Fashion Insiders & Co

Alma Barrero is an image consultant with a twist. After spending years working with women and helping them find or change their style, she was left burned out and wanting to play a bigger part in her client's transformation. Instead of keeping her private world and working separately - she decided to merge them. The result was a blend of style and soul work. 

Episode NotesIn this episode, Alma shares with the listeners all about:

How she got her start in the fashion industry and became a holistic image consultant;

Alma Barrero explains how she unlocks real change in her clients, the kind that will lead you to unshakable confidence and owning a style aligned with your ultimate being.

What led her to write a book about her work and what makes her book totally different from anything you have ever read or heard of;

and much, much more.

Key Takeaways:

Soul styling = Sustainability

Dressing consciously means choosing clothing pieces that really deserve to be in your wardrobe.

Dressing with soul is about honouring your magnificence.

It's not about having a certain look and style, it is about how you project who you are through clothes.

You are unique for a reason.

Resources:Connect with Alma Barrero by:

Website: www.almabarrero.comIG: @almabarrero

Buy The STYLE POWER book here: www.stylepowerbook.com

About the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5*star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

Discover more about the importance of User Experience and how designing with your customers in mind for your products and website can lead to more sales and a stronger brand.

Discover how to turn your fashion eCommerce website store into a growth machine.

Kate Hills is perhaps the best-known British manufacturing champion. Over the last decade or so, she has challenged creatives to think differently about manufacturing in Britain and strategically plan for making on local soil. She has supported British manufacturers by highlighting their plight and bringing awareness to the issues faced by manufacturing businesses in the UK.Episode NotesIn this episode you'll discover:

How Kate got her start in the fashion industry and what fuels her passion for British manufacturing;

How the pandemic and Brexit have impacted and disrupted the garment and manufacturing industry in the UK;

What is the UK is great for and who should manufacture in the UK?

Why visiting factories is so important 

How and why clear communication with factories is so important?

Why Kate calls herself the Celia Black of UK manufacturing (i.e. she is a matchmaker of sorts);

Why being organized and professional can help you when it comes to the prices manufacturers quote you;

Why being honest is so important in the fashion industry.

....and much more

Key Takeaways:

Education doesn’t value the making part of fashion but more the design part.

Making in the UK means you can weave in the story of your manufacturing as part of the product story.

There are different pockets of manufacturing speciality within the UK but on the whole making in Britain is good for brands who want to make small volume and high quality.

Resources:Register for Kate's even on 4th November 2021 here:https://makeitbritish.co.uk/british-brand-blueprint/Website: https://makeitbritish.co.uk/IG: @makeitbritishAbout the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5*star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

Discover how procrastination and perfectionism are holding you back from success and how to overcome these obstacles in your way.

Meet  Patrick Morrison - a trained artist, turned branding and graphic design consultant, turned chief of Everything at  Furious Goose - a luxury silk scarf and accessories fashion brand.

Over the last five-plus years of growing his business and even personal brand, he has mastered the light-hearted approach to growing a brand and found a happy medium of working hard and enjoying the success and opportunities that come as a result of his hard work even harder. 

Episode NotesIn this episode discover:

What made Patrick launch his brand and  why he chose scarves;

Why he manufactures in the UK and how this helped him launch and grow his brand;

What manufacturing challenges he experienced and how he manages the manufacturing process;

What is his sales model and how he is building his luxury accessories fashion brand

How he has used the wholesale retail method as a strategy to grow his business

Why PR is challenging "nut to crack"

How to network and build relationships strategically

What he will do differently if he started all over again

What was the biggest mistake he made that he wouldn’t make again

The importance of having your brand coherent across all touchpoints and the role it plays in advertising

Resources:Connect with Patrick and discover the Furious Goose luxury accessories fashion brand:Website: https://furiousgoose.co.uk/Instagram: @furiousgooseAbout the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

We all want to look and feel great. there are countless ways in which we are told we can achieve this. One less talked about sure-way to looking your best however is to do with wearing the right size and fit of clothing. Meet Melanie Potro - a classically trained dressmaker, couturier, and now style confidante to women entrepreneurs who is on a quest to teach us how to get to know our bodies better. Accepting that we are not symmetrical and learning how to measure ourselves so that we can find the right fit and size of clothing can be liberating. Episode NotesIn this episode discover:

How Melanie got her start in the fashion industry and her unusual journey in and out of fashion until today.

Why knowing the correct size measurements are important in the fashion industry and can help build a better brand

Why it is important to know intimately our bodies and how to take measurements

Episode Takeaways:

"We are not built symmetrically like a tailors dummy"

"Creating corsets is like making sculptures. It is a form of paying homage to the female body"

Resources:Connect with Melanie:Website: https://www.mpcolourandstyle.com/Instagram: @thestyleconfidentclosetDownload Melanie's helpful  Measurement Chart for Fashion Designers and Pattern CuttersJoin Melanie's course How to Take Accurate Body Measurements and grab 10% discount with the code: DISCOUNT10About the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5*star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

Every fashion designer and creative entrepreneur who goes into business for themselves and spends time and (a lot of) money building a brand wants it to succeed beyond their wild dreams. Every single one of them will encounter the same set of challenges along the way. Those who overcome the obstacles in the way - go on to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Many however don't.In this episode, we look at seven lessons every entrepreneur must become aware of and apply to their fashion business in order to remove the constraints they face and go on to experience success. Episode notes:

Learn why keeping things simple is the key to business growth. 

Discover why it is getting harder and harder to sell products and how to sell more and grow your fashion brand exponentially 

Most advice given by successful entrepreneurs is boring - yet it is what we all need to hear and follow. Find out why. 

...and much more is packed into the 7 Fashion Business Lessons.Key Takeaways:

Complexity doesn't scale, but only creates confusion, which can kill off your business.

Nurturing customers is better than focusing on just acquiring more leads. 

Businesses will only grow to the level of competence of their founders.

Resources Mentioned:Sign up to the VIP waitlist for the Fashion insiders Business Club due to launch soon.

About the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5*star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

If you are frustrated with social media and do not see the kind of ROI you'd expect given the amount of time you spend creating and posting content online - then you are not wrong. Social Media Marketing is not what it used to be unless you are advertising. The alternative is making better use of search engines. And Pinterest in particular - given that it is a visual image-based platform. Episode Notes:In this episode we speak to Craig Lewis - a Pinterest agency founder and Pinterest approved partner who helps e-commerce brands grow their businesses the smart way and get a solid ROI of x2-4 times of their investment consistently. Hear first hand from Craig and discover how Pinterest is the smart choice in marketing if you are a product e-commerce based fashion brand:

Why Pinterest is the platform to be and focus on as a fashion brand 

How the longevity of pins vs other social media platforms compares

Why Pinterest demographics of active users is well-positioned for fashion brands to exploit

How to use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website and sales

Most common mistakes made, and tips on how to correct them

How to work with a marketing agency and ensure you get results

Craig's best advice for growing your brand with Pinterest

Key Takeaways:

Pinterest is a search engine just like Google and YouTube. People spend time on it searching for products and information with the intent to purchase often. 

Pinterest as a business has repositioned to attract and service primarily product-based e-commerce businesses and is optimizing the search engine to generate maximum results for its users. 

Pinterest works best when there is a clear intent set behind the pinned photos and boards created.

Resources Mentioned:Pin&Grow agency website: https://pinandgrow.com/Connect with Craig via LinkedInThe Strategic Brand Positioning Program teaching fashion brand founders how to position their brands correctly on the market for maximum growth, exposure, and profit.About the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5*star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]

Fashion clothing manufacturing is a key process in the lifecycle of launching and growing a product-based brand. Often mismanaged, rarely given its dues - fashion manufacturing is the Cinderella of the fashion industry.  It does all the heavy lifting and hard work for fashion brands large and small but is always mistreated. With all the recent focus on local manufacturing and the focus on large brands misusing overseas apparel factories and leaving them stranded with cancelled orders, it is easy to forget that offshore manufacturing also includes small businesses delivering invaluable services to the fashion industry.  Not every brand is able to afford to work locally and pay fair local labour prices. Equally not all overseas factories are large operations, serving fast fashion and employing cheap labour. In this candid conversation, we meet Karishma Kapur - a fashion clothing factory founder from Mumbai, India who runs a small apparel factory working with female-run, independent clothing brands. Unlike most manufacturers, Karishma has her own passions and business mission that she was woven into the business activities of her business. Episode notes:In this episode discover:

How Karishma set up a fashion clothing factory by herself and how she started;

What is it like to run a fashion clothing factory in Asia and the challenges most creative entrepreneurs do not see or understand take place;

How she has chosen to be different from the mainstream manufacturing landscape and what makes her stand out;

The reality of fashion manufacturing

Karishma's appeal to fashion creative entrepreneurs

and much more...Resources:Connect with Karishma Kapur and the ODD Factory:Website: https://theoddfactory.com/Instagram:  @theoddfactoryTo learn how to how to find and select the right manufacturer to work with, and how to save time and money by effectively structuring and running your own manufacturing processes, enrol in the Fashion Manufacturing Mastery online course now. https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fmmAbout the Podcast Host:

*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***

Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsidersco

Discover more great content on our YouTube channel.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at [email protected]