Chevere Means Cool

As we wrap up summer here in NY, we got together for another Chevere means Cool Sobremesa —this time celebrating all those beautiful and refreshing summer nights. We co-hosted this dinner with @Sel.Aer at their showroom, showcasing incredible emerging designers from across the globe. This Sobremesa was an ode to another epic nyc summer full of late night meals, sitting outside, watching the sunset turn everything pink, and aperitif (or two), train rides to the beach, and new friendships.

Carla Flores

We hosted a live podcast in collaboration with Haus Label where we sat down with stylists Alexis Badiyi and Dione Davis, and with Haus Label and Haus Agency founder, Karina Trofimova. The conversation was all about their creative journeys, diving deep into what it really means to be a stylist and everything that goes on behind the scenes. We tap into Karina's entrepreneurial path to building Haus Label and also share some advice for those thinking about a career in fashion. We talk a lot about the concept of outfit repeating, which lives at the core of Haus Label— what does this look like in practice? How do Dione and Alexis embrace this practice in their own personal styles?

It was really insightful to hear from each of these talented women who are driving change in the fashion industry with their unique perspectives and hard work. To keep up with their work be sure to follow Dione, Karina, and Alexis and for more episodes and events follow @cheveremeanscool ;)

Thank you for listening and hope you enjoy the episode!

We're joined by Sabrina Reales, founder of Sel•Aer, on today's episode. Sel•Aer is all about helping emerging designers grow and reach their full potential—whether thats through brand development or wholesale support, Sabrina and her team work hand-in-hand with them to make sure that they have a long lasting footprint in the fashion industry.

We chat about her journey starting in retail, moving on to wholesale, and eventually becoming an entrepreneur, and how each stage of her life added to where she is today. The impact that an agency like Sel•Aer can have on these designers is quite significant, and having someone who genuinely cares so much about the brands and their success makes an even bigger difference (which is one of the many reasons why Sel•Aer is so unique!) It was incredibly inspiring to hear from Sabrina and get a glimpse into how her creative mind works.

Follow along @sel.aer or visit their website to learn more.

We're joined by DJ and model Gilly Chan on today's episode of Chevere Means Cool! Gilly is hard to describe because she's one of the most multifaceted creators I know, which makes this episode a really special one. We dive into her journey as a model and becoming a DJ, and how it was a challenge to stay true to herself while navigating quite complex industries. Both music and fashion can be quite tough so Gilly really makes a case for being unapologetically yourself, being confident in your personality and who you are inside because at the end of the day, people want to work with people. Our conversation was really inspiring and I hope it leaves you with some insightful thoughts and eagerness to be kind to yourself :) Thank you for listening!

To keep up with Gilly, be sure to follow her @gilly.inc

Super excited to have Nia Thomas as our guest today. Nia is the founder and creative mind behind Nia Thomas, an ethically made, Black woman-owned independent fashion label that celebrates the female form.

Her pieces are so beautiful, not only based on their construction and design but also because of the materials she uses. Everything is sustainably produced in NYC, Mexico, and Peru from cellulose-based fibers and plant-based dyes as a zero-waste alternative to an often frivolous industry. Nia created her brand with very intentional values that revolve around responsible production —she’s really set the bar for what it means to be a young designer that is making meaningful work and is also revolutionary. After talking to her I also have such a better understanding and appreciation for everything that goes on behind the scenes for designers, and truly appreciate her candid reflections and transparency when talking about some of the challenges she’s faced.

In this episode we talk about these challenges, the role that her community has played in the growth of the brand, the importance of staying true to her ethics and values, and she also shared some solid advice for people who might be thinking of starting out in this industry.

Keep up with Nia on Instagram @niathomas.co and if you enjoy this episode don't forget to follow for more!

Today we’re shifting gears a little bit away from fashion and towards the beauty industry. My good friend Arjan is joining me for this episode to talk about Jolie— a beauty wellness company that purifies the quality of your water for better skin, hair, and overall wellbeing. Because it all starts with water! Jolie has designed a beautiful filtered shower head as their first product, and after learning more about it I had to share the full story.

In this episode we talk about Arjan's upbringing and how he was always inspired by hospitality, and we also get into what it’s like being someone who is both left brain and right brain and how this influenced his career and way of viewing life. We chat about the element of water as their big inspiration when it comes to marketing and partnerships. Regardless of what you’re working on, this was such an insightful episode and I think all creators will find at least one thing that they can relate to — personally for me it was also a great reminder to stay focused.

Hope you learn as much as I did and of course, be ready to write down some words of wisdom by Arjan who I think I can now confidently say gives the best advice—enjoy!

Keep up with Jolie @jolieskinco