Hello and welcome back to Fashion Founders The Podcast, my name is Victoria Smith, and this week I'm joined with Kathleen Sheppard, the founder of Tote, and Claire Ilmer, the founder of Future Reference. In this episode, we explore their recent partnership announcement and for some background, Tote is a social shopping app and Future Reference digitizes your wardrobe for one click, resale and closet insights.

After EDGE New York Fashion Week, a must attend event for fashion tech in February, they began working on a strategic partnership. We talk about what makes a partnership valuable for both parties, steps to take if you want to partner with a company, whether you're a founder, creator, or in another area of the industry. We also explore the question of, as a brand, do you add in multiple features that isn't your core MVP, or do you collaborate with someone who already offers that feature and is the expert in that thing? Learn more about how collaboration like this works in fashion tech, and really just in general I’ll let Kathleen and Claire. Take it from here. So let's get into the episode.

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IG: @toteapp.ai 

IG: @trytoteapp

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IG: @futurereference.xyz

Download the app HERE

Substack HERE

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IG: @shopanylifetime
Website HERE

TikTok: @anylifetime

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion and Founders The Podcast, my name is Victoria Smith and this week I'm joined by Nik Pollina. Nik used to work at Google and transitioned from tech into fashion after getting laid off. She talks about her journey starting working for herself, and she is now the owner of Seven Moods, the co-owner of Thx its Thrifted, and a content creator. She has so much advice to share on managing these businesses, growing the businesses, and how to build your mindset around the potential you have as an entrepreneur. Although fashion focused, I think the advice she shares could be applied to whatever you are doing. She talks about the two books and beliefs that helped take her from making $10,000 a month to $50,000 a month in the matter of three months, and that she now believes that she can make this a million dollar business. I really wanted to have more conversations about money this season, especially around working for yourself and working in fashion. I just made a TikTok about this, but there's really this belief and narrative that you can't make money in fashion. And I think Nik is an amazing example of proving that wrong. She is so successful, and I'm so excited to share this episode. I felt really inspired after this conversation, and I hope you do too. I'll let Nik take it from here, so let's get into the episode.

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IG: @nikpollina_

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IG: @thxitsthrifted.nyc

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IG: @sevenmoodsnyc

Website: https://sevenmoods.nyc/ 

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IG: @marmaladegardens
Website: https://www.marmaladegardens.com/

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion Founders The Podcast, my name is Victoria Smith, and this week I'm doing a recap episode from the Global Fashion Agenda Summit that I attended in Copenhagen. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend and excited to share innovators I met. Hear from the Trailblazer winner Sarika Bajaj, founder and CEO of Refiberd. I go over rental, resale, biomaterials, biodegradable shoes, AI in fashion, Love Island x Ebay, and much more.

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IG: @globalfashionagenda

Website: https://globalfashionsummit.com/ 

Companies & People Mentioned

Refiberd HERE

Vogue Article HERE

Mary G Scully HERE

Future Fabrics Expo HERE

Biodegradable Sneaker HERE

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion and Founders The Podcast, my name is Victoria Smith and this week I'm joined with Hanushka Toni, the founder and CEO of Sellier. I am coming to you live from London and am excited share this episode with Hanushka and hear more of her story. If you're wanting to transition careers and work in fashion, listen to this episode. She started her career as a lawyer and is now the CEO and founder of the UK's fastest growing luxury preloved store. Something I think that really sets them apart is their social strategy. On TikTok alone, last year they had 250 million views. A favorite London influencer of mine also has a social media marketing agency and works with Sellier, Isobel Lorna. If you are someone who wants to be in the resale business and learn how to actually gain traction with these products and make it as desirable as something new - Sellier is a great example of how to do this and do it well. There is so much to learn from Hanushka, so let's get into the episode.

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Follow Sellier:

IG: @sellierknightsbridge

IG: @selliermonaco

TikTok: @sellierluxurybags

Website: https://www.sellierknightsbridge.com/

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IG: @haute__line
Website: https://hauteline.com/ 

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion Founders The Podcast, my name is Victoria Smith and this week I'm joined with celebrity stylist Zoe Gofman. Zoe does not have your typical story of entering into the industry, and a little sneak peek she cold DMd Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, landed a big client, quit her job, and has been hustling and growing her business ever since. Zoe has styled many celebrities and influencers like Hannah Berner, Serena Kerrigan, Shaina Shake, Kit Keenan, and many more.

If you're the friend that has an eye for style and are always kind of helping out your friend's style wise, but think, it could never be your career or something you can make money from - think again and listen to this episode.

Zoe also styled me for this episode as well as the ones with Erika Veurink, Lexi of Shop Nou, Ariel LaFond, and Nik Pollina. It was an insanely fun experience to work with Zoe, and learn about what goes on behind the scenes. 

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IG: @zoegofman

TikTok: @zoegofman

Website: https://www.zoegofman.com/ 

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IG: @marbyclub
Website: https://marbyclub.com/ 

Thanks for listening! 

Talking fashion tech with Mary Korlin-Downs founder of All Things Fashion Tech and Kate Sanner CEO and Co-Founder of Beni. From Beni’s relaunch that’s redefining how and why we shop and Mary joining the team, Kate shares leading industry insights. As well as what’s next in fashion tech and other founders innovating. Want to break in? Hear from these thought leaders on how: how to write a cold email that will actually get a response, who to email, building a portfolio, where to find job opportunities, and so much more.

Kate’s solo episode HERE

Mary’s solo episode HERE

Download Beni HERE

All Things Fashion Tech HERE
Fashion & Founders Job Board HERE

Follow Mary Korlin-Downs

IG HERE
Substack HERE

Magazine HERE

Follow Beni

IG HERE

Website HERE

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 Thanks for listening!

Hello and welcome back to Fashion Founders The Podcast. My name is Victoria Smith, and this week I'm joined with Lexi, The founder of Shop Nou and now Nou Shoes. She is a vintage sourcer and seller, and now a shoe designer with her very first shoe launching this Tuesday, May 20th. In this episode, she talks about not only her experience sourcing vintage and being one of the first in this space, selling on Instagram. But also the changing landscape like has the vintage market reached its peak? Will tariffs bring prices even higher? Is it too saturated? How can you differentiate, and more. As well as the founding story of her brand, all the nos and challenges that she faced, and how she really used this as motivation to launch her future vintage shoe brand. I had so much fun recording with Lexi. I'll let her take it from here, so let's get into the episode.

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Follow Lexi and Shop Nou:

Lexi IG: @bohochicken

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Nou Shoes: https://noushoes.com/ 

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Fashion Routes IG: @thefashionroutes
Fashion Routes Info: https://fashionroutes.com/ 

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion Founders The Podcast. My name is Victoria Smith, and this week I'm joined with Ariel LaFond. She is an CPA, a fractional CFO for small businesses,  and the writer of Dumb Rich on Substack. She is the coolest accountant I think I will ever talk to or meet, she offers a concierge financial service especially those who are self-employed influencers, founders. Ariel here has really tangible tips and starts from the foundations that you need on being smart and knowledgeable about your money. We also talk about we a money mindset, abundance, and manifesting money. If you are self employed this is full of answers to some most frequently asked questions on business expenses, retirement funds, taxes, budgeting, credit cards - we cover so many topics.  I loved talking to her because she had such an approachable, judgment-free way of answering all these questions. And she has so much knowledge, but really speaks the average person's language because sometimes financial stuff can get way over complicated and then people get really intimidated by it. I'm gonna let Ariel take it from here. So let's get into the episode!

*Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult with your financial advisor or tax professional before making any financial decisions.

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Follow Ariel:

Ariel IG: @ArielLaFond

Substack: Dumb Rich

Website: https://www.ariellafond.com/ 

Follow Rêves Jewelry:

Rêves IG: @revesjewelry
Website: https://www.revesjewels.com/ 

Thanks for listening! 

Hello and welcome back to Fashion and Founders The Podcast. My name is Victoria Smith and this week I'm joined with Erica Veurink, she writes Long Live on Substack and is the founder of We Met at EV Salon. Erika was one of the perfect people to kick off this season and theme because she writes a lot on her Substack Long Live about making money from a portfolio career and how she went from making $1,500 a year freelance writing to doing her first six figure quarter. She literally shares her playbook of how you can do this too and other great advice. 

This is the first episode of season four of Fashion Founders and I think it is so fitting because the theme I tried to craft for this season is hearing from people who have a career in fashion working for themselves, making a lot of money, and who are also pretty open to talking about money and teaching people some of their tips and tricks. I’m very excited for this season and also worked with a New York stylist, Zoe Gofman to put together outfits like this Aligne look. 

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Follow Erika:

Erika IG: @erikaveurink

Substack: Long Live

EV Salon IG: @wemetatevsalon

Website: https://www.erikaveurink.com/ 

Follow Ophelia:

Ophelia IG: @opheliajewelryco
Serena IG: @sydneyserena
Website: https://www.opheliajewelryco.com/ 

Thanks for listening! 

Themes I’ve been seeing in fashion tech recently, new companies to try, and who’s hiring! From Search, personalization, and curation. 

Job Board: Fashion and Founders

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