ethical practices in the fashion industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What Vanessa experienced working in the indu...
2021-03-0251 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsCreating The Classic Dresses They Couldn’t Find with Audrey Cole and Mary Kunkle of Paris BloomAudrey and Mary are sisters and co-founders of Paris Bloom (now Betty Hannah)- a dress brand that they started without prior fashion industry experience in order to create the classic styles they couldn't find elsewhere.
"Paris Bloom is inspired by our French great-grandmother, Mary Hanna. Mary Hanna grew up in the 1920s in the Michigan Upper Peninsula with big city taste and a small town budget. She designed and made her own wardrobe and was considered the most fashionable girl in town.
Today we’re proud to continue her legacy by designing vintage-inspired dresses fo...
2021-02-1640 min
How Fitting: design a slow fashion business that fitsWelcome to How FittingHello and welcome to the How Fitting podcast. I’m Alison Hoenes. On this podcast, you’ll get to hear from independent fashion designers and entrepreneurs about how they grow their business making clothes that fit their customer and values.
I’ll be your host for this show, but I’m also a freelance patternmaker who helps independent womenswear brands keep control of product development without the technical hassle.
As a patternmaker, I care about how clothes fit. There is something special about how well-fitting clothes make us feel. But even beyond how a garment physicall...
2020-08-1802 min