Fashioncast

From the outside looking in, Rocco Leo Gaglioti is the epitome of American success. The tall (6’5”) handsome fashion celebrity seems to know everybody who’s anybody in the world-of-fashion. But, Gaglioti’s story is more of intrigue and personal triumph than fashion lore.

While Gaglioti describes his 26 years in the fashion industry in a very linear, matter-of-fact way, it’s been anything but an unencumbered ride to the top. In fact, Gaglioti is so humble, the listener may get the impression nobody is more surprised he ended up an influential fashion media mogul than Gaglioti himself!

Gaglioti has come a long way from being a shy, speech impaired bullied kid in Winter Park, Florida. That kid learned martial arts to defend himself, and at the age of 17, after some serious nudging from his deaf mother (Gaglioti is a CODA--Child of a Deaf Adult), and not knowing a lick of Italian, he agreed to become a hair model in Milan, Italy and stayed for five years!

But wait! There’s more! A lot more. What purposeful career would be without key mentors like Carson Kressley and RuPaul? Gaglioti credits a number of individuals for his success, but none more than Kressley and RuPaul. It’s a fascinating lesson on “paying it forward” and understanding career responsibility. By-the-way, who wouldn’t want to hang out with Kressley and RuPaul? Both men are brilliant and hilarious--a rare combination indeed.

Gaglioti eventually parlays his knowledge and experience into a mountain of creativity including Fashion News Live, an award-winning fashion documentary, Inside Amato, the Fashion News Lifestyle Network (FNL Network), and most recently, International Digital Fashion Week (IDFW).

Gaglioti is extremely excited about IDFW declaring the platform demonstrates “the future of fashion is here!” While other media outlets contemplate the future of runway shows, Gaglioti has already figured it out! IDFW provides a desperately needed alternative to traditional outdated fashion weeks, is interactive and allows the designer to book immediate sales.

Lastly, Gaglioti, isn’t “all fashion all-the-time.” He serves as a consultant to the Miss and Mister Deaf International nonprofit organization his mother founded and has been actively involved in supporting the international deaf community for decades. Perhaps knowing where you come from, being humble, and appreciating others are the most important measures of success after all. Please enjoy this exclusive interview with Rocco Leo Gaglioti, a true fashion maven.

To find all things FNL Network, visit: https://linktr.ee/fnlnetwork

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From the western Prairie Province of Alberta, Canada, in the oil boom and bust city of Calgary, Lauryn Vaughn, Founder and CEO of The Upside, joins Fashioncast via Zoom to share her amazing story of online retail success.

In 2015, against all odds, the smart and savvy super entrepreneur launched The Upside the old fashioned way--from her basement, and never looked back.

Today, the business is the largest luxury online consignment retailer in the nation. Once you meet Lauryn Vaughn, you’ll know why.

Vaughn is full of endless positive energy, articulate, knows the resale business, and most of all - she’s determined. At university, Vaughn was so resolute to become an intern for the great Canadian designer, Paul Hardy, when she finally met him and told him she was going to become his intern, he said, “Aah, okay, can you start in morning?” If listeners get the impression the scrappy and witty Vaughn manifests her reality in real-time, they’re correct.

Fashioncast was spellbound listening to Vaughn describe her “aha” moment in Paris, France, the unending trials and tribulations of launching a business, and about The Upside’s ever-evolving multifaceted mission. For Vaugh, The Upside is more than just a challenging way to generate revenues and income. The business empowers women through “chic fashion on a budget,” and is the best example of sustainability driving circular fashion. One simply can’t help knowing Vaughn is the perfect definition of a role model for women across Canada and the world.

While Vaughn’s personal strength may be will power, her business acumen is on display as she explains the global luxury resale market. Like many entrepreneurs, Vaughn lives her business and it’s fascinating to hear her detail the differences between The Upside and mega competitors such as The RealReal and The Luxury Closet. Vaughn’s vast market knowledge is a testament to her leadership. And, despite a recession in Calgary’s oil fields and a worldwide pandemic, The Upside continues to dominate Canada’s luxury resale online space and expand.

Lastly, when asked who she would like to meet in the fashion industry, Vaughn mentioned she would have liked to have met Karl Lagerfeld, but then, without hesitation, the entrepreneur admitted she’d really love to meet Julie Wainwright, the founder of The RealReal! Enjoy!

The Upside: http://www.shoptheupside.com

Instagram @lauryn_vaughn

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From her 18th century apartment in Paris, France, internationally acclaimed photographer, Iris Brosch, the impassioned articulate intellectual of art imagery, joins Fashioncast via Skype to share her multifaceted photography experience in the world-of-fashion.

Brosch, the German-born photographer and filmmaker, specializing in fashion, nudes, art, and performance art, has been shaped by both the German and Italian Renaissance periods.

Her portraits are instantly recognizable as they clearly show Brosch’s reach for artistic expression and spirit. In addition, her work is celebrated for giving more strength and dignity to the female image and feminist ideals.

It’s fascinating to hear Brosch’s story of struggle from her early years to maturation as an industry icon. Through it all, the humble creative credits not only hard work but astute timing, acceptance and key mentorships. In addition to her own career challenges, Brosch, a long-time devout feminist, details the ongoing struggle for women to find standing within the industry. Her accounting of the barriers for women such as photographer Annie Leibovitz is stunning.

For Brosch, the feminist ideology is firm but more about equality and inclusiveness than antipatriarchal. It’s tragic irony, however, after countless media reports confirming widespread inequality in an industry catering to female customers and dominated by female employees, financial and managerial control still decidedly rests with men.

Beyond feminism, Brosch’s extensive international fashion experience allows her to answer any question regarding fashion and art in an informed manner. Listeners will hear Brosch’s views about the diminishing role of art in fashion, the rapid changes taking place in fashion photography and the shift towards fashion videos.

Brosch, the consummate artist, forever advocates for creatives. For her, being creative is about a lack of fear, taking risks, and keeping overlords out of the equation. And, according to Brosch, it’s also why creatives will always spearhead the direction of the industry and the future of fashion imagery.

Lastly, listeners will be inspired by Brosch’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic as she explains the importance of embracing the arts in times of tragedy and awed by her selection of whom to photograph if she could photograph any person in recorded history.

Please enjoy this interview with artist, activist, and all-around beautiful human being, Iris Brosch!

Website http://www.irisbrosch.com

Instagram @irisbrosch Facebook @irisbrosch

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From Flint, Michigan, under a continued COVID-19 quarantine, Ali Rose VanOverbeke, Founder and CEO at Genusee, the first circular economy eyewear brand, joins Fashioncast via Zoom to share her inspirational and motivational story of struggle, renewal, and awakening in her quest to build a company that matters.

There’s no denying Ali VanOverbeke is on a mission. The Parsons School of Design graduate began planning her fashion career in the second grade and set her sights on Parsons in the fourth grade! Innovative, intelligent, visionary, and driven, the articulate VanOverbeke leaves the audience spellbound after detailing her time spent in the design trenches of New York’s ultra-competitive fashion world before a short sabbatical and finding karma in India. Ali’s story as a creative is as much about finding herself, and her role in the world, as it is about art and fashion.

In 2016, after elevated levels of lead were confirmed in Flint, Michigan’s drinking water, both state and federal emergencies were declared. Notably, this is when the story takes a major turn, not only for VanOverbeke and for Flint, but likely for the future of fashion. On an unplanned and voluntary mission working with the American Red Cross delivering water to Flint residences, Ali’s genesis of Genusee takes place and her “calling” is absolute.

Genusee is the most unique and compelling fashion fable we’ve encountered. If you’re not awed by its multifaceted missions regarding job creation for Flint’s structurally unemployed, or its manufacturing of sustainable eyewear from single-use water bottles, then surely, you’ll be awed by its product design and quality. While many of the principal fashion brands adopt social and sustainability policies and dole out checks of solidarity, upstart Genusee “walks the talk” and is defining a new and refreshing standard in the fashion industry.

But, setting new standards is hard work and VanOverbeke seems to be pushing all boundaries at once. For example, the maverick manufacturer is justifiably critical of America’s recycling industry. Imagine, according to the EPA (2017 latest data), 75.8% of all plastic material generated in the U.S. Municipal Solid Waste stream was sent to landfills! Clearly, there’s much work to be done.

Lastly, Ali briefly discusses the future of Genusee, the current importance of Instagram as the marketing tool of choice, utterly downplays the role of influencers and shares her hard-earned business acumen with those contemplating a career in fashion or entrepreneurship.

Ali VanOverbeke is living Genusee’s motto–“Be the change you want to see.” Bravo!!

On the web: Genusee.com On Instagram: @genusee_official

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From Paris, France, under a COVID-19 quarantine, the fashion photography artist couple Mia Macfarlane and Julien Crouigneau join Fashioncast via Skype to share their amazing careers as art photography creatives living in the fashion capital of the world.

The couple describes themselves as “self-taught” fashion art photographers, but don’t be fooled, they are both highly educated artists who happen to love photography and are clearly two of the most creative people we have ever had the pleasure to interview (see links to their work below). Combining their diverse and extensive backgrounds, in 2012, they launched French Cowboy a photography and art direction company. Then, in 2015, they founded IRK magazine as part of a nonprofit association titled IRK which promotes artists, fashion designers, photographers, filmmakers, and other creatives. The magazine, published daily online and bi-annually in print, has been an enormous success and lives up to its tagline, “IRK Magazine is here to rattle the every day!”

Think fashion-forward, boundary-pushing art, edgy without apology, and photographic brilliance and you have IRK.

But, it’s not just IRK where these two are redefining art photography, it’s in fashion film too. Through French Cowboy, they are methodically paving the way towards fashion films. Short film and video are the future of fashion imagery and the trailblazing creative couple are at the forefront of the artistic revolution.

This podcast is one of those rare episodes where each time you listen, you learn something new. It’s mesmerizing to hear Macfarlane and Crouigneau detail their photoshoot with Jean Paul Gaultier, the famous French fashion designer. And, equally thought-provoking to hear their description of the cultural fashion differences between America and France.

Lastly, we also delve into how the disastrous and tragic COVID-19 pandemic has affected the couple’s business. Like everyone else, they remain quarantined but hopeful the virus will taper off soon. The fashion industry, however, has been decimated and is unlikely to rebound quickly. Still, Mia and Julien remain positive, confident and stoic and have a myriad of projects waiting for completion including a future photoshoot in Ghana! How else would you build a legacy?

Please enjoy and stay safe!

Show links:

IRK Magazine (@irkmagazine) On Instagram

IRK Magazine: Art Photography | France

Videos by French Cowboy:

Las Vegas Cowgirl Video

Viking Model Video

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In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Thomas Werner, renowned international fashion photographer, author, professor, and consultant calmly and dutifully made it to the Fashioncast studio and delivered one of the most compelling and entertaining podcasts to date.

In this amazing episode, Werner weaves a dramatic and authentic narrative to his rise in the world-of-fashion and gives new meaning to the word perseverance! He’s been through lean times, had great success and is clearly comfortable with his current myriad of fashion endeavors. In fact, his curriculum vitae is 24 pages!

Knowing that fact alone is worth the listen.

Werner’s depth and breadth of experience in fashion photography is so voluminous he wrote the definitive book on the subject, The Fashion Image, which has received rave reviews and been sold widely on an international basis (Christine and Michael were sure to receive a signed copy!).

But, authorship is just the tip of the iceberg for Werner. Listen as he effortlessly details the important artistic role photography plays in the fashion industry and describes the future of photographic technologies such as Instagram and video, and how varying countries embrace or suppress image technology.

Werner also discusses The Thomas Werner Projects, one of the most innovative and internationally collaborative art and education sharing programs on the planet! The Projects story is fascinating and centers around Russia and China and demonstrates the power of intellect, political determinism, and the art-of-fashion to assist in the education of creatives eager to simply participate and learn about artistic expression.

Lastly, while Werner’s photos capture the essence of fashion through images, he’s also a pragmatist. His grasp of the interdependence between fashion and photography is only surpassed by his knowledge about the business of fashion. In one of the largest and most competitive businesses in the world, artists, especially photographers, need to know their niche and deserve to earn a living.

Fashioncast was honored to host one of the most notable fashion photographers in the industry, and more importantly, an all-around great human being. Enjoy!

His book on Amazon: The Fashion Image: Planning and Producing Fashion

Thomas Werner on Instagram (@thomaswernerprojects)

Facebook: @ThomasWernerProjects

Thomas Werner Projects www.thomaswernerprojects.com

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Listen up Fashioncast fans, court is in session!  Whether you’re steeped in the fashion industry’s legal jargon or not, this week’s guest, Andrea Arndt, Patent Attorney at Dickinson Wright, informs and demonstrates why anybody in the fashion industry with something to protect should get their legal house in order.  

Arndt, with degrees in biomedical engineering, computer engineering, and law is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and specializes in foreign patent prosecution and intellectual property law in the fashion industry.  She brings all her background and experience to listeners as she explains the difference between patents, trademarks, and copyright and details the risks of not protecting your intellectual property (IP).

Arndt knows her field and proves it as she and the Fashioncast hosts dig deep into recent case law including Versace v Fashion Nova and the industry changing Supreme Court copyright ruling on Star Athletica v Varsity Brands.  In addition, Arndt dissects the multi-million dollar Burberry v Target knock-off scarf case that was ultimately settled out-of-court (see case links below).

The ever witty and energetic Arndt also has plenty of free legal advice for would be designers and fashion entrepreneurs including expected legal fees to protect IP, adding legal costs to startup budgets, and never allowing IP infringement to go unchallenged.

Finally, Arndt also touches on international IP law including protection(s) to online retailers, where designers should focus their resources to maximize IP safeguards, and the lack of international fashion industry leadership on mitigation and binding arbitration.

It’s a fast-paced show with a legal fashion industry expert that will leave Fashioncast listeners more educated, informed, and equipped to protect their fashion creations.

For now, court adjourned.  Enjoy!

https://www.dickinson-wright.com/our-people/andrea-I-arndt?tab=0

https://www.thefashionlaw.com/home/fashion-nova-responds-to-versace-lawsuit-with-32-defenses-2-countercliams-and-a-vow-to-fight

https://www.nolo.com/legal-updates/supreme-court-rules-that-garment-design-elements-are-copyrightable.html

https://www.khuranaandkhurana.com/2018/05/22/fashion-and-trademarks-the-clothing-controversy/

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Welcome to Boston Fashioncast fans! Often referred to as a ‘brain factory” with 50 higher educational institutions and more than 250,000 college students, heady intellects are easy to find. But, this week’s guest, Jay Calderin, is literally a fashion genius.

Immersed in the world-of-fashion since the age of 14, Jay Calderin is a “Who’s Who” in the fashion industry and arguably is the intellectual force behind Boston’s fashion scene. As the founder of Boston Fashion Week over 25 years ago, Director of Community Relations at the School of Fashion Design, Boston, and successful international author of numerous fashion design books (see links), Calderin’s fashion energy and “can do” spirit has catapulted Boston into an international fashion destination.

You’ll be as awe-inspired as we were listening to Calderin explain significant industry transitions over the past several decades including the ever-increasing role of technology, an international advance towards sustainability, online fashion education, and the importance of local community involvement in fashion events.

In addition, Calderin also details the fascinating role Boston now plays in the international fashion community. Given its vast student population, the college experience in many ways acts as a two-way exchange of ideas and culture as students graduate and ultimately disseminate a “Boston style” across the globe.

Calderin is the ultimate guest. He’s a designer, entrepreneur, academic, author, and fashion community organizer! Moreover, he’s articulate, humorous, and easy to listen to. Essentially, he’s everything you would expect from a fashion genius. Enjoy!

Here are his books: 

Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principles of Fashion Design

Form, Fit, Fashion: All the Details Fashion Designers Need to Know But Can Never Find

What They Didn't Teach You in Fashion School

Native Fashion Now: North American Indian Style

The Fashion Design Reference & Specification Book: Everything Fashion Designers Need to Know Every Day

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All the way from Kula Lumpur, 9,275 miles from our podcast studio in Detroit, Adam Minter, best-selling author and journalist joins the show via Skype to answer a myriad of questions regarding the secondhand fashion industry including “Who will be the last to kill your hoodie?”

In Secondhand, Minter traces the lifespan and travels of various secondhand items donated to US charities and thrift stores, with a particular interest in clothing, only to find they have very specific geographic destinations based on quality, condition, durability, and demographics.

For those in the fashion industry beating the sustainability drum, the book is a wakeup call and demonstrates the challenging work and complexity of issues that face the industry. For example, Minter applauds the industry for advances in reuse and rentables through the growth of such businesses as The RealReal and Poshmark, but justifiably derides the industry for its lack of transparency regarding detailed fabric content and chemical toxins.

Secondhand is extremely well written, and for a non-fiction book, it reads like an intriguing “who done it” novel. Ultimately, Minter is optimistic about the fashion industry and is betting on technology, especially blockchain, to boost sustainability.

Christine and Michael were impressed with Adam Minter for his journalistic integrity, his deep knowledge of the secondhand fashion industry, and his overall talent as a writer. Please enjoy the podcast. You can find the book here.

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Fashioncast fans, we can’t say enough about Nicole Jarecz a young and extremely talented artist with an old soul for fashion illustration.  It’s a fascinating interview with Nicole as she delves deep into her experience as an artist including her early years, her education at the College for Creative Studies (CCS), and her “lucky” but unusual path into fashion illustration.

Nicole is a busy woman raising two young daughters and working from home.  Nevertheless, she’s found time to illustrate. After ten years as a fashion illustrator, Nicole has completed work for a Who’s Who in the fashion world including Marie Claire, Glamour, Madame Figaro, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Hugo Boss just to name a few!  In addition, she’s in high demand to sketch at many fashion openings and exhibitions in and around the Detroit area.

In this interview, you’ll discover new information about the use of fashion illustration in marketing versus photography, how to leverage a niche vocation, and the importance of pursuing your passion.  As Nicole mentions, given the technological advances in photography and design, fashion illustration is a dying art. But, with creative talent like Nicole’s, we can all experience fashion through a different form of art.

Please find Nicole on Instagram at nicolejareczillustraion and her website to share the experience and beauty of her incredible work.  Enjoy!

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