We often hear stories about fashion brands whose founders made a successful transition from a past career into fashion. But imagine having recently left a high-paying job to dedicate yourself and grow a hobby into a business and then the pandemic takes over. For many, this has spelled the end for their brands. For others - like Sarah Haran - the pandemic offered an opportunity for growth and expansion. Discover first hand how Sarah grew her brand over the last 18 months and how she used the pandemic to reposition her brand entirely and find a whole new level of business success. Episode notes:

Learn what made Sarah leave a successful career and launch her own leather handbag brand;

What made her brand different and how she had planned to grow it pre-pandemic;

What she learned about her ideal customer and how she adapted on the basis of this knowledge;

The role of creating and nurturing a community has had on her business bottom line;

How she plans to grow her brand in the future and her new customer acquisition strategy.

Key takeaways:

"Every day is a (fashion business) new school day" 

Look UP and OUT of the fashion industry to get fresh new ideas and business knowledge;

Focus on one channel and stick with it - do not jump around and chase other great ideas too soon and too fast.

Resources:Connect with Sarah Haran:Website   https://sarahharan.com/ Instagram @sarahharanuk

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

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I don't know about you but I found myself wondering lately if "fair trade fashion" and "sustainability" were one and the same thing or not? What happened to "fair trade"? A few years ago everyone was talking about it and all of a sudden no one is but the focus has moved to sustainability? Why and how can this happen? As always - when I have a question that I can't answer by myself - I search for the best person who can help me with it. In today's episode, I speak to Morin George - a buyer and product developer in fair trade who spent over 20 years working with artisans around the world to showcase their heritage skills and culture through the development of beautiful products.Over the years Morin was able to spend time on the ground with suppliers as well as mingle with policymakers and witness firsthand the impact fair trade practices can have on communities globally.In this episode we discuss:

What is "fairtrade" and how is it different from "sustainability"?

Why fairtrade is perhaps more important than sustainability?

What can small independent fashion brands learn and implement in terms of fairtrade practices in order to create impact within the world and the fashion industry? 

What is driving and motivating Morin to launch her own fashion label?

Key Takeaways:

There are ten fairtrade principles that align with the UN Sustainability goals and "sustainability" is one of the 10 principles.

"When you can you should, when you can’t - do what you can"

Asking questions, working together, and caring is the foundation to successful business and sustainability practices.

Resources:Connect with Morin via her  Instagram @tamayo.lifestyleEtsy shop @TAMAYOGifts

About the Podcast Host:

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

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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]

It is not often that we hear success stories involving small fashion brands, single female founder-owned and that sold successfully in a matter of a few years. But these stories exist and today we get to hear firsthand about it. Meet Hayat Rachie - a young ambitious woman who after getting fired from yet another job - decided to create a job for herself, launch a brand of her own that will allow her to express her talents on her own terms. If this is not enough, she also set upon herself to be the disruptor in an industry she didn't know much about and change women's lives along the way. For some, this may be a risk too far. A form of gambling many may not be willing to take. But Hayat was fearless and did take the risk to gamble the little she had and it paid off. Episode Notes:In this episode discover:

How she started and what her brand "Neon Moon" stood for and was about;

What was the defining factor that contributed in a big way to her brand's ultimate success;

How she built and nurtured a tribe around her brand and why that was important;

Why manufacturing was one of her greatest challenges and examples of how she overcame those;

The importance of having good mentors and support network and the best advice she got from them;

....and so so so much more. This is an incredible value-packed episode. Grab a pen and paper and enjoy the story you are about to hear. Connect with Hayat:Twitter: @hayatrachiLinked In: @hayatrachi Key Takeaways:"The success of a brand lies with the person who started it""Our customers were like investors to us. They invested in our brand by purchasing our products and we kept them updated and involved in our progress as a brand just like we will keep investors in the loop"Resources:Fashion Manufacturing Mastery Online Program for Fashion startups and growth-stage fashion brands: https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fmmIf you want to grow a success story like the one we shared, you need to know how to position your brand on the market and convey your story, connect to your customers and market your products strategically and effortlessly. This and more you can learn by enrolling in the Strategic Brand Positioning Program : https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/sbp-eg 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

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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 t

Meet Ngaire Takano - a sustainable sourcing fairy godmother helping brand source and develop fashion brands rooted in sustainable practices.During the conversation, we speak about the fashion industry as a large and the issues that exist in contradiction to the bigger goal of creating a sustainable fashion ecosphere.Episode Notes:

Why sourcing for fabrics online can be so hard and what to do instead

Why certifications might be killing the manufacturing industry

What fabrics are good to use and why bamboo is not as good as we may think it is

How to create collections and fashion brands responsibly and sustainably

Resources:Connect and follow Ngaire Takano:Instagram: @_ngairetakano/LinkedIn: ngairetakanoAbout 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

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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]

Superfit Hero is an American activewear brand unlike any other. Founded in 2015 by Micki Krimmel, the brand emerged from her experience as a competitive roller derby player and athlete. Her sports activities and experiences re-shaped her attitude towards her own body to a point where she wanted to help others feel the same. The answer for her came in the shape of launching a  "body-positive, size-inclusive fitness brand with a mission to empower women." After crowdfunding the brand's launch, and armed with a few years' worth of customer data and strong community feedback, Micki pivoted to offer exclusively activewear to plus sizes L to 7XL.

“I created Superfit Hero to exist as an alternative, a fitness brand that celebrates bodies as they are, not as they ‘should be,” said Krimmel in a statement.Episode Notes: In this riveting and candid conversation with Micki Krimmel, the CEO and Founder, and Carrie Beth Langham, Superfit Hero's Product Lead, discover:- What inspired Micki to launch an activewear brand aimed at plus size female athletes and why she wasn't scared to niche down to what may seem like a tiny target market;- What challenges did she face, to begin with, and how she managed to survive through 2020 which brought unexpected challenges;- What makes SuperFit Hero's product so special and the lengths Micki and Carrie Beth go through to ensure the fit is perfect and the quality unrivaled;-  How they are creating and scaling a brand by leveraging the power of a mighty, loyal community;- Discover how the deep purpose on which the brand is founded drives the business forward, so much so that big brands - unable to compete are copying while large retailers courting Superfit Hero. - and much much more....Resources:Connect and follow Superfit Hero:Website: https://superfithero.com/Instagram: @superfitheroAbout 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]

Everybody loves a bargain - but what benefit or damage can this bring is the question.

Lowering prices — also known as discounting — might seem like a great way to turn heads and generate interest in your fashion brand and bring in much-needed sales, and in many cases, it can do just that. But there are a lot of layers and potentially negative implications to consider when offering one.Episode notes:Listen and discover:

what are the top five reasons why you should not discount;

what are the implications of rushed decisions and discounting not done strategically;

what are the alternatives if you need to clear stock and make sales

 

Resources:Join the Strategic Brand Positioning Program in order to learn more and work on strategies that will help you sell more, market better, and grow a sustainable brand for the long term -faster. Join here.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]

Creating a successful fashion business means that you need to focus on creating a sustainable fashion brand business. Creating a sustainable fashion brand business means that you need to know the fundamentals of creating, building, growing, and scaling a business. In this second instalment (see ep.30 for Part 1) of a conversation with business consultant Darryl Bannon we delve into:Episode Notes 

What is the difference between "growth" and "scale" when it comes to building a thriving sustainable fashion brand business?

Why it is important to have people of value in your business and to document and create systems;

What holds fashion brands up when they think they are ready to bring in investors onboard? 

What you need to be aware of when building a sustainable fashion brand business. 

Why pre-sale is a good business model to develop. 

Are all successful brands really "successful"? What are some of the signs that some brands may be struggling and all is not well?

How brands stay relevant to new generations of customers;

Can you grow a successful business if you are not profitable as a business?

... and much more. Mentioned Resources:

Online Accounting systems: Quickbooks, XeroProfit First by Mike Michalowicz Becoming Halston series (Netflix)

About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategise 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

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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]

Inspired by watching a creative jewellery duo pitch the investors on Dragons Den, this is a follow-up episode to episode 30. In this episode we demystify the world of finance, in particular, what do investors look for when considering a business to invest in.Episode notes:

What investors look for when considering to invest any amount of money;

What are the key metrics and numbers to know;

Why being comfortable with discussing numbers is important;

How to speak to investors if you are not confident with numbers;

How to present to investors.

Resources:The Workbench pitch at Dragons Den.About the host:

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: @fashioninsiderscoDiscover 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]

The biggest cause for fashion brands to fail before they have even launched or later down the line and cease trading is a lack of finances. Building a fashion brand is not cheap and having enough to cover day-to-day operations and cover development and production for two seasons at any one time is essential. But by contrast, raising finance is not easy. While there are many options, most creatives are not aware of most of the opportunities or if they are - they may not be able to present their ideas in such a way as to unlock these opportunities. In this episode, we look into what financing options are there from start up stage to scale up phase. Listen to the episode and discover:

How to finance your fashion brand from the initial "I have an idea" stage to launch;

What questions do you need to ask yourself before starting a fashion business and looking for ways to finance it?

What are the financing options for the early stages of business and what is bootstrapping?

What are the expectations when you borrow mone6y from friends and family and other investors?

Is getting a loan a good idea?

What are the advantages of using credit cards to pay for your business purchases?

Who is start-up loan a good fit for?

How to finance for growth?

Why you should always keep money in your business;

When is the best time to start looking for investors?

What are investors looking for when considering investment and how to select and vet investors;

What is the true cost of getting investment money?

Episode Takeaways:“Fashion retail is NOT dead, bad retail is dead”"You have to evidence you have a business before seeking any kind of financing"References:Information on European Grants for the fashion sector.Information on claiming Research & Development Tax ReliefConnect with Darryl:Website: http://www.darrylbannon.com/About the host: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

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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]

Following graduation Chelsea Chu was lucky to find employment quickly in the fashion industry. And not just any job but a buyer's position for an online luxury retailer. In this interview, we look into the role of a buyer in the industry and what led her to decide to launch her own brand, and the challenges she is encountering along the way.Episode Notes:

What it is like to be a buyer in the fashion industry; what does the job entail?

The importace of knowing your target customer profile and how this helps buyers when they select what to buy.

How men's shopping habits defer from women

What led her to want to launch her own brand

What business model she would like to follow for her own business and why.

Why educating your customer is important to do.

Takeaways:

As a buyer, you need to at all times balance the point of view of what is commercial and what is visually appealing

"Typically the mass consumers will not care about sustainability because they prioritize looking good and cost first"

References:"To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World" by Lucy SiegleConnect with Chelsea:Website: https://www.animaanimus.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_animaanimus/About the host: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

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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]