How did Ganni become a global name? Is Ganni a sustainable fashion brand? What innovation is needed for fashion brands?

Recorded live at Copenhagen Fashion Week at 1Hotel Copenhagen, Victoria sits down with GANNI co-founder Nicolaj Reffstrup  to talk about building one of fashion’s most recognizable global brands. 

Nicolaj shares how his background in tech shaped the way he and his wife, Ditte Reffstrup, built GANNI. He also reflects on the rise of the “GANNI Girl,” taking on outside investment, expanding internationally, and what happens when a brand becomes bigger than its founders.

The conversation explores why GANNI has never called itself a sustainable fashion brand, the business decisions behind its responsibility strategy, and why the company once walked away from bestselling products because of their environmental impact. Nicolaj also shares what he looks for when investing in founders, where he sees opportunity in materials and AI, and why he believes the future could become increasingly difficult for mid-market fashion brands.

Nicolaj answers audience questions on what he would do if he were starting his career again today, his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and what actually makes someone stand out when applying to work at GANNI.

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Job Board opportunities in fashion, tech, and more.

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Website HERE

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What is trend forecasting? How are fashion trends predicted? How do brands predict what consumers will want years before it happens? 

In this episode, we go inside WGSN, one of the world's leading trend forecasting companies, to explore how fashion and consumer trends are forecasted and what founders, marketers, and creatives should be paying attention to now. Cassandra Napoli is the Head of Consumer Forecasting at WGSN, where she helps brands understand how consumers think, feel, shop, and behave years before those shifts reach the mainstream. From AI and Gen Z to nostalgia, retail innovation, and the creator economy, Cassandra shares the frameworks WGSN uses to help companies future-proof their businesses and make better long-term decisions. We discuss how trend forecasting actually works, whether trends are really moving faster than ever, how AI is changing consumer behavior, and more. Whether you're building a fashion brand, working in marketing, launching a startup, or simply curious about what's shaping the future of consumer culture, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world's biggest brands prepare for what's next.

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Job Board opportunities in fashion, tech, and more.

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Website HERE

Create Tomorrow Podcast HERE

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What business school won’t teach you about luxury. How do you work in luxury fashion? This is inside LVMH's playbook. 

This week, I'm joined by Pauline Brown, former Chairwoman of LVMH North America, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Aesthetic Intelligence. Pauline shares the lessons she learned leading some of the world's most iconic luxury brands. We cover a lot, from why climbing the corporate ladder doesn't always bring more freedom, to the mistake most people make when planning their careers, and why she believes taste will become one of the most valuable skills in the future of work. We also dive into what luxury brands understand about consumer psychology, how Dior and Chanel think differently from startups, what it really takes to break into companies like LVMH, and why Pauline convinced Harvard Business School to create a course on The Business of Aesthetics. Whether you're building a brand, growing your career, or simply trying to develop better taste, this episode is packed with frameworks you'll think about long after listening.

In this episode, we cover:

• Navigating a career pivot
• How she transitioned from consulting to fashion and beauty
• The biggest career mistakes young professionals make
• Why taste matters more in the age of AI
• How to stand out when applying to luxury brands
• The psychology behind iconic brands like Dior and Chanel
• Why attention doesn't always lead to sales
• Three questions to ask before starting your own company

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IG: @paulinegarrisbrown

Book HERE

Brunello: The Gracious Visionary

Watch the documentary film HERE

IG: @brunelloilvisionariogarbato

Thank you to this episodes's sponsor Blue Fox Entertainment!

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What does a creative director in fashion do? How do I get a job in fashion? What is fashion school actually like? Hear from Michelle Ochs, the Creative Director at Hervé Léger. 

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build a career in fashion from landing an internship at Marc Jacobs before even starting Parsons to navigating the job market during the 2008 financial crisis. After co-founding Cushnie et Ochs and spending more than a decade building the brand, Michelle made the decision to close that chapter of her career. Today, she's the Creative Director of Hervé Léger, where she's reimagining one of fashion's most recognizable brands for a new generation. Michelle also shares the strategy behind Hervé Léger's resurgence, why runway shows aren't always worth the investment, how Gen Z is rediscovering the brand, what she actually looks for when hiring designers, and why she still wants candidates to bring a printed portfolio to interviews. Whether you're hoping to work in fashion, build your own brand, or simply love hearing the stories behind iconic fashion houses, this episode is full of practical advice and an honest look at what it takes to evolve throughout your career.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What fashion school is really like
• Getting her first fashion internship
• Navigating the fashion hiring landscape
• Starting a fashion brand
• Becoming a creative director
• Fashion marketing
• Rebuilding an iconic fashion brand for a new generation
• What fashion hiring managers actually want to see in interviews

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IG: @herveleger

Rihanna’s Iconic Dress

Follow Michelle:

IG: @ochsmichelle

TikTok: @mrsmichelleochs

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This week on Fashion and Founders, I'm joined by Morgan Riddle and Cherry Beagles, co-founders of The 400 Club, a community redefining sports through the lens of fashion, culture, and female fandom.

Morgan Riddle was called “The Most Famous Woman in Mens Tennis” by the New York Times and now she is moving her focus to female fans in all of sports. Cherry Beagles founded The 400 Club in 2024, a community reimagining what sports fandom looks like for women, gaining recognition and named Forbes 30 Under 30. Together, they're building one of the most exciting brands at the intersection of fashion, sports, culture, and community. We discuss their experiences at F1, Wimbledon, the US Open, the Super Bowl and more. At The 400 Club they’re brining women together for the biggest live sporting event watch parties and industry events. 

We talk about why women's sports is far bigger than a trend, how social media has transformed the fan experience, why brands are still missing the mark with female consumers, and the enormous opportunity at the intersection of sports, fashion, and community. If you've ever wondered where the future of sports is headed or why fashion brands, founders, and creators are paying so much attention this episode is for you. Female sports fans aren't new. They're finally being seen.

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IG: @the400club

Join the 400 Club HERE

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IG: @moorrgs

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IG: @cherry.beagles

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This week on Fashion and Founders Podcast, I’m joined by Caley-Rae Pavillard, VP of Partnerships & Business Development at ShopMy. If you've spent any time around creators lately, you've probably heard the same thing: "Get on ShopMy." But why has it become such a powerful platform for creators, brands, and tastemakers?

In this episode, we discuss why creators are becoming the new retailers, how affiliate marketing is reshaping the industry, and why follower count matters far less than most people think. Caley shares what brands are actually looking for, how creators can turn recommendations into recurring revenue, and why human taste may become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. Consider this your ShopMy Success Guide and Masterclass in Influencer Marketing. 

We cover: 

• How creators are making millions through affiliate revenue 
• The shift from attention to influence 
• What brands really want from creator partnerships 
• Why authenticity still wins 
• The future of shopping, discovery, and personal brands

Whether you're a creator, founder, marketer, or simply curious about where commerce is headed next, this episode is packed with insights.

Follow Fashion & Founders:

Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠

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Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠

Follow ShopMy:

IG: @⁠shopmy⁠

Join ShopMy as a creator ⁠HERE⁠

Join ShopMy as a shopper ⁠HERE

⁠

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IG: @⁠heycayrae⁠

Caley’s ⁠ShopMy⁠

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This week, I’m answering your questions in a solo episode. I asked you to send in your biggest questions about working in fashion, founder tools, networking, fashion tech, and building a career you actually love, and we're covering all of it. From how to pivot into fashion from a different industry or degree, how to attend New York Fashion Week, the tools I’ve used to grow on social media, and the fashion tech companies and trends I'm watching closely right now. Whether you're trying to land your first fashion job, grow your platform, or simply understand where the industry is headed, I hope this episode gives you a few practical takeaways you can use immediately.

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Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠

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Links for mentioned items in the episode:

• ⁠Fashion Career Playbook⁠
• ⁠Copenhagen Fashion Brands⁠

Dressing Professionally on a Budget

• ⁠Flatter Blazer
• No Blister Flats
• Earrings

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In this episode, Victoria sits down with Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy. They discuss how Rebecca went from working as a fashion editor at Cosmopolitan to building one of the most recognizable brands in fashion. Rebecca shares the story behind the original bridesmaid dress that launched the company, the early years before opening a retail store, and how LoveShackFancy evolved from a niche aesthetic into a full lifestyle universe. They also discuss the viral ruffle skirt that became one of the most copied fashion pieces online, navigating dupes and copycats, scaling without diluting the brand, building immersive retail experiences, and what makes collaborations actually work. Plus Rebecca’s advice for standing out in fashion, building a recognizable point of view, and turning aspiration into community.

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Follow LoveShackFancy:

IG: @loveshackfancy

TikTok: @loveshackfancy

Shop

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IG: @becknyc

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In this episode, Victoria sits down with Colby Mitchell, founder of Swan Beauty, the AI beauty tech startup that went viral after sponsoring Acquired Style’s bachelorette trip. They discuss the strategy behind the partnership, the inbound after the trip, and the theories circulating the internet. The conversation explores the intersection of beauty and technology, the future of AI-powered skincare, and the journey to building Swan Beauty. If the bachelorette trip content left you wondering what is Swan Beauty, listen here and learn what’s next for them after their viral moment.

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Follow Swan:

IG: @swanbeauty_us

Swan Beauty Website

Try the app

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IG: @colbytmitchell

Family Office Episode Mentioned HERE

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In this episode, Victoria sits down with Giovanni Vaccaro, co-founder of GlamSquad, to talk about the future of beauty and how access is changing everything. What used to be reserved for celebrities and top influencers, getting your hair and makeup done at home, is now available on demand. Giovanni breaks down how GlamSquad made that shift possible, turning luxury beauty into something people can actually use in their everyday lives. They discuss the rise of convenience-driven services, the connection between beauty and confidence, and how platforms like GlamSquad are redefining both access and the way creatives work. If you’ve ever wondered how people always have glam for events, shoots, or fashion week this is how.

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Follow Glamsquad:

IG: @glamsquad

Follow Giovanni:

IG: @giovannivaccaro

Glamsquad:

Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off

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Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!

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