With a tagline of “Fewer, Better Things,” Cuyana might be one of the only fashion brands that encourages their customers to actually purchase less. The cutting edge brand offers high quality leather products at an accessible price point by sourcing different materials from around the world.

Along with her co-founder Shilpa Shah, Karla Gallardo spent two years building their companies supply chain before launching Cuyana in 2013. At the time, consumers had not yet grasped the idea of affordable luxury with a direct-to-consumer model.

Listen in as Karla and Monica discuss how a crucial part of growing the business was educating customers and investors about the new model. They also discuss the “Fewer, Better Things” motto and how it drives everything they do at the company. Karla also reveals the process she used to find the best suppliers, the role of influencers in customer acquisition and the steps they take to hire the right team.